midwife or MD?

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For those of you who work with pregnant/laboring women: for a normal, low risk pregnancy, which type of provider do you think is best? Either for you, personally, or your patients?

I have not had a baby yet, but my preference would be a nurse midwife. My reasons:

  • a delivery done by a nurse midwife is significantly less costly than an MD
  • Nurse Midwives generally seem to view labor as a more natural process requiring less medical intervention
  • a nurse midwive's approach to pregnancy is more holistic

I would not choose a midwife who did not have a nursing background.

What would make you choose one over the other? Sorry, I haven't included DO since I don't know whether or not L&D was within their scope of practice...

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Specializes in ED.

I am looking to become a CNM someday partially because of the great experience I had when I had my 2 children delivered by midwives. I have no experience working in the field, but thought I'd post that I loved my births and prenatal care I received. I cannot compare to a MD of course, so Ican't offer the other side. I know that I delivered at a hospital that had backup doctors in case a complication came up, but basically the nurses and midwife did the delivery and aftercare.

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I had a certified nurse midwife when I had my daughter. She was wonderful. If I ever have another baby, I would love to have a midwife again. Where I live, midwives must have at least a MS in nursing plus special midwifery courses to be certified and they delivered babies at either the birthing center or hospital (if all was low risk, you could choose where you wanted to deliver) and they had back-up physicians in case of any complications. I started at the birthing center but ended up transferring to the hospital, but my midwife was with me the whole time. Since I didn't have a dr. I can't give an opinion, but my friends who have had both generally prefer the midwives.

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Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

I have high risk pregnancies so I must go with a MD/DO , but my preference is a midwife. And like someone else mentioned I only would choose one that is a RN and went the college CNM route. I am prego right now and really wanted to get a midwife but I know that later on Im gonna get preclamptic and my body will freak out so better stay with the MD/DO...

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Specializes in Emergency.

I had my baby in Dublin Ireland. At the hospital I attended the midwifes deliver all the babies, an md is present if there are major complications only. My birth was uncomplicated although i did need an oxytocin drip for 2nd phase when my body thought 'i'm actually going to have a baby' and contractions stopped. the md came, saw prescribed and went.

My second baby will be born in the USA and wouldn't even think about having an md. Although will probably need obstetric involvement during pregnancy (had really bad time with hyperemesis, acute renal failure and eventually had TPN) but as regards delivery will hopefully go down the midwife route providing i get to that stage of course, fingers crossed.

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Specializes in EMS, ortho/post-op.
For those of you who work with pregnant/laboring women: for a normal, low risk pregnancy, which type of provider do you think is best? Either for you, personally, or your patients?

I have not had a baby yet, but my preference would be a nurse midwife. My reasons:

  • a delivery done by a nurse midwife is significantly less costly than an MD
  • Nurse Midwives generally seem to view labor as a more natural process requiring less medical intervention
  • a nurse midwive's approach to pregnancy is more holistic

I would not choose a midwife who did not have a nursing background.

What would make you choose one over the other? Sorry, I haven't included DO since I don't know whether or not L&D was within their scope of practice...

I saw a midwife with both of my pregnancies. With the first one, I ended up with the on-call dr. Baby was OP and I had major back labor. Had an epidural and the dr used the vacuum at the end (still wondering about that one since I had only been pushing for about 3 minutes when she used the vacuum...). Gave birth in the bed with feet in stirrups...not something I recommend. Second baby was so much better. Got the on-call midwife that time and a really great nurse who supported my wishes for a natural birth. I did get the heplock (I am a hard stick) and had my waters broken at 8 cm, but those were the only interventions besides intermittent external monitoring. No drugs at all and I ate and drank as desired throughout my labor to stay hydrated. Gave birth standing/semi-squatting, leaning over the bed. Overall a very empowering experience. I recommend a midwife to everyone I know. :yeah:

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I have yet to have a bad experience or meet a grouchy midwife. I'm sure unhappy midwives exist, but it seems they are few and far between.

I mean, you dont go into midwifery for the great pay, wonderful hours, prestige, or easy work. So it must be for the love of the job, right? I hope so anyway! Can't really say the same for all doctors.

I had wonderful experiences with my midwife during my two pregnancies and with every midwife I have seen. I will always see a midwife in the future.

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Sorry, I haven't included DO since I don't know whether or not L&D was within their scope of practice...

Hi Jayla-

Just as a FYI - everything that a MD does is within a DO's scope of practice - there is virtually no difference between an MD and DO anymore (they take the same med school courses except DO's take additional courses in osteopathic manipulative medicine).

But as for my personal choice - I would go with either a midwife or MD/DO - it depends on my comfortability level with the provider and their track record, and how open they are with communicating with me and respecting my beliefs and wishes.

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Thanks for the replies! I think it's great that there is such support for midwifery--I guess I'm not surprised though. I'm glad to hear no one's had a bad experience with a midwife.

This is pretty much the response I thought I'd get, but was just curious. Of course, there are situations in which an MD/DO would be required, but for low risk pregnancies, I fully support midwife care.

Interesting to learn that a DO has the same scope of practice as an MD. I have yet to work with a DO, so I wasn't sure.

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Sorry, but what's a DO?

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DO: Doctor of osteopathy (all physicians are either MDs or DOs, we call them both doctor).

I have had so many amazing experiences with UK/Irish midwives that they would be my first choice rather than a doc if I had a baby.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

i delivered my son in louisiana a few years ago. since i was fairly new in the area, i didn't know anyone who can refer me to an ob. i researched over the internet for some sources and decided to go and see a doctor who works in a fairly close facility where i lived. i decided to see a female doctor for the simple reason that i didn't want to be exposed to a male doctor. i went through the labor and delivery without my doctor's support

and care. she happened to show only when my son's head was already out and did repair for a few tears. to be honest, i liked the care given by the nurse who stood by me throughout my labor. she helped me ease out the pain and anxiety. if i can go back in time, i would like to be taken cared of by a nurse midwife because of what that nurse did for me although she was not a nurse midwife.

blueviolet

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