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Avatar universal

Midwife vs. OB

ok, i just called about 10 different ob/gyn offices in the area. we only have 3 hospitals that deliver babies...... and only one has waterbirthing. and not all ob/gyn offices are affilated with which hospital i choose. uhh, so confusing. ANYWAY..... sorry for rambling on............. what do you think about a birth with a midwife vs. an OB.............
tell me all you know........... im getting confused....... do midwives help you with breathing throughout labor? or maybe other techniques????     LET ME KNOW GIRLS....... I want to get everything to go like i plan on. (first pregnancy i saw like 3 or 4 diff docs. --- i couldnt connect with any of them........ I hope this time around will be different!!)
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Avatar universal
yes i agree every doctor and midwife have their own standards, if those standards dont agree with you then its time to find someone new!!  this time around im seeing a midwife!!
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287246 tn?1318570063
I've never had a midwife.  Only things I have seen on TV documentaries or read about is what I know of midwives.  I do know that women tend to use them if they want to do the all natural thing, etc.  And you can do that in a hospital as well.  No one can MAKE you get pain meds.  I don't care if you are in a hospital or not.  They can't MAKE you do anything.

I certainly have nothing against someone wanting to take the natural approach.  That is every woman's perogative to do what they feel is best for THEM.  But my preference is in a hospital w/ an OB.  That's just me and that is what I have done all 6 times.  But I do like to have my epidural!  I have done the natural thing but it was not by my choice.  It was because I went into labor on a Sunday and they sent me home after only 1 hour of not progessing.  So I sat there and labored at home all day long.  Not fun!  Infact, that was probably my worst labor experience of all 6.  I don't enjoy being in pain.  I prefer to enjoy the birthing process.  And enjoying the birthing process for me, is w/ as little pain as necessary.  One of the things they use in hospitals (just an example) is Pitocin.  It is a synthetic hormone that our body already produces naturally anyway.  That is what causes us to go into labor.  It's pretty natural if you ask me.  Again, that is just ME.

I will say that right before I had my last baby (almost 4 months ago), I had to have a surgical procedure a couple of weeks before she was born.  Had I have gone into labor during that surgery, I would probably had to have had a c-sec.  I would not have been able to strain at all and I was afraid I might go into labor early because I had been having lots of contractions.  They even did my surgery at the same hospital I suppose to deliver at just incase I did go into labor.  But my doctor was bound and determined for me NOT to have a c-sec.  He DID NOT want that for me.  He said that they would do whatever they had to do to keep me from having a c-sec.  My doc lets me make my own decisions.

If you decide to go w/ an OB and they are trying to push you into something that you don't want or aren't comfortable with, then you are w/ the wrong doctor.  I have had my doctor since I was 15.  I am now 34 and he has delivered all of my kids.  I truly trust him.

Again, you just have to go w/ what is right for you.  I feel like OBs get a really bad name on this board sometimes.  At least I have felt that way many times.  Again, if a doctor is pushing you in a direction that you don't want to go in, you are with the wrong doctor.  My doctor is wonderful :)
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Avatar universal
Sunkissed- as another commenter said you have to make the best decision for your particular situation. As I've already mentioned- OBs are VERY necessary and very important in high risk situations. I am merely talking about low-risk women. They shouldn't have to be put through the things they are put through (unless they choose to or have something going on where they NEED to have them done). Midwives aren't the only good people out there to catch babies. There are many, many OBs who are good as well.

And while things can go from low-risk to deathly (as Ashelen's story) midwives who catch babies in womens' homes have to be prepared for every little problem that can arise, such as hemorrhaging. But the percentage of something like that happening is so low. Obviously people don't want to be caught on the wrong side of that percentage and that's why each woman and her partner need to make the best decision regarding their birth choices (hospital vs. birth center vs. home).

Good luck to all of you preggy mommas! All I ask is that you do your research. If your OB is open to natural birth and that is what you want then I don't want you to feel that anything said here means you're making a bad decision. Everyone HAS to make the best choice for themselves.

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1035252 tn?1427227833
Just thinking out loud (or rather on the keyboard) but I'm trying to run the numbers in my head...somewhere around 35% of americans are considered obese....okay so cut that number in half for women..you're talking 17.5%.

Add the percentage of women who are overweight but not obese and the number goes WAY up. Something like 56% (of americans at least) are obese or overweight, using BMI calculators.

Considering that not every one of those women will have a baby, but many will, you can look at approximately 35-40% of women giving birth are overweight or obese....so let's assume that maybe 25% of c-sections are done on obese/overweight women with no other complications but who have difficult or non-progressive deliveries because of their weight....that leaves 21% (give or take) of c-sections that are due to emergency complications NOT weight related, or elective c-sections. A lot of c-sections are done because a previous c-section was performed and VBAC is considered high risk...so we'll assume that of that 21%, 8% are repeat c-sections in order to avoid a risky VBAC. that would leave, like julianovak said, about 13% of c-sections done for emergency complications that arise.

If you really think about it, it all makes sense. While the number is staggering if left alone, if you break down the numbers and analyze the actuality of pregnancy in America, you realize that our poor living styles and seriously unhealthy choices are probably the biggest contributor, not doctor litigation or politics. That being said, as I've stated before, I think doctors are RIDICULOUSLY quick to choose c-sections and that needs to stop, but I think a goodly percentage of them are due to other factors that may or may not be controllable by the women themselves.

I do think women need more education on avoiding unnecessary c-sections, ABSOLUTELY! but maybe the 46% isn't as surprising as it might be, if we think about all the underlying factors?

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691990 tn?1290115247
I agree with your husband that if the only reason you are wanting a natural birth is so you can be brave then no, that's not a good reason.  We chose to go natural (3 times now) in a hospital setting.  But I chose to do so because of what I saw as the snowball effect of interventions.  It seemed like every friend I talked to got the epidural, then their blood pressure dropped so they pushed fluids, then the labor stalled so they pushed pitocin, then they wanted to monitor the baby better so they used an internal monitor, the mom had a catheter put in as she couldn't get up to use the bathroom, then in half the cases mom delivered ok but in the other half they ended up doing a c-section for failure to progress or stress to the baby. Also in many of the vaginal births they reduced the epi or it ran out around the time of delivery to so many of the moms "felt" the pain of delivery which under unmedicated circumstances is much less painful due to the adrenaline your body produces to help you get through labor which you don't get once you take pain meds. I also don't think it's wise to go in for a natural birth without fully preparing yourself.  We made sure to be highly educated and took a 12 week natural birth class.  They were very honest that labor is called labor because it's the hardest work you will ever do.  But they were right that the pain is "different".  It's not the same as the pain you get when you break an ankle or cut your hand.  It's pain with a purpose and if you can stay calm and work though contractions one at a time it can often be very well managed.  BUT you have to want it for the right reasons.  I don't think wanting to be brave would last very long once labor began if there was no other reason or preparation.  Regardless I hope you have an amazing birth experience no matter what you choose.  I think every woman needs to do the research and make a decision that she is comfortable with knowing the possible consequences of whatever she decides.  And I don't think a woman should EVER feel like a failure if the desire for a natural birth doesn't work out.  I just wanted to share my experience with you incase you had not heard from anyone about the interventions and typical scenarios that can be very common with medicated.   That was the biggest factor for motivating me to go unmedicated. THat being said after I gave birth without meds for the first time I felt like there was NOTHING I couldn't do.  It was extremely empowering. Good luck!!
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Avatar universal
oh ok......... well 46% is the latest number i believe. honestly. this was a documentary by rikki lake, and some other lady.........
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212720 tn?1304375415
Believe me if I have something to say to you directly I will not hesitate to do so.  I certainly was not directing this to you. I truly wish you the best.

Also I do not work with just one ob-gyn office. I work with multiple offices throughout the US as part of a Special Investigations Unit of fraudulent practices.  A particular review that I conduct for the insurance companies is the fradulent overuse for c-sections.  So I am very well educated on percentages.

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Avatar universal
Yes, obesity, induction, and some people actually just have an elective c section........ i guess in a way you dont have to worry how the labor process will go............ i mean the pain and pushing, but then again many ppl do not understand c sections are considered major surgery.................. not to mentian the pain you will have at the incision site yrs down the road............. MANY women can PREVENT a c section. but they may not know that......... i just wish women were more educated with this crazy number......... 46%???? i couldnt believe it either. i mean 46% thats not "emergency"................ maybe 15% of it is...............
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800427 tn?1324945719
thank you for your understanding...im actually not scared of the labor part (yet anyway lol) i havent really worried about it at all. its the rest of my pregnancy that scares me...the things that could go wrong. my Ob hasnt said that i have to have a c-section or anything so far as far as we know i can have a very normal vaginal delivery...and i innitially wanted to do it without pain meds but i also want it to be somewhat of an enjoyable experience, i want to be calm for my husband and my baby. So, im going to take it as if im handling it okay than no epi...if im not then ill get one. my DF said something i thought was very clever....when i asked him what he would do if he had to give birth (mind you i cant even get this man to take tylonel for a headache) he said he would get an epidural and i said "you would, why?" he replies with "well you obviously know its gonna hurt like hell...not one person says it doesnt...why would you go into something knowing its gonna hurt like hell and not try and lessen some of that pain if you had the choice" and i said but wouldnt you be more proud of me and think i was sooo brave? and he said "honey, in my opinion thats not brave, its stupid. its like not filling out the extra credit on an exam" and then he went on to say "your bringing my baby into the world....my son...no matter how you do it you will be my hero"
i also think the obesisty rate should be taken to account...you make a very good point on that one.
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1035252 tn?1427227833
that's very true m3lanie :) I actually didn't like my OB but he definitely saved my life, and it was worth it to me. I had my delivery nurse with me the entire time so I don't feel like I was stuck with bad bed-side manner, because my doctor truly DID come just in time to "catch", but he also came just in time to save my be-hind! hehe

but yeah not all OBs are good or bad, however not all midwives are competent enough to stabilize in emergency situations either while a lot of them are...so it's all a toss-up and it depends on what makes you feel most comfortable.

julianovak I don't think quinns momma was being rude or accusatory she's always very polite....
but I do think that the increased c-section rate is caused by the increase in obesity. obese (or heavily overweight) women are HIGHLY more likely to require a c-section even without the added problem of additional complications for many reasons.....so you might want to take the obesity rate into account when considering why the c-section rate has increased?
i dunno but I thought about that when I read your reply :)

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Avatar universal
Oh watch the documentary "the business of being born" ----- new research that was done past 2 or 3 yrs............ need i say more?
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Avatar universal
WELL "certian facts" i wonder if u really think i would make this up.......... look it up ANYWHERE............... these facts dont just "pop" up anywhere.......... this is statistics im talking about........... personally i could care less where you worked............... look at what research gives you.  46% is a FACT!! -------- if you have something to say.............. just say it directed towards me...........  And your "obgyn" office needs some new updating.
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Avatar universal
WELL, i was also induced, to add to everyones good story......... i was induced 2wk early, given pitocin, asked for epidural, the contfractions were unbearable, too long, not enouf in between...... got epidural, they up'd my pitocin, and baby started having bad reaction, contractions too strong, too lobg, i mean 2min long half miun in between, i told them to lower it bc baby wasnt reacting well to it. GOOD THING I DID. THEY WOULD HAVE TOLD ME BABY IS HAVING BAD "REACTION" to the labor--------------- which is SO NOT the case. good thing i was ready to push at that point, and she was out within min............ i think it took 2 contractions.    it is not the pit/epi fault for c section, when u have epidural they up ur pit, which causes baby heart rate to go down! that was my point, and they request er c section........................
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849762 tn?1288184748
Shake their heads they may but just because one office has a beautiful team doesn't mean all of the ob-gyn offices around the world are as perfectly beautiful. I've read lots of posts over the months on how HORRIBLE ob-gyns or the lack their of support they can be and so people deserve to be informed of this and stats don't lie unless ones own opinion wants to override it but that isn't reality that's fantasy land. What is no fantasy land is what's good for one isn't always good for another. It is true not all ob-gyns are bad but many don't have a great bedside manner either and that's a fact. (personal experience thru a friend who was high risk. my eyeballs saw this first hand).
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212720 tn?1304375415
I was also induced with pitocin at 38 weeks and my labor progressed beautifully.  Went so quickly in fact that there was no time for an epid.  Most likely will be induced this pregnancy as well.  This time I have requested an epid as well....  I do not have any fear of a C-sect being needed....    It is amazing how I see certain "facts" pop up about C-sect rates etc... I have worked in Ob-Gyn off and on for 13 years... Sometimes what you ladies post is news to me... I often mention it to fellow collegues and they just shake their heads in utter disbelief..
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1035252 tn?1427227833
I don't think the pitocin/epidural is the cause, I think that it's because of insurance reasons, which is a (pardon the language, or rather the stars) damn ****** reason to give somebody a c-section. My mother-in-law is an OB nurse and she says she's seen several cases where a woman was given a c-section because it was actually less risky on paper than a vaginal delivery, even though she didn't have complications that indicated CLEARLY the need for a c-section. It's absolute CRAP.

If you do choose an OB, do research and make sure that the c-section rate of that doctor is acceptable and low, because sometimes doctors do it just to speed things up, which is AWFUL.

that being said, I will still always go OB because I consider it safer.

Sunkissed:::: OMG do not feel bad about your decision. I went through so much pain with my kidney stones in the last few months that I was terrified of labor and that's what led me to choose OB and epidural delivery....I wouldn't change a darn thing. Just because you choose to be in a hospital, possibly using meds, doesn't diminish your experience or lessen the effort you will go through to bring your baby into this world....you are making the RIGHT decision, just like a woman who chooses a midwife is making the RIGHT decision, because it all depends on each of us and what we feel is right. <3 I know how you feel though women who do it naturally sometimes do tend to look down on those of us who don't.

Also they used pitocin for about 2 hours with me until my contractions got up to speed, and I had an epidural, and my daughter was born with a perfect APGAR, bright-eyed and looking around alertly from moment 1....and my pushes were just what they needed to be (peaking flat), and I actually felt the pain (dulled down obviously) so I don't think epidurals or pitocin are as evil as people think. I think it depends on the doctor and the woman's physiology.
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Avatar universal
thats great!!!! well, it IS bc of pitocin/epidural that c section is where it is today 46%
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470885 tn?1326329037
Just a comment: being 41 weeks - clearly overdue - I was induced using Cervidil then given Pitocin, my water was broken and, ultimately, I needed an epidural (the choice was completely mine, it wasn't thrust upon me).

My son was NEVER  in distress, not for a minute the entire time. In fact, my labour nurse (who was with me the entire time, along with DH) commented that he was so stable that it was almost as though he didn't know he was about to be born. He certainly wasn't stressed!  In addition, my labour never stalled out, it progressed wonderfully.  When DS was born, he was bright eyed and alert.  
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Avatar universal
My previous birth experiance i basically had no control over it, i didnt know how to control it......... i never did research on how a midwife or ob differ from one another. i too once thought that an ob just delivers babies, not that they are mostly for high risk patients. This was posted up here just to here everyones opinion on how there birth went with either a CNM or OB. If you have never delivered then obviously you dont know the difference yet................... Bc you do not know what your doctor/ob will try to convince u with or how that doctor will stick with your birth plan...................... that was the sole purpose of this post............  ;)    any more thoughts girls ;) everyones experiance isSO diferent!!!! wow......
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849762 tn?1288184748
In sorry you feel the way you do and I wish things were different for you and many in you situation. In the back of our minds mine for sure... Speciaists are needed for high risk and obviously a natural child birth isnt for everyone like in your situation. Evrything stated above is true though but we all know that not all obs are bad, it is just as a whole that naturally delivery is best unless you are high risk and you can't just hide things incase it may hurt somones feelings and not cater to no risk be only worry about high risk. Everyones opinions here seem to cater to both I for one am not high risk and am quite capible of having a natural birth. I 'need' to hear(read) the things mentioned above. It is common sense that high risk needs doctors and extra care and we all know this. I am sorry it bothers you however and I wish you well and I am sure you will be in good hands. This is it first and I want a natural birthing experience.
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800427 tn?1324945719
thank you, i really appreciate your post...it made me tear up a little...lol again with the hormones....but thank you.
it really hit home with how im feeling.
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1039620 tn?1272594004
No matter what anyone in these posts have said, you are making the RIGHT decision for you and your baby. As I have said in my previous posts, my OB is fantastic. She has a great bedside manner and will do anything possible to follow my birth plan.

It all boils down to one thing...having a healthy baby. That's it, nothing more. The rest is icing on the cake. You do not have a choice between OB and midwife, but the bottom line is always the same. A baby. You have a medical condition beyond your control and the health of your baby is FAR more important than a person's title.

There is no way any delivery cannot be "natural". I have always disliked that term as it does make those that cannot do it a certain way feel less. If that baby comes out of you, whether it be vaginally, c-section, induced, medicated, or otherwise, it is natural and don't let people make you feel bad about it.

I'll tell you something. You know what I remember most about my delivery? It wasn't the person that actually delivered my son or the title of that person or how they spoke or anything like that. It was his very first cry and seeing that wonderful sweet face. That is the miracle of birth. However we get there, that is what it is all about. :)

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800427 tn?1324945719
i dont really know how to explain myself on this one....im sure im probably just being an emotional, hormonal freak (excuse me, its been that kind of a week) but this post sort of makes me feel like im making a crappy decision. i wanted an as close to all natural birth as possible and i wanted a midwife and a very calm quiet delivery and i wanted to avoid a C-section at all costs...But, i have a rare medical condition that makes it so i Can't choose a midwife...they take one look at my chart and shutter. i have to see a high risk OB with all of my children weather i like it or not.....i will NEVER get to experience a "normal" ..."healthy",,,,"natural" delivery. it hurts my feelings that those of you who think midwifes are the best way think its the only way to have a natural delivery because here i am talking with everyone in my clinic to try and get the most natural birth that i can and you guys going on raving about how natural and amazing having a midwife is sort of makes me feel like you are looking down on those of us who dont have one....or who cant have one. and i know you say that OB's are here for high risk/ c-section patients and thats what there good for but then its  like ....thats your one line,,,thats all there good for. well what about the ones who actually dont have a choice...id like to hear great things about OB's too because this is the only way i can ever go and you guys jumping up and down about how amazing midwives are and how s hitty Ob's are does not make me feel like im gonna have a very awesome birth experience because according to you guys he wont have any bedside matter and will treat me like s hit. so thats great. because my medical condition keeps me from a midwife i wont get any bedside manner and will regret that forever?
i dont want to personally attack anyone but im just please asking that maybe some of you think about those of us who HAVE to have it this way....who arent aloud to make a choice. i have a clinic with 10 high risk ob's i wont know who will actually deliver me on that day and i have 4 specialists involved in my pregnancy...but i deserve to have a baby and my birth plan isnt wrong...even if it isnt much of a plan :(
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1035252 tn?1427227833
Would he travel to Florida for a delivery? hehe just kidding :D
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