Finding out you’re pregnant is the most exciting feeling especially for first time moms. Your eight week appointment can’t come soon enough, so you can confirm with your doctor, but then you have a big decision to make. Do you stick with your current care provider, or dare I say it, step out on faith and make a switch?

The best decision I ever made for myself and my son while I was pregnant the second time around was switching from an obstetrician (OB/GYN) to a midwife. Why do you ask? From my own personal experience, the birth I had intended with my first did not go accordingly, and I ended up having an emergency C-section. If only I knew then what I know now, but hopefully I can help you make informed decisions for your birth experience.

10 Things I Learned

1. Your birth plans aren’t actually plans, but goals. Whatever you choose, they are amazing goals to have and should be communicated effectively to everyone involved (your partner & medical professional).
2. Do your homework, but try not to overthink, or go down rabbit holes. I read “The Birth Partner” by Penny Simkin, which really put the birthing process into perspective for me, and helped me think more about what my husband and I wanted for our birth experience.
3. Advocate for yourself and trust your gut, within reason for your health and your baby’s health. Do not be afraid to speak up and ask questions if something doesn’t feel right to you.
4. As long as you are healthy and the baby is healthy you can go up to 41 and in some cases 42 weeks before being medically induced.
5. OB/GYNs are surgeons! Their first response is always intervention (Keep reading I touch on this a little more).
6. Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC) is possible after one C-section.
7. Prenatal yoga and prenatal chiropractors are your best friends! I can’t express the benefits of both of these enough. They help tremendously in preparing your body for birth, aligning your pelvis and setting you up for an easier postpartum recovery.
8. Treat yourself to a prenatal massage to relax.
9. Avoid horror stories because they will make you doubt yourself. Trust your instincts and tread very carefully when people give you unsolicited advice.
10. This is cliche, but enjoy every moment, even the yucky parts won’t last forever because your body is doing something incredible.

OB/GYN Or Midwife

• OB/GYN
  • OB offices are like playing a game of musical practitioners because each check up you have to meet with a different doctor, so you never really get to know them and they never get to know you. Your hopes for birth can get lost in that shuffle, and depending on the day your bundle of joy decides to make an appearance you won’t know who you’re going to get until you call to inform them you’re in labor.
  • Did you know that in the United States OB/GYNs make a great deal more money performing C-sections over vaginal deliveries? On average they make 15% more than natural births.
  • Only 13% of women who’ve had a c-section will receive VBACs because doctors and hospitals are typically risk averse, so they opt to not provide or aren’t equipped to handle them. When in fact the risk is less than 2% of a C-section scar rupturing.
  •  If you’re in the high risk or pre-existing conditions category, such as placenta previa, pre-eclampsia, breech baby, diabetes and high blood pressure just to name a few, OB/GYNs are well versed in handling those types of situations.
• Midwife
  • If you’re a low risk, routine pregnancy and are experiencing no complications this could be a great option for you because midwives are still trained medical professionals, but they do have partnerships with OB/GYNs sometimes within the same practice if something does come up within your pregnancy.
  • The ability to build a more personal relationship, after all they will be getting up close and personal with your lady business, so you can familiarize yourself with them by having the opportunity to meet with the same midwife at each checkup. 
  • Receive more emotional support before, during and after birth. Since you’ve put the leg work in throughout your pregnancy you’ve bonded. They know what kind of care you would like to receive and they are a pressure free zone.
  • More freedom to choose your preferred methods of coping through labor. If you’re looking to try a natural childbirth they are trained to use intervention as a last resort, not the first option. You want to soak in a tub, go for it, you want to walk around, do you and if you want to try every position under the sun, have at it.

No matter what choice you and your partner make between an OB/GYN or a midwife, know that it’s just that, your choice. Either way both will ensure that you will deliver a beautiful, healthy baby. Just remember to speak up for yourself and preparation is key in getting the birth experience you want.