Midwife or OB?

Did you GP give you the reasoning behind recommending an ob instead of a mw?

My inlaws offered to pay for an ob for us this time around but we said no because an ob can't give us any extra than a mw can.

Not really, he just said they are the best to go with and first pregnancies are unchartered territory. He used to be an LMC so I fully trust him and he is a very good GP.

So a midwife can give the same care as an OB? That's mainly what I'm confused about, what are the differences between the two!?! I feel like an complete fool for asking but I just really have no idea!

ETA - thanks littlestar!!! I have no strong opinions about either so that is good advice. I might make some calls and speak to a few midwifes and Ob's and see how that leaves me feeling.

Edited by Bobsta

That's a really good point mattsmum. If something was to go wrong the midwife would refer to an OB anyway. Thank you

that sounds very expensive bobsta, Shore Care is only 3200 for full care.

I was tossing up between full OB care and shared care with MW, the thing that swayed me is with full care you get more scans etc but not really one on one care at your labour and delivery....once you get to the hospital you are at the mercy of hospital wives (who may or may not be good) who you've never met before with the OB popping in every now and then. Also most OB practices have 2 or more OBs so on the day you may or may not have your preferred OB

Shared care to me best of both worlds, OB care and personalised care from MW

JMO

Thanks for all the advice everyone, this is such a great place and I would be lost without you all!

I'm not 100% what I'll do yet but have started making calls so that big first step has been taken

Congrats Bobsta! I remember you from the charting thread - so pleased for your BFP

I went with an ob - Birthright in Remuera. We went with them because we were a little worried about the PCOS/high cholesterol history. I'm sure a midwife would have been just as great, and I will probably go with that option 2nd time around, but first time around it's been really nice knowing there are a team of dr's on call 24hrs a day if I have any niggly questions or concerns.

This is the first of MANY decisions you will get to make! Next it will be hospital/birthcare, drugs/no drugs, cloth nappies/disposables, bottle/breastfeeding, cot/basinett...and so on and so on. 5 months on - even deciding what to have for dinner is a mission  But it's all so exciting!! All the best for the next 8 months Bobsta!!

I'm currently with Auckland Obstetrics and they are awesome! They were recommended to me by a few people, all of who raved about them. I also like the shared care idea, in that they work a one in six roster for deliveries so you will always get someone who is not dead on their feet because they have been working such long hours. Yes it is a lot of money, but you don't have to pay it all in one go.

You have a few options with care. You could even have a midwife/GP/obstetrician combo if that's what you want.

Basically a midwife's scope of practice covers normal pregnancy and childbirth, and the common complications. If anything goes outside that scope of practice (things become complicated, like you get gestational diabetes, or have a kick to the stomach, or your membranes rupture early, you have bleeding, etc etc.) then the midwife will refer you to someone that specialises in that area. Midwives tend to provide more holistic care to do with pregnancy and childbirth (in other words, not just the medical aspects - for example they try to facilitate breastfeeding and baby bonding with the family, community support, etc.)

Usually with a midwife you will see the same person all the time and that person will usually be at your birth, which is nice for continuity of care. Of course there are limitations, as midwives may be attending another birth etc. when you go into labour and you may end up with a backup.

If you do choose to go with an obstetrician, they are meant to have midwives attached to them that help to fill in the gaps in their care (all of the non-medical aspects that aren't in the Obs scope of practice). So you can rest assured that either way you should get all the care that you need.

Basically the maternity system in NZ is designed so that you will be able to choose a good midwife that you are comfortable with, and she will direct you to the appropriate places as needed during your pregnancy.

You may not end up with a good midwife, but then again, you may not end up with a good obstetrician. The important thing is that if you are not confident in the care that you are receiving, you are absolutely entitled to change your lead maternity carer, and your LMC is legally entitled to help you find another LMC that will fit your needs.

I had a similar experience to ginger - my obs was fantastic - and he was there providing one on one care throughout my labour. When the complication arose and I ended up having a c-section he was the one that performed it.

His team of midwives do the 6 weeks follow up care but it was back to him for the 6 week check up.
And yes - we did get to see baby on the screen at every single visit

Someone also said about them having more 'power' and I honestly think I was given top top treatment in hospital because I was under his care.

I will be using him again this time around.

I personally dont see the point but it is totally personal.... A good midwife who is well respected can have a lot of pull in the hospital.

My mw with Jake got my scan report and phoned the OB clinic at the hospital immediately and got me the first available appt. I was then under shared care... There is nothing about my pregnancy or birth that would have been any better had I gone with an OB from the get go.

That said, if I knew I had a high risk pg from the get go then I may have gone with a OB...