OB vs. Midwife

Pregnancy Care: OB DOCTORS vs. MIDWIFE


http://www.opb.org/thinkoutloud/shows/battling-over-birth/


The lovely Dr. Karen Adams (OHSU) was one of the guest speakers Thursady night on OPB. Of course anyone in the field knows that this is a heated topic… PLEASE take a quick peek at the OPB blog to get a sense of chatter that went on.

There were SOME good comments from intelligent people PRO ob providers…but the majority is the usual babble from women who are afraid of hospitals & doctors. Just because you had one ‘off’ experience with a doctor…DOES NOT MAKE THEM ALL BAD OR FORCEFULL JERKS. I just wish more women actually took the time to research the pro/cons of both options and choose what’s right for THEM – not just go on google blogs and base their desicion on the gossip! The same path is not right for every person. Im suprised that so-called "easy going, no fuss, progressive people" are some of the FIRST to point fingers at MD's.

Here’s a quote from one that got my goat…

“The main thing I wish I had known before my first birth is that an OB/GYN is a surgical specialist, trained to spot and treat gynecological and pregnancy-related problems. However, most women have normal, uncomplicated pregnancies, and don't need specialized medical care during their pregnancy.
Midwives and nurse midwives take a much more nurturing approach, treating pregnancy and birth not as medical events, but as emotional, physical and spiritual processes that may have a medical element in some cases.”

However, this person made a good point at the end of her comment…

“Obstetricians are trained surgeons who spend the majority of their medical education learning to deal with complex obstetrical complications while midwives learn how to take care of women experiencing normal pregnancies and births. Because not every pregnancy that starts normal stays normal, lines of care get blurred - but BOTH specialties are necessary to maintain balance in the maternity care system.”

Hmmmmmmmm…. like to hear what your thoughts are!!

- Jenna Vesper, MA @ OHSU Center For Women's Health