What to consider when choosing your care providers for pregnancy and birth
You have so many decisions to make during pregnancy and childbirth, and one of the first is choosing a care provider. This is an important decision, maybe even the most important choice in your pregnancy. Your provider is the foundation of your birth team who is going to be supporting you through your birth journey. This article is going to cover what you need to know and things to think about when you are selecting your care providers for pregnancy and birth.
Types of care providers for pregnancy and birth
The term “provider” in this case is referring to the person or practice that will provide your clinical care. Such as your routine check ups. Although you may have a team of people supporting you, like nutritionist, chiropractor, massage therapist, doula, etc., your main care provider should be one of the following:
- Obstetrician-gynecologist: physicians who specializes in female reproductive health, pregnancy, and childbirth
- Midwife: healthcare professional trained to be the primary care provider for labor and birth; help women deliver without treatment/medication or minimal use
- Family physician: studied family medicine (not all family physicians provide obstetric care)
- Perinatologist: maternal-fetal medicine specialist; an obstetrician who specializes in pregnancies with higher risks
Additionally, if you are low risk, you could consider having a freebirth. A freebirth is when you have your baby with NO healthcare providers. This is different from a homebirth (midwife care) and has associated risks so be sure to do your research if you are thinking about going this route.
Explore different care providers for pregnancy and birth
Explore your options. Likely, you’ll want to check for providers that are included under you insurance, which you can find a provider list by either searching online or calling your insurance. Check their websites and reviews. Make a list of the place you are interested in and plan a tour or orientation. If they don’t offer one, just call the office or schedule an appointment to discuss their services. Some things you may want to ask the care providers for pregnancy and birth include:
- What are your views on pain relief, induction, c-section, episiotomy, amniotomy, delivery interventions, fetal monitoring, etc.?
- Will you be available to deliver my baby, if you’re not who will be there?
- What kind of comfort items would be available to use, such as bath tub/shower, yoga ball, squat bar, mirror, etc.
- Do you have a 24/7 line to call in case of emergency or questions?
- Who can be in the delivery room?
- Are you experienced in supporting VBAC, vaginal breech, multiple gestations etc.?
Also, consider how they make you feel when you’re talking. Things you should think about: do you feel comfortable, do you feel like a team, are you leading the team. This is your body, baby, and birth; therefore, you should be making the decisions and leading the way.
Don’t forget to make a list, chart, or spreadsheet so you can compare your options and make the best decision for your unique needs.
Before you choose your care providers
You’ll want to take your birth preferences and priorities into consideration. Depending on where and how you want to give birth, it may affect the type of provider that would be best for you. You should think about whether you want a homebirth, birth center, or hospital birth. Additionally, examine if you want a natural birth, a water birth, an epidural or other pain medications.
For example, if you are trying to have a natural birth with no medication, or you want a water birth you might want to seek out a midwife at a birth center or home. Whereas, if you want to have a planned induction and an epidural, you may want to choose an ob-gyn.
Depending on your health and the health of past pregnancy may also affect your decision. If you are over the age of 40 and/or have health problems, such as diabetes, hypertension, autoimmune disease, or heart problems, you may want to consider a perinatologist. As well as if you have had complications in prior pregnancies, such as stillbirth, miscarriages, placental disorders, or PROM (premature rupture of membrane-early labor).
Change your care provider
Most importantly, if you are not vibing with your provider, do not be afraid to seek another option. Go back to that spreadsheet and find a provider that fits your current needs. Sometimes as your pregnancy progresses things change and now your needs are different. It is not too late to change your provider (unless you’re already in labor).
Additions to your birth team
Once you’ve figured out your main care provider, either ob-gyn or midwife, decide whether you want to expand your support team. Depending on your needs, your provider may suggest some options to include on your team. However most of these additions are optional.
- doula
- nutritionist
- chiropractor
- pelvic physical therapist
- lactation consultant
- massage therapist
- perinatal counselor