I’m trying out some new things this pregnancy.
For the past three, I have seen the traditional Ob/Gyn, but decided to give another couple of routes a chance this time.
So far I’ve visited with a Licensed Midwife and our Family Doctor, who also happens to catch babies.
Both folks were wonderful, nice, and viewed birth as a natural, normal process, unlike my former Ob/Gyn, whom I felt looked at me as though pregnancy was an issue to be dealt with or that something could go wrong at any moment. Ah and I frequently felt pressure to be induced–not because of medical reasons but “just because.”
The Midwife was very nice and promotes birth in the woman’s natural, normal surroundings–the woman’s own home. I was very surprised and impressed to learn that these are not just women who show up, not knowing much except to “catch the baby.” They’re extensively trained and are monitored closely by the State. As she told me yesterday, she must watch her p’s and q’s. One of the first differences I had with the midwife was that I wasn’t running straight off to the lab, as my Ob/Gyn had me do, because obviously as soon as one becomes pregnant, the body doesn’t know what to do (sarcasm). Also they show up very early in labor, so honestly she’d probably catch more abnormalities than my Ob/Gyn would, as I tend to wait until the last minute to go to the hospital.
**Note that I am diligent to run to the Endocrinologist for blood work ASAP. π
The Family Doctor was also very nice and a little different as I’ve built a relationship with him over the past two years. He’s familiar with my OCD, thyroid disease (he and my Endocrinologist are in the same building) and has just gotten to know our family. Even though my visit with him was in the doctor’s office, the whole atmosphere was different….still no running off to the lab for labwork–they didn’t even ask me to visit the bathroom. Instead of the atmosphere of “what’s wrong with this pregnancy,” there was excitement. For a doctor who sees whole families, there’s definitely something different when he gets to see a pregnant woman and all he talked about was how exciting this was going to be and his favorite part of his job. He’s extremely supportive of natural birth and even though I began to ask how other women dealt with epidurals, he said, “Honestly, I don’t think you’re going to need one.” He was very adamant that he’d support me in any way possible.
I’ve learned lots of things between the two of them.
Both my Endocrinologist and Family Doctor “cleared” me for Homebirth, if I want to do that…..we’ll see. And if I decide to birth in the hospital, I think I’m going to be much more comfortable with our Family Doctor, as he’s known for being less likely to jump to unnecessary interventions compared to my former Ob/Gyn and I do like the idea of continuity of care–he’s also the baby’s doctor, not just mine. π
So now I just need to decide which way I’d like to go. I think both are excellent choices. So it really does boil down to which way I feel most comfortable.
BTW here’s a listing of the Midwifery Model of Care vs. Medical Model of Care, just in case y’all are wondering. I think our Family Doctor leans more towards the lines ofthe Midwifery Model of Care.
Midwifery Model of Care
1)Focus on health, wellness,
prevention
2)Labor/birth as normal
physiological processes
3)Lower rates of using
interventions
4)Mother gives birth
5)Care is individualized
Medical Model of Care
1)Focus on managing problems
and complications
2)Labor/birth as dependent on
technology
3)Higher rates of using
interventions
4)Doctor delivers baby
5)Care is routinized
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Ginger says
AMEN to all of that!
Our Family: says
hehe….I love you, Ginger!!!
Actually I feel I’m in a really good place right now—both providers seem fantastic. I feel as though I can’t go wrong. It’s a good feeling. π