Midwife or obstetrician: how to choose?

Preparation for childbirth: advantage for the midwife

Midwives are specialists in so-called “physiological” pregnancy, that is to say one that does not pose any problems individuals, and can therefore explain in detail the course of a childbirth.

They are the ones who give birth preparation courses, in the maternity ward or in the town hall. The sessions are made up of two stages: theoretical and practical. Their goal is for you to feel on familiar ground on D-day. On the physical side, there are different types of preparations such as sophrology, relaxation, yoga, aquatic gymnastics … Whatever one you choose, take the opportunity to pose all the questions that bother you.

Childbirth in hospital: advantage for the midwife

In the public sector, midwives provide 80% of deliveries, so you might as well consult one as soon as you are pregnant. They provide prenatal interviews, order blood and urine tests, ultrasounds and medication related to pregnancy.

Significant advantage, they often have more time to give you in consultation and will be more suitable if you want to establish a less medicalized relationship than with an obstetrician gynecologist.

On the other hand, midwives are trained to carry out deliveries without difficulty. At the slightest problem, they are responsible for calling the obstetrician and it is he who then intervenes at the time of birth.

Delivery at the clinic: possible for both

Most of the time, if you register for a clinic, your obstetrician gynecologist is practicing there. In this case, it can follow you throughout your pregnancy, even if it is not “at risk”.

However, liberal midwives sometimes have access to these private maternities in the same way as obstetricians who give birth to “their” patients. It is therefore better to check with the doctor or midwife to find out where they give birth.

Individualized follow-up: benefit to both

Many liberal midwives provide “global support”. In addition to medical monitoring of pregnancy and childbirth, they prepare the mother-to-be for childbirth.e, explain to her how to relieve the minor ailments of pregnancy and help her calm any anxieties. Some have access to a maternity ward, this is called a “technical platform”, where they can also be present for your childbirth. The best for expectant mothers who need to be reassured!

They also provide invaluable advice for the aftermath of nappies (episiotomy, urinary problems, bleeding…) and returning home (breastfeeding, washing and sleeping the baby…). Midwives offer a listening ear that is much appreciated by expectant mothers.

Complicated pregnancy: the obstetrician must

Diabetes, arterial hypertension, multiple pregnancy, threat of premature childbirth… If your pregnancy presents risk of complications (so-called “pathological” pregnancy), you no longer have a choice. The obstetrician gynecologist will carry out your medical follow-up and give birth to you, even if you were initially followed by a midwife.

Home birth: advantage for the midwife

Home birth is quite rare in France. It unfolds in the presence of a midwife for added security. The hardest part is finding THE midwife who is near you and who gives birth at home. In fact, only about sixty midwives still provide home births throughout France.

The medical follow-up of the pregnancy is then the same as for a birth in the maternity ward, avoiding over-medicalization and overbidding in examinations. After the birth, the midwife makes a daily visit for the first 3-4 days, then every XNUMX-XNUMX days to make sure you and your baby are okay.

Home births are less and less supported in France. However, parents have the right to choose to have their child born at home. Be aware, however, that home-based midwives often work without insurance, as the insurance is calculated on the earnings of obstetrician gynecologists in the hospital, and generally exceeds the annual salary of a midwife. To be taken into account if you make this choice!