Prenatal care varies from mother to mother due to factors such as medical history, care preferences, and personal birth plans. For expectant mothers, one of the first choices you make is whether you want to work with a midwife or an OBGYN. Both provide safe and effective prenatal care for both you and your baby, but what makes them different from each other?
Knowing the difference between a nurse midwife and an OBGYN will help you make an informed decision about your care and who you want on your medical team. This discussion will look at the differences between a midwife vs OBGYN and help you determine which care provider is right for you.
Table of Contents:
- What is a Midwife?
- What is an OBGYN?
- The Differences Between a Midwife and an OBGYN
- Similarities between OBGYNs and Midwives
- Choosing Between an OBGYN vs Midwife
What is a Midwife?
Midwives are certified and licensed medical practitioners who specialize in low-risk pregnancies and childbirth. They take a holistic approach to prenatal care, focusing not only on the mother’s physical needs but also on how outside factors impact overall health. This includes factors such as mental health and social factors like home life and family.
What makes a midwife’s prenatal care different from an OBGYN’s? Midwives focus on a more natural pregnancy and delivery with as little medical intervention as safely possible. During delivery, midwives rely on the body’s instincts to safely deliver the baby while caring for the mother’s emotional and physical needs. They utilize natural laboring techniques such as meditation, body position, and breathing techniques. The body is designed to deliver a baby, and midwives trust the natural process.
This isn’t to say midwives don’t provide medical care. A midwife will still provide evidence-based medical care to keep mother and baby safe throughout pregnancy and delivery. While the focus is on natural methods, modern medicine still plays a role in keeping both mother and baby healthy. Most midwives have a bachelor’s degree in nursing and go through additional certifications to become midwives.
Are Midwives Doctors?
One important point to clarify is whether midwives are considered doctors. While midwives have extensive medical training and certifications, they are not doctors. Most midwives are registered nurses who go through additional specialty training to become certified midwives. While they have a nursing degree and extensive medical training, they do not have physician qualifications like an OBGYN.
What is an OBGYN?
OBGYNs have gone to medical school and are licensed and certified to work with both low-risk and high-risk pregnancies. They work with expectant mothers throughout pregnancy and delivery, providing extensive medical care to keep both mother and baby healthy.
OBGYNs use their education and experience to provide tailored prenatal care and help you safely deliver your baby. They know how to balance your preexisting health with the changes that come with pregnancy and delivery.
OBGYNs focus on a more hands-on approach to delivery. They’re trained in medical intervention techniques such as c-sections and labor inductions. In the event of any complications, an OBGYN knows how to handle them and keep both mother and baby safe.
The Differences Between a Midwife and an OBGYN
OBGYNs and nurse midwives have similar education specialties, but there are differences between the two practices. While one practice isn’t better than the other, it’s important to understand the differences in how they approach caring for expectant mothers and babies.
When comparing a nurse midwife to an OBGYN, the main differences include credentials and education, as well as their methods of prenatal care and delivery.
Credentials and Education Background
Midwives and OBGYNs have different credentials and certifications to practice medicine. For midwives, there are three levels of credentials:
- Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): Registered nurses who have a master’s or doctorate in nursing plus certification from the American Midwifery Certification Board.
- Certified Midwife (CM): Non-nurses who have a post-graduate degree in midwifery, in addition to being certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board.
- Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): Midwife specialists who have been certified by the North American Registry of Midwives.
OBGYNs go through medical school and are either:
- Board Eligible: They have completed their residency, have their license to practice medicine, and haven’t been certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
- Board Certified: Certification from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology is an extra measure that shows your physician has gone above and beyond in their education and practice of medicine.
Midwives vs OBGYNs in Prenatal Care
When it comes to prenatal care during pregnancy, midwives and OBGYNs take varying approaches when caring for expectant parents and their babies. As mentioned previously, midwives take a more holistic approach to prenatal care and focus on more natural remedies. Prenatal care with a midwife includes mental health care and lifestyle changes to create a calm home environment and lower stress as much as possible.
In comparison, OBGYNs take a more clinical approach to prenatal care. Your medical team will schedule routine appointments and tests to keep a close eye on your health and the baby’s health. An OBGYN is also prepared in the event of an emergency that requires immediate medical care.
Midwives vs OBGYNs During Delivery
When comparing midwives to OBGYNs, a common difference that many people bring up is their approach to childbirth. Midwives specialize in low-risk deliveries, meaning deliveries with minimal risk of complications. They’re experts in water births and natural labor without medical intervention. Midwives can also deliver outside of a hospital setting, either at a birthing center or right at home.
OBGYNs specialize in high-risk deliveries that may require medical intervention. This includes c-sections, forceps, and other intensive medical intervention techniques. If you have a high-risk pregnancy with an increased risk of complications, an OBGYN will make sure you’re safe throughout delivery.
Many hospitals allow a hybrid medical team of both midwives and OBGYNs. This allows expectant mothers to labor naturally in a calm environment with the help of a midwife while also having access to medical care if needed. You can choose how much medical intervention you want with peace of mind that you’re in a hospital in the event of an emergency.
Similarities Between OBGYNs and Midwives
While OBGYNs and midwives have different approaches to prenatal care and delivery, they’re not as different as you might think. Similarities between these two practices include:
- Both are Highly Trained and Certified: OBGYNs and midwives are highly trained and have medical certifications to provide care during pregnancy and delivery. Both are qualified healthcare providers.
- Both Want to Give You the Best Experience: Pregnancy and delivery are beautiful experiences for expectant mothers, and both midwives and OBGYNs want to make sure your experience is a positive one overall.
- Both are Committed to Your Safety and Comfort: For both OBGYNs and midwives, your health is the number 1 priority. Both teams will work with you to make sure you’re healthy and comfortable throughout your pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period.
Choosing Between an OBGYN vs Midwife
If you’re trying to choose between an OBGYN or a midwife for your medical team, there is no right or wrong answer. It depends on factors such as the type of care and birthing experience you want, the risk level of your delivery, and how much medical intervention you want.
When making this decision, be sure to keep your risk level in mind. If you have a high-risk pregnancy with a concern for serious complications, you need the skill of an OBGYN to keep you and the baby safe. If you have no preexisting conditions and your pregnancy is low-risk, a midwife may work for you.
At the end of the day, create a medical care team that will help you achieve your birth plan while also keeping you and your baby safe and healthy.
Trust Your Care to Women’s Health Arizona
Putting together your medical team for prenatal care and delivery should align with your birth plan and the birthing experience you want. Knowing the differences between an OBGYN and a midwife helps you make an informed decision on who to pick for your team to keep you and your baby happy and healthy.
If you’re looking for prenatal care in the Greater Phoenix or Prescott area, Women’s Health Arizona is here to help. Our team of certified healthcare professionals will create a custom care plan so you have a comfortable and enjoyable pregnancy and birthing experience. We offer both midwife and OBGYN practitioners.
Contact Women’s Health Arizona today to schedule your first prenatal appointment!
