| In the first trimester your first task is to | | | | specializes in pregnancy care. |
| decide who you want to look after you during | | | | |
| your pregnancy and to deliver your baby. This | | | | Midwife care Midwives view pregnancy and |
| is a big decision and is linked with the type | | | | birth as an uncomplicated fact of everyday |
| of birth you want to have. There are several | | | | life. Usually they only look after low risk |
| options for choosing a care provider, whether | | | | patients, but most midwives will not consider |
| you want a physician or a midwife. | | | | you to be high risk just because you are over |
| | | | the age of 35. If you are having more than |
| Choosing A Care Provider | | | | one baby, have a significant medical problem, |
| | | | or have had a prior cesarean delivery you may |
| One of the most popular strategies for | | | | not be a good candidate for midwife care. |
| choosing a care provider is to ask friends | | | | Many midwives work with physician groups. |
| who have had babies in the last couple of | | | | Regardless of where you deliver, it is |
| years. Another approach is to decide where | | | | important that your midwife has easily |
| you want to deliver: a hospital, a free | | | | available physician backup in case you do |
| standing birthing center, or at home. | | | | need it cesarean delivery, especially because |
| Hospitals and birthing centers will usually | | | | cesarean deliveries are more common in women |
| have a list of care providers that deliver | | | | over 35. |
| with them. Other options include asking a | | | | |
| physician you know for a referral or finding | | | | Birthing center or home birth |
| a care provider through professional | | | | |
| organizations with internet sites. | | | | If you are having a normal, healthy |
| | | | pregnancy, the risk to you and your baby of |
| In the US, most prenatal care is provided by | | | | delivering in an alternative setting is low. |
| physicians, midwives deliver about 10 percent | | | | For women who have strong preferences about |
| of babies. In low risk women, choosing | | | | the use of oxytocin or continuous fetal |
| between a physician and a midwife is a | | | | monitoring delivery at a birthing center may |
| personal decision rather than a medical one. | | | | increase their chances of avoiding these |
| | | | interventions, In addition, because epidural |
| Physician care Physicians may view birth as | | | | analgesia is not usually available you are |
| uncomplicated for most women, but are more | | | | likely to receive more intensive labor |
| likely than midwives to be sensitized to the | | | | support for your pain. While some believe |
| development of potential medical problems, | | | | that delivering in a frec standing birthing |
| this focus on the medical aspects of | | | | center will reduce your likelihood of a |
| pregnancy has pros and cons for women over | | | | cesarean delivery or episiotomy, your care |
| the age of 35. If you prefer to be cared for | | | | giver's practice style is probably a more |
| by a physician, you can choose between an | | | | important determinant than where you deliver. |
| obstetrician and a family practitioner who | | | | |