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