Best Way to Understand and Choose a Good Obstetrician

Licensed medical physicians who provide prenatal care and deliver babies are usually obstetricians. They specialize in the care of women during pregnancy and are board certified in prenatal care, delivery, and care of gynecological (women’s) issues. Obstetricians, or OB/GYNs, provide prenatal care, with or without the assistance of a nurse prac­titioner, in a professional office. Many are trained as surgeons to per­form cesarean deliveries and obstetric and gynecological procedures.

An OB/GYN nurse practitioner is a registered nurse with special­ized training in pregnancy and is fully versed in prenatal obstetrical care. Many NPs have master’s degrees in obstetrics and women’s health. A nurse practitioner can provide prenatal care, diagnose prob­lems with pregnancy, and prescribe medications. Many nurse practi­tioners focus on educating you and your partner about pregnancy and work closely with an obstetrician.

Most hospitals now have birthing suites—rooms designed to look like a birthing center room or even a hotel room. The more medical-looking equipment is hidden from view but available when needed. In general, you’re encouraged to remain upright and let gravity help the birth progress, especially in early labor. You can walk around the room and hallway, sit in a chair, and take showers to make going through the labor more comfortable. It’s likely you’ll be given fluids intra­venously, which may limit your movement somewhat but keep you from getting dehydrated. It’s very important to be adequately hydrated to maintain your strength for the physical work of labor.

When the need arises, this bedroomlike setting can quickly be transformed into a hospital room equipped to handle most birth situ­ations. Your partner or other family members can stay with you through the labor and delivery, unless there’s an emergency situation.

Having a doctor-assisted hospital birth means having the option to use an epidural or pain-blocking medications during your labor. An epidural is a medication delivered to the lower back. It can help you tolerate labor pain and is available should the labor become too diffi­cult. Many women feel strongly about the benefits of an epidural; oth­ers do not.

Many couples feel the biggest advantage of a doctor-assisted hospi­tal birth is the fact that if any part of your labor goes awry and emer­gency intervention or a cesarean becomes necessary, the most up-to-date medical technology and personnel are right there to take care of the problem.

In a hospital delivery, you and the baby will usually stay two days after a vaginal birth and three to four days after a cesarean birth, pro­viding there are no complications. The hospital staff will continually check you and your baby for problems and ensure that you are both doing well after the delivery.