Pregnancy: Choosing a Health Professional

Overview

You have a choice about who will deliver your baby. Doctors and midwives are trained to provide medical care and support before, during, and after the birth.

Doctors and midwives share the same goal. They want you and your baby to be healthy. But their training and approaches may be different.

Doctors

Doctors have more medical training than midwives. For example, doctors can perform more medical procedures like an amniocentesis or a caesarean (C-section) delivery.

Doctors are also trained to treat more serious problems, and most doctors deliver babies only at hospitals.

Doctors who can deliver babies include:

• Obstetricians, who specialize in the care of pregnant women.
• Perinatologists, who specialize in high-risk pregnancy.
• Family doctors who provide pregnancy (obstetric) care.

Midwives

Midwives may not do as many medical tests as doctors. And they often teach you how to use comfort measures to manage pain during labour.

If you work with a midwife, you may be able to have your baby at a hospital, a birthing centre, or at home.

Midwives must be registered by their provincial regulatory body in order to practice.

What to think about

Whether you choose a doctor or a midwife, it's important to find someone who can work closely with you and share in decision making. This partnership is key to getting the care that is best for you and your baby.