If you have lots of fears about labor and delivery, you should probably stick with an obstetrician. Knowing an MD will be delivering your baby in a hospital with emergency equipment around in case something goes wrong can give you priceless peace of mind. Birthing centers are known for natural births with no routine interventions and for welcoming family, friends, and even siblings in the delivery room. Midwives believe that women should be partners in caring for themselves during pregnancy and childbirth. They encourage women to learn about the physical and emotional changes they're experiencing throughout pregnancy, and to think carefully about all tests and interventions so they can choose what's right for them.
Obstetricians are by far the most common choice for today's pregnant women.
In a recent BabyCenter poll , nearly two-thirds of women said they plan to use an obstetrician for their pregnancy and delivery. A quarter said they plan to use a midwife and the rest expect to use both. But most of the women who opted for a midwife were extremely happy with the results. In a related BabyCenter poll , more than 80 percent of the women who used a midwife for labor and delivery said they would do so again. Add your comments to the bottom of this page.