An obstetrician is a medical doctor who specializes in female reproductive issues, pregnancy, and childbirth. These physicians are also often referred to as OB/GYNs. They go through advanced training programs that focus on issues such as the following: pregnancy, prenatal health, health issues following childbirth, genetics, childbirth, and labor. When choosing an obstetrician, women should therefore take special care that he or she meets their specific needs. Take the following tips on how to choose an obstetrician into account to make sure you get the best obstetrician possible:
How to Find an Obstetrician
As you will soon realize, how to find an obstetrician is not necessarily the same as how to choose an obstetrician. Your friends and family members should be able to quickly recommend one or more obstetricians. But that does not mean he or she will suit your particular needs.
Ask your family and friends to recommend someone
Choosing an obstetrician could be as easy as asking your family members and friends for recommendations. Also, ask them to explain why they think this is the best obstetrician. Does he or she have many years of experience and/or scarce skills? How is their bedside manner? How long did they have to wait to get an appointment?
Do an online search
Just in case the people close to you are not of much help when you are stressing about how to find an obstetrician: an online search should come up with quite a few near you. But you will most likely also find out that knowing how to find an obstetrician is one thing but knowing how to choose one can be much more involved.
How to Choose an Obstetrician
Confirm recommendations by checking a couple of online reviews
Conduct your own online research. Oftentimes, this is the best solution. Although your friends and family mean well, just because someone suits them does not necessarily mean they will suit you as well. It’s typically not difficult to find online reviews about professional people. Try to confirm that others had the same experience with this particular physician and that they also view him or her as the best obstetrician. Some websites allow visitors to rate their obstetricians and share their personal experiences. Once you know how to choose an obstetrician (and how not to), you will also learn to understand that a single bad review doesn’t necessarily mean you are dealing with a bad obstetrician.
Is he or she the best obstetrician, considering your health history?
Considering your health history will help you pinpoint particular issues that might in the future necessitate specialized obstetric or gynecological care. If you suffer from certain chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, for example, you could face increased risks during pregnancy. You might also need a different obstetrician if you previously experienced problems during pregnancy or had to undergo a C-section.
Check the credentials of possible obstetricians
Before choosing the best obstetrician, visit their website to see whether their credentials can be found there. The following factors are particularly important:
- How many years they have been practicing
- Where they attended medical school
- Hospitals they are affiliated to
- Areas in which they specialize
- That they have been certified by the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecology
Consider how much using that particular obstetrician will cost you
Depending on your specific circumstances, this might be one of the most important factors. Find out how much your private health fund is going to pay, how much you will have to pay out of pocket, and what additional costs you can expect, e.g., ultrasound scans, blood tests, assistant fees, anesthetic fees, and hospital fees. Phone around. A trustworthy obstetric practice will be honest and open when it comes to this type of information.
Location is important when choosing an obstetrician
You will understand the importance of this once your delivery day arrives. While a 50-mile drive along a beautiful beachfront might be a very relaxing experience on any other day, you might not feel the same way when the birth pains are starting to get closer together. Also, remember that you will probably have to visit the obstetrician a few times before you give birth. So before choosing an obstetrician, check that his or her location suits your needs.
Make sure the obstetrician offers backup support
No doctor can be at all places all the time. What will happen if you unexpectedly experience some sort of crisis? If that happens you will be glad you checked whether your obstetrician has a backup system in place. Also, find out as much as possible about the members of this backup team to ensure that they meet the same high standards you require from your primary obstetrician.
Ensure that you have an easy rapport with your obstetrician
Sometimes the best-trained doctor with the most experience might have a horrible bedside manner. Take into account that you and your obstetrician will have to work very closely together during the pregnancy. They are going to ask you a lot of very personal questions about issues such as your reproductive health. Plus they will carry out a full gynecological examination. It is, therefore, important, that you feel you can discuss anything related to your pregnancy with him or her. They should listen to what you are saying, and be ready to put your mind at ease about things that worry you. If you feel uncomfortable, consider the next alternative on the list.
Related pregnancy care services: Who else is on the team?
Ask the obstetrician you are about to choose who else will be part of the team. If the need arises, will you have access to related services like e.g., a physiotherapist, a midwife, or a pathologist? Women sometimes develop anxiety or depression during pregnancy, so also check whether there is a psychologist or psychiatrist on the team. Find out whether the obstetrician will see you every time, or whether you will also meet other members of the team, depending on your needs at that particular moment.
Make sure you and your obstetrician share similar values
During every visit to the OB/GYN various topics will arise, including potential issues with your pregnancy, birth control, post-delivery care, and childbirth. If you are not open to more or less the same things, it will be difficult to develop a trusting relationship. Ensuring that you and your obstetrician share similar values will make future interactions much more relaxed and comfortable.
Understand that your decision isn’t cast in stone
Choosing an obstetrician is part science and part art. But now that you understand better how to choose an obstetrician, you should not forget that you are the one that has the right to make the final decision. If your relationship with the obstetrician you initially chose doesn’t work out, sit down with him or her and discuss your concerns. Sometimes it might simply be a misunderstanding. But if it turns out that you have irreconcilable differences and you feel it’s better to find a new obstetrician , this remains your prerogative. Sometimes he or she might be part of a major clinic, in which case it will be easy to set up an appointment with someone else.
Final Thoughts About Choosing an OB/GYN
In this article, we tried to objectively explain the criteria you should use when choosing an OB/GYN. Do you think we succeeded? We would love to hear from you. You will find our contact details on our website and you will also be able to schedule an appointment from there. While you are there, why not read more about the services we provide and the people behind those services.