How to Choose a Quality Provider (Midwife or OBGYN)

​Are you pregnant in Nashville and wondering how to choose the right OBGYN or midwife for your pregnancy and birth?  Here are some of our top tips.

​Choosing a quality midwife or OBGYN for your pregnancy is an important decision and is key to having a positive birth experience.  Like many of the decisions in pregnancy, it can also feel overwhelming. You want to find someone who you feel comfortable with, someone you trust, and someone who you know will provide you with the best possible care. In our work with Nashville families, we have found this process to be helpful in choosing your provider:

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Ask Yourself:

• What matters to you?  Get specific on what you are looking for in a provider.  Is it the amount of time they spend with you, how they make you feel, whether they tend to recommend more natural recommendations, their approach to care, etc.  Do you have specific goals such as unmedicated birth, VBAC, spontaneous labor/avoiding an induction, over 35 years of age, etc?
  

• What type of provider do you want, an OBGYN or midwife?  To learn more about the differences in midwives and OB’s, check out our blog post, Doulas, Midwives, and OBGYN’s Explained

• Where do you want to give birth?  Do you want to give birth in a hospital, birth center, or home?  Do you have a specific place in mind?  Things to consider are hospital policies, location, and the financial aspect such as insurance coverage.  Check out the Nashville Birth Place Comparison Guide, to see a side-by-side comparison of local hospitals and birth centers on many of their major policies and options. 

​Reach Out For The Intel:

• Ask your friends, family, and coworkers for recommendations, but don’t be afraid to step out and try something new if it is calling you.  Sometimes, joining a local mom’s Facebook group can be helpful.  You can search the group for specific provider names to see if there are trends in feedback.  You can also pose a question to the group about specific providers or general recommendations. When gathering info on providers, be specific for what you are looking for (type of provider, location, what matters to you) so that answers are more specific.  For example:​
  • “I’m looking for a naturally-minded OBGYN or midwife that takes time and listens, etc.”
  • “I’m looking for a homebirth midwife that accepts VBAC patients.”
  • “I’m looking for an OBGYN that is trauma-informed and respects my preference for minimal cervical checks, and is open to me delivering in whatever position I choose.” 

​​As with all reviews, keep in mind that not everyone has the same values for care, so use that as another filter.  

• Ask us! Set up a consult to chat through what you are looking for in your birth and who/where might align.  We have experience with dozens of Nashville midwives and OB’s in most of the major birth places in Middle Tennessee (St. Thomas Midtown, Vanderbilt Hospital, Vanderbilt Birth Center, TriStar Centennial, TriStar Summit in Hermitage, TriStar StoneCrest in Smyrna, Williamson Medical Center in Franklin, St. Thomas Rutherford in Murfreesboro, and many homebirth midwives).  We also help you to know which questions to ask your provider based on your specific health profile and preferences, so you can have productive and richer doctor visits.  ​

Tour and Interview:

• Tour the birth places and ask questions relevant to your wants and needs.
  
• Schedule a visit with your short list of providers and see who you feel most comfortable with. Ask questions about their philosophy of care, their experience with different types of births, and their availability.  Pay attention to how the provider makes you feel. Do you feel comfortable and supported? Do they listen to your concerns and answer your questions? Do they make you feel like you're in control of your own care?
  

Don’t be afraid to Switch Providers during Pregnancy:

• We can’t always get a full feel of the provider and their style of care in an interview.  If you begin to have doubts about your care while pregnant, work to communicate directly with your provider to see if you can work through it.  If not, take the steps to explore other options.  We have had several families do this and they don’t regret it.   We shouldn’t have to sacrifice how we feel with a provider for quality care.  We can have both!  Don’t be afraid to put in a little extra work to switch providers.  This is your birth experience and it is worth it!