Each of us is different, just as each of our pregnancies will be different. Our outlook on how the pregnancy will be, what sort of control we want to have over our pregnancy and childbirth experience, and what degree of input we want from our prenatal caregiver will all influence the choice we make on who will be the best fit to provide prenatal care.

Before deciding on the exact caregiver that you want to work with you have to decide on what type of caregiver meets your needs. The decision might not be available if you are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy (you will likely have to receive care from an OB/GYN), but if your pregnancy is low risk then you certainly have some options.

There are basically three types of prenatal caregivers available to offer pregnancy and childbirth care. They are the traditional obstetrician, a family practitioner, or a certified nurse-midwife. Each caregiver brings something different to the table and depending on what you are looking for in prenatal care will influence your decision. Here is a brief over view of what each caregiver can provide.

Obstetrician: an OB/GYN is the most traditional and commonly used prenatal caregiver, according to “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” 80% of pregnant women use an OB/GYN for their prenatal, delivery, and post-partum care. An OB/GYN is a medical doctor who has gone through special training in obstetrical care. They can handle all aspects of your prenatal care, the delivery of the baby, and your post-partum care. If you are looking for a highly specialized caregiver, who can handle anything that may come up then an obstetrician is probably right for you.

Family Practitioner: I have to admit that I didn’t know your run of the mill family practitioner could offer pregnancy care…you learn something new everyday. A family practitioner is like a general practitioner, however, they specialize if being able to offer medical services to the whole family. They can render general health care, women’s reproductive care, and pediatric care. If you are looking for doctor that already knows you, and will get to know all aspects of your family then a family practitioner may be right for you. If you pregnancy becomes high risk they may need to refer you to an OB/GYN for care.

Midwife: Midwives offer a more holistic approach to treating pregnancy. They will provide more intimate care and likely spend more time talking to you about your concerns than a medical doctor. They offer the benefit of being more in control of your own pregnancy, and a variety of delivery options that may not be available with a traditional OB/GYN, for example the opportunity to deliver at home if you chose. A midwife is only for low risk pregnancies though, if your pregnancy is high risk you will want to find another type of caregiver. A midwife is ideal for those women looking for a caregiver that will give them the most control over their pregnancies and the most options when it comes to delivery.

Each caregiver provides their own unique approach to prenatal care. Once you have an idea of what type of caregiver you think will be right for you begin interviewing caregivers in order to find a personality match that is right for you. If you are not sure which type of caregiver will work best for you it might be a good idea to consult providers in each field before you make your decision. You are going to be spending a lot of time with which ever prenatal caregiver you choose so it is important to have a good rapport with them and to feel comfortable with their pregnancy care philosophy.

Here some good resources you can utilize to narrow down your search for a provider, or to get more information on the provider you have chosen.

Also, think about obtaining referrals from friends and family members who have recently had a baby. They can be great resources and can give some personal insight into the type of care they received.

Of course you may be limited on your options based on what types of caregivers are covered by your health insurance. It is always a good idea to call your health insurance carrier to get the low down on what types of providers they will cover for prenatal care, what types of locations they will cover for the delivery, and to get a list of providers that are within your network. Not all health insurance carriers will cover mid-wife administered care, and others will only cover the delivery if it takes place in a traditional hospital. It is always best to educate yourself ahead of time to avoid being surprised later when a huge bill arrives in the mail.