Midwife or OB?

 I've been debating this back and forth.  I had all these ideas about what it would be like, and I had no idea how much different it was going to be from my "idealized vision."  I thought I was going to have a doctor that would know me, was familiar with me and would be there when I needed the help.  The doctor that I chose would be there for the birth of my child, and all that stuff.  From what little I have seen at my current OB/GYN office, in comparison to the care that one of my friends had for her birth, and for a woman who's journal I have been following on fetlife.

I don't want to be a number, or just another patient on a doctors huge list at a practice.  I want someone who knows me, knows what I've been going through and will be there every step of the way for me, and with me.  I've done a bit of research tonight, and I want to share what I have found, so that I have it to look back on and so that my Sir can read it as well and see where I am at thought wise.

60-80% of pregnancies are considered "low risk" Midwives are the best equipped for these type of pregnancies.  There are however some midwives that do and can handle multiple births and some riskier pregnancies, but midwives are  educated to spot and notice potential problems or issues to refer them to an OB.  In addition, most midwives practice with an OB and work together.

According to Wikipedia-
A midwife is specialized in low risk pregnancy, childbirth, and post partum.  The goal of a midwife is a healthy, natural birthing experience.  An OB on the other hand is specialized in illness related to childbirth and surgery.  They are complementary- In addition to this fact I did learn that at the local hospital I wish to use there are three Nurse midwives on staff to be with me during my pregnancy for when the doctor is otherwise occupied (aka not there).

Americanpregnancy.org  states that Midwife is a term that refers more to a philosophy of care that offers a wide variety of options with minimal unnecessary interventions.    
     The midwives model of care-

• Monitor physical, psychological,and social wellbeing of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle.
• Provide the mother with individualized education, counseling, and prenatal care, continuous hands on assistance during labor and delivery, and post partum support.
• Minimize technological intervention
• Identify and refer women who require obstetrical attention.

Most midwives carry the following equipment, supplies and medication during home birth: oxygen, bag and mask for neonatal resuscitation, laryngoscope for neonatal resuscitation, IV therapy equipment, basic anti-hemorrhagic medication, suturing supplies (suture and lidocaine), fetoscope and hand-held Doppler, Rescu-Vac and/or DeLee catheter for deep suction of the newborn if necessary (as in the case with passage of meconium), urinary catheters, vitamin K for newborn blood clotting, and erythromycin ointment for newborn infection prophylaxis.


I have looked for a few local midwives that I want to do some research on, and I have the name of the closest midwife group to the hospital that I want to use (barring some unforseen circumstance) who I believe are the midwives that they keep close by.  I also want to tour the hospital sooner rather than later to see if they can shed any light on my decision.  I think that in this moment, I would rather have a midwife and delivery at a hospital, for the more personal attention, and the less " Just another patient" feeling.