Choosing a Prenatal Health Care Provider
Throughout your pregnancy, it is extremely important that you receive regular prenatal care. Good prenatal care will help to ensure that you and your baby remain healthy throughout your pregnancy.
Before Choosing a Prenatal Health Care Practitioner
Before choosing a prenatal health care practitioner, you may wish to assess your needs and those of your baby. Consider what type of pregnancy, birth and delivery you would like to have. If you are interested in a natural or home childbirth, seek a practitioner who specializes in these types of deliveries. If you would like to give birth in a hospital, you may want to find a prenatal care provider who works in a hospital setting. If you are experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, you may require a practitioner who has special expertise in the area of obstetrics and prenatal health.
Types of Prenatal Care Practitioners
There are different prenatal health care providers, each offering different types of services. All have completed some type of training in the field of prenatal care, labour, and delivery. More information on each type of prenatal care practitioner is available by clicking on the link in the descriptions below.
- An obstetrician (OB) is a doctor who specializes in the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth and recuperation from delivery.
- A family physician is a doctor with training in all aspects of health care for every member of the family. A family practice doctor can be your health care provider before, during and after your pregnancy, and your baby's doctor, too. Some family physicians also provide obstetrical care (attending deliveries), others prefer to refer you to another practitioner at a certain stage in your pregnancy.
- A midwife is a trained professional who provides complete and comprehensive care to women through all stages of pregnancy and birth and continues to care for both mother and baby for six weeks postpartum.
- A doula, sometimes referred to as a birth assistant, provides practical and emotional support to a woman or couple during and/or after the baby is born. Doulas are trained to provide non-medical services to assist during labour, delivery and post-partum. A doula’s services would compliment those offered by an obstetrician, family physician or midwife.