How to Prepare for Your First Pregnancy Ultrasound
Ultrasounds provide a safe and effective way of viewing your growing baby. Read on to learn more about why they are done and what you can expect at the appointment.
Historically when women learned they were going to have a baby, they would visit an OB/GYN who would lead them through their pregnancy, labor, and birth. While that route is still available — and a good choice for many women — there are other healthcare avenues women can explore as well. Using a midwife is one of them.
Dr. Thomas Hatchett and our midwife nurse practitioner Britteny Barron at Habersham OBGYN in Demorest, Georgia, offer a wide range of care for women throughout their lives. Whether you're in need of preventive services, cutting-edge treatment for a problem or are expecting and looking for a healthcare partner on the journey to motherhood, we can help.
Both midwives and OB/GYNs provide care for women throughout their pregnancies and labor and delivery. They are knowledgeable about prenatal needs and offer many similar services. It's possible, depending on a woman's personal situation and how the pregnancy progresses, that she may end up working with both. These two types of medical professionals are also trained in contraception and more.
OB’GYNs are medical doctors who can perform surgeries such as C-sections and provide interventions like inductions if complications arise. Midwives are not doctors but often have advanced education, either in the form of a master's degree or through an accredited education program. Several different types of midwives exist and their classification, as well as the laws in any given state, define what services they can offer. Many midwives partner with an obstetrician to give their patients the best of both worlds.
Midwives tend to focus on more than the medical aspects of pregnancy. They accompany women throughout the entire process, doing everything from conducting prenatal exams and educating their patients about various birthing plans to teaching them pain-reduction techniques to help potentially have a natural childbirth. They provide emotional support throughout the pregnancy and during the labor and delivery process. Even after the baby is born, they aid in lactation, offer advice about caring for a newborn, and give support in the postpartum stage, too.
Using a midwife comes with medical benefits also, including being less likely to need a C-section, labor induction, or augmentation. The risks of a preterm birth or loss of the baby are also decreased.
Midwives may be the right choice for parents-to-be seeking a more holistic experience. In addition, women typically should have no risk of gestational diabetes or preeclampsia, no need for induction, and have had a pregnancy that was healthy with a successful vaginal delivery previously.
If you are expecting and want to learn more about whether a midwife is right for you, call our office at 706-229-4718 for an appointment today or book one online.
