You might be deciding which professionals to involve in your precious pregnancy journey and birth. Why choose an Obstetrician? Make a safe decision; learn here!
Why Choose An Obstetrician
If you are pregnant, firstly, a big congratulation to you and your family! Next, you might be researching which professionals to involve in your precious pregnancy journey and birth. Why choose an Obstetrician?
An obstetrician is a highly trained medical expert who offers services depending on their speciality and advanced training. Some medical physicians nominate to practice obstetrics only; others choose to practice gynaecology. When choosing to practice both, they are referred to as OB/GYNs. These professionals offer a variety of services.
Why Choose An Obstetrician’s Diverse Services?
An obstetrician can offer services that include:
- Prenatal care such as:
- Checking on your baby’s growth and health
- Conduct routine tests and checks
- Help and guide you in preparation for labour and birth
- Ultrasounds are sometimes performed in their rooms.
- Labour and birth care
- Annual gynaecological appointments for pap smear tests, etc
- Abnormal Pap test treatment, such as cone biopsy, cryosurgery and colposcopy
- Guidance and support with contraceptive decisions
- Treatment of sexually transmitted diseases
- Treatment of acute and chronic medical conditions, e.g. endometriosis, PCOS
- Treatment for infertility
- Counselling for and management of menopause
Some patients consider the use of a midwife for prenatal care, labour and birth care. The midwife would work collaboratively with an Obstetrician, keeping them up to date and calling them in for complications.
Why Choose An Obstetrician’s Training and Certification?
An Obstetrician and gynaecologist have multiple phases of studying. They start with a 6-year bachelor’s degree from a medical school. Next, they undertake a Master of Medicine or “MMed” degree, which takes a minimum of 4 years. In addition, they complete a 2-year internship program and a 1-year residency program. This results in a minimum study time of 12 years.
The profession of midwifery is regulated under the Nursing Act, Act No 3 of 2005. SANC, the South African Nursing Council, manages midwife training which includes the elements of midwifery, general nursing, community nursing and psychiatry. It is a degree or a diploma of 4 years.
What Are The Advantages When You Choose an Obstetrician?
The first advantage of choosing an obstetrician is that they most likely already know you and have treated you for years. They will know your body’s unique health map and therefore make decisions based on substantial amounts of data.
Another time it is advantageous for a woman to choose an Obstetrician is when their pregnancy becomes a high-risk pregnancy. The additional benefits to using an Obstetrician include:
- Specialised training in complications such as preeclampsia or placenta previa
- Access to technology such as ultrasound and genetic testing
- Specialised surgical training
An obstetrician will attend the birth to assist with complications or if you are having a high-risk pregnancy. They manage any problems; perform assistive procedures or operations such as caesareans.
A midwife can lead throughout non-high-risk labour and childbirth as well as postnatal and will call in an obstetrician for complications beyond their scope.
Now you know the background, you can answer the question ‘why choose an obstetrician’ with ease. Book an appointment with our specialist obstetricians today.
