Who Will Deliver My Baby? Health Article

As the date of your delivery grows nearer, the number of choices for obstetrical care may overwhelm you. Any of the following people may deliver a baby:

• A certified nurse-midwife;
• A family physician;
• An obstetrician/gynecologist;
• A high-risk pregnancy specialist (maternal-fetal medicine, perinatologists).

You can also deliver at home with the assistance of a lay midwife. If your pregnancy is proceeding well without complication, you may be cared for equally well by a certified nurse-midwife, family physician, obstetrician/gynecologist, or maternal-fetal medicine specialist. But if there is a greater potential for complications, you may be better off seeking care from an obstetrician/gynecologist. Consultation or complete care by a maternal-fetal medicine specialist (perinatologist) is probably the best option for high-risk women.

For more information on who can deliver your baby, go to Labor & Delivery: Types of Midwives and Labor & Delivery: Types of Doctors.

For information on other Pre-Labor Decisions, go to Where Do I Give Birth?, Labor & Delivery: When Do I Seek Medical Care?, and How Do I Prepare for Labor?.