5 Things to Consider When Choosing an Obstetrician

For women who are pregnant or who want to become pregnant, finding the right doctor to partner up with can be rather frustrating. Obstetricians are well-trained in their field, and deciding which one to have in the delivery room when the time comes can be challenging. Some doctors offer other forms of treatment than others, while others are willing work with an expecting mother’s choices for certain types of birth. When searching for the right obstetrician, there are some key things to consider, and here are five of the most important ones that need to be addressed.

1. Recommendations from Other Women

Sometimes, word of mouth is the best method of finding out information. The easiest way to find out which obstetricians are available in a given area that is also reliable is to simply ask other women. This method avoids trial and error when looking for someone that will meet the needs and desires being sought. Some women might recommend the same doctor for various reasons, and these reasons could very well overlap. On the other hand, negative feedback can also be considered as well without having to risk a negative experience.

2. Consider Family Health History and High Risks

Some doctors specialize in working with patients who have certain family health histories. Northside Women’s Specialists said, “When diagnoses or risk for things such as diabetes or heart disease are possible factors at play, it might be a good idea to seek a doctor who has experience in working with these concerns.” For example, if there is a high risk for diabetes during pregnancy, then a high-risk doctor might be the best route to consider.

Some doctors are certified to specifically treat mothers who experience high-risk pregnancies. Factors that contribute to high-risk pregnancies include preeclampsia and medical conditions being treated before pregnancy occurs. Preeclampsia, by definition, occurs when an expecting mother experiences high blood pressure, the presentation of urinary proteins, and swelling occurs in certain parts of the body. If it is not treated appropriately, it can mean serious injury or death for both the mother and baby. Women who have kidney problems, STIs or STDs, high blood pressure, or lung problems need to be certain their obstetrician is able to easily treat these concerns, so they and the baby are safe and comfortable throughout the pregnancy. Therefore, a doctor’s history of treatment and certifications need to be considered before they are chosen.

3. Consider Hospital of Choice

Some obstetricians only work in connection with certain hospital systems. If only one hospital system is available in a given geographical area, then the chances that a pregnant woman can go to a hospital of choice and find a reliable obstetrician there is pretty high. However, there are chances of certain doctors only being tied to certain hospitals in larger cities. If an expecting mother prefers or dislikes one hospital over another due to previous interactions, then they will want to have a say in going to that hospital for labor and delivery. Therefore, contacting that hospital to find out which doctors work in affiliation with them is probably a good place to start when picking an obstetrician.

4. Look at Insurance Policies

Another major concern for expecting mothers when it comes to finding the right doctor is considering whether or not their insurance will cover visiting that doctor. If a doctor is not covered, the cost of labor and delivery and routine checkups are going to be much higher than those for a doctor – or hospital – that are covered. Luckily, most insurance companies maintain lists of which providers they work with, and almost all insurance policies cover treatments allowed and their related copays or deductible obligations in detail.

5. Type of Birth Desired

Probably one of the most common things a pregnant woman considers from the moment she finds out she is expecting is the type of birth she wishes to have. Certain providers only participate in the more traditional types of birthing. Therefore, if a desire exists for a water birth, a Cesarean, or home births, then doctors, hospitals, and insurance plans all have to be addressed.
There are so many decisions to make when a mom-to-be is planning for their pregnancy. One of the most stressful decisions of this planning is which obstetrician to work with. However, the right doctor does exist, and the choice can be easily made by doing a little research and having some basic conversations with friends, family, insurance companies, or doctors.