Choosing the right obstetrician prior to delivery is an important step in ensuring a safe and successful childbirth experience.
The selection process involves identifying factors such as qualifications, location, comfort level with the doctor and patient-doctor communication. We’ll show you how in this blog post!
What To Look for When Choosing an Obstetrician
#1 Your Needs and Preferences
The first step is to consider your own health needs and preferences. Ask yourself questions such as: Do I need an OB/GYN who specializes in high-risk pregnancies?
What kind of delivery do I want — natural childbirth or cesarean section? Which hospitals does my doctor work with? Are they available when I’m due?
#2 Experience and Certification
It is important to look at their credentials as well as patient reviews to ensure they have a good track record with patients during childbirth. Additionally, it is important that prospective obstetricians have up-to-date medical knowledge and equipment available in the event of any complications during delivery.
#3 Meet Physically
It is also wise to meet with potential obstetricians prior to making your final decision. During this meeting you should ask about availability, insurance coverage, hospital affiliations, emergency procedures and other pertinent questions related to your specific situation.
This will help you feel confident that the doctor or practice fits your needs and wants when it comes to delivering your baby.
#4 Asking for Referrals from Friends and Family
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) suggests that individuals should consider asking current or past patients about their experience with an obstetrician to make sure they are making an informed decision when selecting a doctor.
You may want to ask questions such as “how long did you wait for appointments?” or “was your doctor available after hours if needed?” to your relatives. Furthermore, ACOG recommends speaking directly with the staff at the hospital or clinic where the doctor practices to ensure that he or she meets all necessary qualifications.
#5 Communication
During pregnancy, there are many tests, scans and consultations with medical professionals involved. An effective communication between patient and doctor can ensure all questions are answered.
#6 Specialization
Some Boise obstetricians specialize in low-risk pregnancies while others focus on high-risk cases such as diabetes or multiple births;
#7 Availability
In case of emergency situations like premature birth, having access to a specialist at short notice could make a huge difference.
Obstetricians vs Gynecologists: Which One You Need?
They specialize in different areas of care for expectant parents throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum:
Obstetricians
Obstetricians are medical doctors who specialize in caring for women before, during, and after pregnancy. They typically provide comprehensive pre-natal care, including regular checkups with ultrasounds and blood tests. It’s important to note they can also perform cesarean sections if needed. Some may even have specialized training in high risk pregnancies such as twin or triplet births.
Gynecologists
Gynecologists focus on female reproductive health outside of pregnancy. While some gynecologists will still provide prenatal care for low-risk pregnancies, most refer patients out for more specialized care from an obstetrician once the patient becomes pregnant.
Gynecologists may also be able to provide additional services such as contraception counseling or infertility treatments depending on their area of specialty.
Here are four points about these two specialists:
- An obstetrician is trained specifically in managing all aspects of a woman’s pregnancy while a gynecologist focuses only on non-pregnancy related issues concerning female reproductive health;
- Obstetricians can diagnose conditions like gestational diabetes or preeclampsia and administer tests like amniocentesis;
- Gynecologists can assess risk factors associated with STDs and cervical cancer screening;
- Both OB/GYNs understand the importance of providing personalized care tailored to each individual patient’s needs.
Discussing Your Delivery Preferences with Your Potential Obstetrician
Think about the type of environment in which you would like to deliver, as well as any special requirements or desires that are unique for you. This will allow you to narrow down your list before assessing their bedside manner and exploring other aspects such as:
- Their approach to prenatal care
- Availability during labor & delivery
- Postpartum follow up visits
- Pain management preferences
- Support staff/hospital affiliations
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Do If I Have a Problem with My Obstetrician?
First, it is essential to identify exactly why the problem exists in order to determine whether or not it can be rectified through communication between both parties. It could also be that the patient’s needs have changed since deciding on the obstetrician.
Therefore, looking into alternative providers might become necessary. Here are three key points to keep in mind while going through this process:
- Research potential new physicians thoroughly by looking into their credentials and read reviews from those who have used them before.
- Request recommendations from friends, family members or colleagues who have gone through similar situations in the past.
- Schedule consultations with any prospective doctors so as to get information about how they would handle different scenarios and discuss your expectations of them.
If a situation arises where switching providers becomes unavoidable, then it’s wise to follow-up with both parties involved beforehand to ensure all is clear and no further miscommunication occurs thereafter.
Additionally, inform your insurance company of any changes made regarding your coverage plan for prenatal visits and deliveries. This way, you don’t incur unexpected medical bills later down the line.
In some cases, discussing these matters directly with a financial counselor at the hospital could help streamline things even more efficiently.
What Is The Policy If I Need To Cancel Or Reschedule An Appointment?
Depending on the doctor’s practice, they may have specific rules in place that must be followed. Additionally, some doctors charge a fee for missed appointments or late cancellations so it is important to understand if this applies and what these fees involve.
Some practices will require pre-booking before attending consultations while others offer walk-in services which could facilitate a quicker visit in certain cases. Knowing beforehand what options are available could help ensure that getting an appointment does not become a hazzle during pregnancy.
Is There a Cost Difference to Delivering in A Hospital or Birthing Center?
The answer to this question is not as simple as a yes or no. There are several factors involved that will affect the overall price tag.
Hospital births typically involve higher medical bills due to potential emergency services required such as labor induction drugs, IVs and epidurals administered by anesthesiologists, ultrasounds done throughout labor, and more.
Birthing centers generally offer lower prices since they don’t provide any additional procedures or operate specialized equipment used at hospitals which adds up quickly on your bill.
Are There Any Additional Fees for Delivery Services?
Here are some items to consider:
- Are there ultrasound-related bills separate from the overall fee for labor and delivery?
- Does my insurance cover incidental costs such as epidurals or ultrasounds?
- What kind of payment plans do you offer if necessary?
These types of questions will help provide a comprehensive overview of financial obligations associated with giving birth.
Conclusion
By carefully researching all available options and weighing them against one another, expecting parents will be able to make an informed and confident decision when choosing obstetricians in Boise.
The journey of parenthood should begin on a positive note by ensuring that you have selected the best health care provider.
