Dr. Rujul Jhaveri Shares Tips On Choosing The Right Obstetrician/Gynecologist For Pregnancy And Childbirth

When you are expecting a baby there are many important decisions you need to make. The first and the most important is the kind of health care provider you want for your care during pregnancy and childbirth.

Yes, it’s important to choose who will help care for you during your pregnancy, labour, and delivery but it’s also important to understand and explore the options before you make the final decision.

You may choose from an Obstetrician to a Perinatologist, a family doctor or a certified nurse or midwife, but the role of each of them is different, as they come with different skills and training. Choosing a healthcare provider also depends on factors like:

• The type of birth experience you prefer.
• Health and risk factors caused by problems during pregnancy.
• Your local resources.

The Obstetric Health Care Providers Are:

1. Obstetricians: An obstetrician or an OB is a doctor who has specialised training  in women’s pregnancy and pregnancy health. They are specialised in caring for women during their  pregnancy as well as  labour and delivery. 
2. Perinatologist: An obstetrician who specialises in high-risk pregnancies, preconception counselling, prenatal diagnosis and treatment.
3. Family Doctor: A doctor who specialises in the health care of all family members and can treat different conditions and illnesses. They are trained to provide normal OB/GYN care, but not high-risk or complicated pregnancies.
4. Certified Nurse-Midwives: Midwives and nurses work with obstetricians, they are trained in providing obstetric and newborn care. They are often part of a labour and delivery team, who help expecting mums from the first prenatal visit, through their labour, delivery, and post the birth of the baby.

This article talks about choosing the right Obstetrician Or Gynecologist For Pregnancy And Childbirth. Speaking about the same, Dr. Rujul Jhaveri, Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Hinduja Hospital tells BabyChakra that choosing a healthcare provider for pregnancy and childbirth is a personal decision that one needs to make.

“If you’re like many women, you may find it difficult to reveal the most intimate parts of your body and life to a doctor. Even if you’re excited about expecting a baby, finding an obstetrician/gynaecologist (Ob/Gyn) can feel like a huge task. However, your health, and your baby’s health if you’re pregnant, depends on it,” she adds.

How Do You Find The Best Obstetrician or Gynecologist Who Is Right For You? 

Dr. Rujul Jhaveri shares some important factors to keep in mind while choosing an Obstetrician Or Gynecologist:

1. Get Referrals

To get started, ask your primary care doctor for a referral list. Family, friends and other healthcare providers are also good resources for recommendations. Take the time to research the doctors’ credentials and experience. As you narrow your list, call each Ob/Gyn’s clinic and ask for a consult appointment to meet the doctor.

2. Research the Obstetrician or Gynecologist’s Credentials

Degrees and  certifications are the most important considerations when choosing an Ob/Gyn. It shows you that the doctor has the necessary training, skills and experience to provide gynecologic and obstetric care.

3. Consider the Obstetrician Or Gynecologist’s Experience

When you’re facing a high-risk pregnancy or a complex gynecologic problem, experience matters. The more experience a doctor has with a condition or procedure, the better your results are likely to be. In addition, some Ob/Gyns focus on obstetrics, and some focus exclusively on gynaecology. Others specialise in gynecologic cancer treatment. 

4. Consider Gender

It is important for you to feel comfortable with your Ob/Gyn’s gender because you will need to openly discuss personal information. Think about if gender matters to you and whether you might feel inhibited or awkward in front of an Ob/Gyn of a certain gender. At the same time, for potentially serious health concerns, don’t deny yourself the best professional care because of the doctor’s gender.

5. Research Hospital Quality

Your doctor’s hospital is your hospital. For this reason, consider the quality of care at the hospital where the Ob/Gyn can treat patients. Hospital quality matters to you because patients at top-rated hospitals have fewer complications and better survival rates. Additionally, consider whether the hospital’s location is important to you. Frequent trips back and forth to the hospital may mean you need a convenient location to make it manageable. Do consider hospitals with Good Neonatal Intensive care setup and paediatric super speciality services.

6. Evaluate Communication Style

Choose an Ob/Gyn with whom you are comfortable talking and who supports your information needs. When you first meet the Ob/Gyn, ask a question and notice how he or she responds. Does he or she welcome your questions and answer them in ways that you can understand? Find an Ob/Gyn who shows an interest in getting to know you, who will consider your treatment preferences, and who will respect your decision-making process. 

7. Read Patient Reviews

Reading what other people have to say about a doctor can provide insight into how a doctor practises medicine, as well as how his or her medical practice is operated. Patient reviews typically reflect people’s experience with scheduling appointments, wait times, clinic environment, and clinic friendliness. You can learn how well patients trust the doctor, how much time he or she spends with their patients, and how well he or she answers questions.

8. Know What Your Insurance Covers

Your insurance coverage is a practical matter. To receive the most insurance benefits and pay the least out-of-pocket for your care, you may need to choose an Obstetrician Or Gynecologist who participates in your plan.

As new parents you have to evaluate all the factors and probably speak to the practitioners, until you find the one you are comfortable with, and fits your needs. Once you know your options based on approach, cost, and location, you can narrow down your search. The tips above are sure to help you decide on the best Obstetrician Or Gynecologist for you.

Cover image source: i.cbc.ca