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Should I be an OBGYN or a midwife?
I really want to be an OBGYN or midwife, but I don't know which one is more suited to what I want to work as. I am really caring and want to deliver babies and take care of the patients but I am also really interested in helping plan the delivery and checking up on the patient. Which would be better for me and how can I see the difference?
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Rachel’s Answer
As an experienced OB nurse with 30 years experience I have a few questions for you to consider to help you make your decision. Now we are in different countries but I don't believe the roles are that different.
Do you have any interest in being a surgeon? Midwives are not able to perform cesarean deliveries, only obstetricians. Also OBGYN doctors do gyn surgeries as well.
Are you interested in possibly performing deliveries in the patient's home? Obstetricians only deliver in the hospitals.
Do you like spending time with your patients, planning the birth, incorporating whole person care and including support persons in the birth plan? Midwives typically do this better than obstetricians.
What is your level of interest in gynecology? Obstetricians spend a significant amount of time seeing gynecological patients.
And finally, how much time do your want to commit to going to school? OBGYN doctors spend more time in school. I don't the specifics for Australia but it is always more than a midwife.
The other things about the job itself are similar, on call, working long hours, working all sorts of hours through the night, stressful (and rewarding), responsibility (and joy), sadness (and triumphs). We all feel that in this field.
Hope this helps a bit in your exploration.
Do you have any interest in being a surgeon? Midwives are not able to perform cesarean deliveries, only obstetricians. Also OBGYN doctors do gyn surgeries as well.
Are you interested in possibly performing deliveries in the patient's home? Obstetricians only deliver in the hospitals.
Do you like spending time with your patients, planning the birth, incorporating whole person care and including support persons in the birth plan? Midwives typically do this better than obstetricians.
What is your level of interest in gynecology? Obstetricians spend a significant amount of time seeing gynecological patients.
And finally, how much time do your want to commit to going to school? OBGYN doctors spend more time in school. I don't the specifics for Australia but it is always more than a midwife.
The other things about the job itself are similar, on call, working long hours, working all sorts of hours through the night, stressful (and rewarding), responsibility (and joy), sadness (and triumphs). We all feel that in this field.
Hope this helps a bit in your exploration.
Updated
Aisha’s Answer
Hi NaTasha,
Choosing between becoming an OBGYN or a midwife depends on your interests and how much medical responsibility you want to take on.
- **OBGYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist)**: As an OBGYN, you’d be a licensed medical doctor specializing in both pregnancy and women's reproductive health. You'd be involved in more complex cases, handle surgeries (like C-sections), and manage high-risk pregnancies. The path requires about 12 years of education and training (4 years of undergrad, 4 years of medical school, and 4 years of residency).
- **Midwife**: Midwives focus on supporting women through low-risk pregnancies, natural births, and postpartum care. They provide personalized care and are involved in delivery planning and follow-ups, which aligns with your desire to be hands-on in patient care. Midwives typically pursue a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) followed by a midwifery program, which is shorter than the OBGYN path.
**How to Decide**:
- If you're drawn to medical procedures, surgeries, and high-risk cases, OBGYN might suit you better.
- If you're more focused on holistic care, building close relationships with patients, and guiding natural births, midwifery might be a better fit.
You could shadow both an OBGYN and a midwife to get a firsthand look at the differences in their daily work!
Choosing between becoming an OBGYN or a midwife depends on your interests and how much medical responsibility you want to take on.
- **OBGYN (Obstetrician-Gynecologist)**: As an OBGYN, you’d be a licensed medical doctor specializing in both pregnancy and women's reproductive health. You'd be involved in more complex cases, handle surgeries (like C-sections), and manage high-risk pregnancies. The path requires about 12 years of education and training (4 years of undergrad, 4 years of medical school, and 4 years of residency).
- **Midwife**: Midwives focus on supporting women through low-risk pregnancies, natural births, and postpartum care. They provide personalized care and are involved in delivery planning and follow-ups, which aligns with your desire to be hands-on in patient care. Midwives typically pursue a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN) followed by a midwifery program, which is shorter than the OBGYN path.
**How to Decide**:
- If you're drawn to medical procedures, surgeries, and high-risk cases, OBGYN might suit you better.
- If you're more focused on holistic care, building close relationships with patients, and guiding natural births, midwifery might be a better fit.
You could shadow both an OBGYN and a midwife to get a firsthand look at the differences in their daily work!
Updated
Charanpreet’s Answer
Hello Natasha,
Both paths you're considering, becoming an OB/GYN or a certified midwife, are filled with wonderful opportunities. If you choose the path of an OB/GYN, you'll embark on an enriching but demanding journey. This path involves becoming a doctor first, a process that usually spans 8-10 years post high school, but the rewards are immense.
Alternatively, the journey to becoming a certified midwife begins with becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), followed by a specialized certification course. There are indeed courses for non-nursing midwives, but bear in mind that the job market for such professionals can be restrictive in many states.
Regardless of the path you choose, both OB/GYNs and certified midwives are essential in delivering healthcare services to women. To tread the path of a certified midwife, you'll need to complete a 4-year nursing program, acquire field experience, and then enroll in a midwifery course. Both professions offer a broad spectrum of services such as care for expectant mothers, family planning, and addressing women's health concerns. Generally, midwives manage low-risk cases and refer high-risk cases to OB/GYNs.
It's vital to weigh the personal and professional dimensions of each career to make the best decision for your future. Remember, both paths are rewarding and make a significant impact on women's health.
Both paths you're considering, becoming an OB/GYN or a certified midwife, are filled with wonderful opportunities. If you choose the path of an OB/GYN, you'll embark on an enriching but demanding journey. This path involves becoming a doctor first, a process that usually spans 8-10 years post high school, but the rewards are immense.
Alternatively, the journey to becoming a certified midwife begins with becoming a Registered Nurse (RN), followed by a specialized certification course. There are indeed courses for non-nursing midwives, but bear in mind that the job market for such professionals can be restrictive in many states.
Regardless of the path you choose, both OB/GYNs and certified midwives are essential in delivering healthcare services to women. To tread the path of a certified midwife, you'll need to complete a 4-year nursing program, acquire field experience, and then enroll in a midwifery course. Both professions offer a broad spectrum of services such as care for expectant mothers, family planning, and addressing women's health concerns. Generally, midwives manage low-risk cases and refer high-risk cases to OB/GYNs.
It's vital to weigh the personal and professional dimensions of each career to make the best decision for your future. Remember, both paths are rewarding and make a significant impact on women's health.
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Natasha !
This is a great question and shows that you are very caring and have a definite drive to be involved in health care. Advisor Charanpreet Walia has give some important information to weigh out in making your decision and I would like to encourage you to keep exploring both careers as, at some point, you will decide which one best fits your academic and future plans. You have been inspired, but now is the time to read about and think more about these two careers.
In your country of Australia, some midwives can prescribe medication to patients. You would sometimes work on your own and sometimes collaborate with other health professionals. Although you can work in hospitals, clinics, birthing centers and health units, you can also do home service at which you visit the patient and ultimately deliver the baby in the patient's home. If you do home visitation and service, you will also get the opportunity to evaluate the living conditions of the patient and make referrals for additional social services if need be. It is an ideal way of being a midwife. If you work independently, you must register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). I have left a link below for the Support Line for this career if you need to speak with someone to help you make your decision.
Being a Doctor for OB/GYN will have you on call 24/7. You can never predict exactly when one of your patients will go into labor or have a situation in which they need you. I assume it's the same for midwifery, also. In your country, it takes approximately 12 to 14 years to become an OB/GYN and for midwifery, it takes about 4 to 6 years, so you can weigh the choices based on how long you'd like to be in school and training. That would be the only thing I can think of that would make a difference. Midwifery and OB/GYN careers can be similar in a lot of respects.
My advice is to carry on and during life experience, you will make a decision that you feel right about. There are some helpful videos to watch on You Tube, also. All about being a Midwife in your country. I have left the link to these videos below. I have also left a link to some OB/GYN videos that can shed some light on that career, too. Some presentation of information this way may give you things to consider and assist you in making a decision.
It's okay to not be decided yet. It is good that you are exploring and I am sure that you will make the choice that will be very fulfilling to you both personally and professionally. I wish you all the best now and on your journey to becoming a health professional !
AUSTRALIAN NURSE AND MIDWIFE SUPPORT LINE https://www.nmsupport.org.au/accessing-support/telephone-support
ALL ABOUT BEING A MIDWIFE IN AUSTRAILIA [VIDEOS] https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Austrailan+Midwifery
ABOUT BEING AN OB/GYN [VIDEOS] https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Australian+OB%2FGYN+career
This is a great question and shows that you are very caring and have a definite drive to be involved in health care. Advisor Charanpreet Walia has give some important information to weigh out in making your decision and I would like to encourage you to keep exploring both careers as, at some point, you will decide which one best fits your academic and future plans. You have been inspired, but now is the time to read about and think more about these two careers.
In your country of Australia, some midwives can prescribe medication to patients. You would sometimes work on your own and sometimes collaborate with other health professionals. Although you can work in hospitals, clinics, birthing centers and health units, you can also do home service at which you visit the patient and ultimately deliver the baby in the patient's home. If you do home visitation and service, you will also get the opportunity to evaluate the living conditions of the patient and make referrals for additional social services if need be. It is an ideal way of being a midwife. If you work independently, you must register with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). I have left a link below for the Support Line for this career if you need to speak with someone to help you make your decision.
Being a Doctor for OB/GYN will have you on call 24/7. You can never predict exactly when one of your patients will go into labor or have a situation in which they need you. I assume it's the same for midwifery, also. In your country, it takes approximately 12 to 14 years to become an OB/GYN and for midwifery, it takes about 4 to 6 years, so you can weigh the choices based on how long you'd like to be in school and training. That would be the only thing I can think of that would make a difference. Midwifery and OB/GYN careers can be similar in a lot of respects.
My advice is to carry on and during life experience, you will make a decision that you feel right about. There are some helpful videos to watch on You Tube, also. All about being a Midwife in your country. I have left the link to these videos below. I have also left a link to some OB/GYN videos that can shed some light on that career, too. Some presentation of information this way may give you things to consider and assist you in making a decision.
It's okay to not be decided yet. It is good that you are exploring and I am sure that you will make the choice that will be very fulfilling to you both personally and professionally. I wish you all the best now and on your journey to becoming a health professional !
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