In private obstetric practice you choose your Obstetrician and therefore who looks after you during your pregnancy and delivers your baby. Recommendations can come from friends, colleagues or your GP. One of the considerations for many women is whether they would like a female or male Obstetrician to deliver their baby.
For some women religious or cultural reasons mean that they prefer a female Obstetrician. This is obviously a decision of personal preference, but the bottom line is that it is important for you to feel comfortable with your Obstetrician. A good bedside manner and close rapport is much more important than gender. Apart from being male or female you may also want to find out what your Obstetrician’s thoughts are regarding delivery, what is his or her caesarean rate, and so on.
One consideration to keep in mind is that while your primary Obstetrician may be a female, you may end up having a male Obstetrician filling in for them on the weekends or on holidays, should you go into labour then. At Alana Healthcare for Women that is one area where there will be no surprises. As a team of three female Obstetricians you will meet all of us in the course of your antenatal care, so you will have a familiar face present to deliver your baby, no matter which day it is.
The decision on who is your Obstetrician is a personal one, and it is important to find the right fit for you. Speak to your GP and feel free to “try out” a few Obstetricians to find someone that makes you feel comfortable.