Obstetricians are medical professionals who help take care of you through your pregnancy journey, often from start to finish. While many people think of them as purely being focused on the birth, they definitely should be involved earlier to help ensure this whole process is as smooth as possible can be. But how exactly do you go about finding an obstetrician? That can be a little bit trickier, especially if you do not have a pre-existing relationship with one from a previous birth. Here is a quick rundown of the best way to go about finding an obstetrician.

Talk To Your GP

Most of the time, a GP (general practitioner, or your primary doctor) will have a list of very qualified obstetricians with who they can put you in contact. This is a little bit different depending on whether or not you have private health insurance. For those in the public service, you may have fewer choices when it comes to obstetricians, but then again, there really is not a whole lot of difference. Obstetricians are generally very kind, understanding and extremely well educated in their field, and those who work in the public sphere are just as good and qualified as those who work privately. 

Meeting Your Obstetrician

When you first meet with your obstetrician, they will likely ask you a lot of questions about your previous health care situation, any ongoing conditions, what your ideal birth will look like and any developments in the pregnancy that have happened recently. From this, as well as follow up sessions, they will start to develop a plan to make your pregnancy go as smooth as possible, and will be your first point of call if you have any questions or if an emergency arrives. This trusting relationship is key to an easy birth with minimal stress.

The Birth

During the birth, the obstetrician is often the one in charge of the room, managing both you and the supporting medical professionals there. They will help make sure you are advancing as you should be and monitor how close the baby is, as well as finally delivering them when the time comes. Then they are also responsible for the health and safety of the newborn child, in addition to making sure you recover as well. This is a very intense event, and that is why it is so important to have a great pre-existing relationship with your obstetrician where possible.