A 46-year-old member asked:

What is the difference between obstetrics and gynecology and what can midwives do?

3 doctor answers12 doctors weighed in
Dr. Walter Kobasa
Obstetrics and Gynecology 39 years experience
Surgery: Both mid wive and obgyns can delivery low risk pregnancies and do well women exams. An obgyn can do what mid wives can plus high risk pregnacies and surgical procedure as well as some more specialized procedures.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Jonathan Song
Specializes in Gynecology, Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery
Midwives are not MD: Midwives are mid-level providers, like a nurse practitioner for example. They are not doctors and will need them in case an emergency arises. They are skilled providers who can deliver normal, uncomplicated pregnant patients.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Dr. Geoffrey Schnider
Obstetrics and Gynecology 49 years experience
Midwives: Midwives take care of routine low risk pregnant woman and perform routine vaginal deliveries under the supervision of an obstetrician. They should not take care of problem pregnancies and cannot do c/sections or instrumental deliveries ( forceps or vacuum extractions). These may become necessary in a routine labor and delivery, which is why a midwife needs an obstetrician backup all the time.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

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Last updated Sep 28, 2016
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