Key Factors in Choosing the Right OB/GYN

The first question to ask before kicking off your OB/GYN search is, “What does an OB/GYN do?”

The title “OB/GYN” refers to a medical doctor who is both an obstetrician, who provides prenatal and childbirth care and a gynecologist, who specializes in female reproductive health care. Basically, OB/GYNs are savvy in all things pregnancy—from fertility and prenatal needs to labor and delivery.

This wide scope of care is why so many people choose to have an OB/GYN support their pregnancy journey. But how do you find the right one?

All OB/GYNs have graduated from medical school and have a certain number of residency years under their belt. What will differ—and what you’ll want to consider when choosing one—is their:

• Location and accessibility
• Years of experience
• Medical specialties (if any)
• Bedside manner
• Personal care philosophies

Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors and how they’ll inform this important decision for you and your baby.

Your OB/GYN’s Location and Accessibility

When choosing a potential OB/GYN, physical proximity is a strong starting point. Appointments are more manageable—and more pleasant—when your OB/GYN’s office is close by. (And when you need to pee with higher frequencies, you’ll be even more grateful for the short commute.)

It’s also smart to research the hospital an OB/GYN is affiliated with, which is where you’ll deliver your baby. Find out if the hospital offers everything you may need or want during labor, such as:

• Pre- and postnatal education classes
• Private rooms or birthing suites
• A NICU unit

Additionally, OB/GYNs are often the first stop for your pregnancy-related questions, so they need to be accessible beyond their physical location. To that end, some other questions to consider include:

• Does this OB/GYN offer evening and/or weekend hours?
• Can you schedule telehealth appointments?
• Can you call or message them with quick questions?

As accessible as your OB/GYN will be, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be the one on-call when you go into labor. (Baby waits for no one, after all!) Even still, many parents want to know who exactly will help deliver their baby. A familiar face can ease your anxieties and offer comfort during this exciting yet unpredictable event.

If this is important to you, consider choosing an OB/GYN from a smaller practice, and then familiarize yourself with all the providers on staff. This way, you’ll have a better chance of knowing the provider in your delivery room on the big day.

Considering Experience, Specialties, and Philosophy

OB/GYNs spend twelve or more years learning and mastering their profession, from undergrad to medical school to residency. They also need to pass and maintain certification from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Needless to say, all OB/GYNs are highly capable prenatal care providers; your decision will be based more on who you’re most comfortable with. For instance, you may want an experienced OB/GYN with a long career, rather than someone new to their practice. Alternatively, you may prefer a younger OB/GYN who you can relate to. Or maybe experience level is less important to you than other factors, like specialty.

Most OB/GYNs are generalists, meaning they perform both in- and out-patient duties—everything from routine check-ups to vaginal births, to C-sections. Now, however, more OB/GYNs are choosing to specialize in certain aspects of pregnancy care called subspecialties.

Common subspecialties include:

• Reproductive endocrinology and infertility
• Maternal-fetal medicine
• Critical care medicine
• Complex family planning

An OB/GYN’s specialties are important to know, especially if you have any preexisting conditions or a high-risk pregnancy that requires in-depth medical knowledge and additional care.

Finally, and crucially, your OB/GYN’s philosophy should align with your own.

There are many approaches to pregnancy and childbirth, even within the same profession. Some OB/GYNs take a highly clinical approach, while others may offer more natural and holistic care with a focus on minimizing interventions such as surgery and pain medications. More holistic approaches may include options like herbs for fertility or vitamins to get pregnant fast. These are topics you can bring up at your first appointment.

Remember, there’s no “correct” philosophy—only the one that’s right for you.

Honing Your OB/GYN Search

Fortunately, you have many available avenues for finding and vetting potential OB/GYNs. You can modify your search by:

• Looking at your health insurer’s list of in-network providers (another important factor to consider when choosing an OB/GYN)

• Asking for recommendations from those you trust: your primary care provider, gynecologist, or friends and family members

• Reading online reviews from the OB/GYN’s past patients

School credentials and work experience are key indicators of an OB/GYN’s capabilities, but first-person accounts can offer better insight into bedside manners and care methods.

Questions to Ask Your Potential OB/GYN

Your OB/GYN will be your main care provider throughout your pregnancy, so it’s essential that you feel familiar with their practices, satisfied by their qualifications, and comfortable in their presence.

To find out if all these sentiments are true, don’t be afraid to ask for the nitty-gritty details.

When it comes to pregnancy care, there are no silly questions. Here are a few you can ask your potential OB/GYN to learn more about them and how they operate:

• What forms of care do you provide?
• Do you offer carrier screening or prenatal cell-free DNA screening (also known as NIPT)?
• How often do you want to see me?
• What are your C-section rates?
• What are your stances on pain medication and other interventions during delivery?

Another sign of a quality OB/GYN? Their willingness to answer all of your questions (and then some).

Ensuring Your Pregnancy and Birth Preferences Are Supported

All expectant parents will have preferences about their pregnancy care and ideal birthing conditions. Here are a few examples:

• Wanting to minimize or eliminate the use of pain medication during delivery
• Pushing when you feel the urge vs. being coached to push
• Delivering in a birthing chair or holding onto a birthing bar

This is known as a birth plan—and the right OB/GYN will respect it.

The best way to test the compatibility between you and your OB/GYN is by sharing your birth plan and gauging their response. If they’re open and understanding, you’ve likely found your perfect match.

When to Seek a Second Opinion on OB/GYN Choice

There are some moments where the stars are all aligned—your OB/GYN is close by, they’re highly experienced, and your friend swears by them. Yet, something just doesn’t feel right.

At the end of the day, no one can tell you how to choose an OB/GYN when pregnant. That decision is yours, and yours alone.

Remember: you’re the one who’s pregnant, and you have the right to receive care from a provider who validates your experience and supports your preferences. If your current OB/GYN can’t supply that, you may wish to seek care elsewhere.

Trust your gut, and if you want a second opinion, seek it out.

Signs You Might Need a Different Provider

Red flags apply to more than just bad dates—physicians may be flying some, too. If your OB/GYN displays any of these behaviors, you might want to return to your search:

• They don’t listen to or accommodate your prenatal or birthing preferences
• It’s difficult to contact them or schedule appointments
• They make you and/or your partner feel uncomfortable

Additionally, OB/GYNs are one of many pregnancy care providers; it might be the case that their methods simply don’t mesh with your needs. If an OB/GYN isn’t for you, or if you want additional care that an OB/GYN can’t provide, consider both of these alternatives:

• Midwives – A midwife, or nurse midwife, is trained to assist with routine, uncomplicated pregnancies and deliveries, with an emphasis on holistic (physical, emotional, and spiritual) care and natural birthing methods that involve minimal medical interventions. Many midwives are also certified nurses who can diagnose medical conditions and offer parental education.

• Doulas – Doulas don’t provide medical care, but they do coach you through pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. They’re emotionally supportive additions to a greater medical team of OB/GYNs and/or nurse midwives.

Creating the team you want for your pregnancy all boils down to your personal wants. A healthy pregnancy starts with the medical care team that you choose. Make sure the health care provider you choose fits with your expectations and birth plan.

How the SneakPeek Gender Test Can Inform Your Prenatal Visits

Now that you know how to choose an OB/GYN, it’s time to make another important decision: when and how you learn the gender of your baby.

The #1 OB/GYN-recommended at-home gender test is the SneakPeek® Early Gender DNA Test. As early as six weeks into your pregnancy, you can learn the predicted fetal sex of your baby with over 99% clinically proven accuracy. Plus, it’s the only patented at-home test kit on the market.

Join the over 1 million parents who have enjoyed fast, accurate, and privacy-protected results with SneakPeek® by ordering your test today.