What is the difference between a midwife and an obstetrician?

A GP Obstetrician is a generalist, he/she will deal with all aspects of health and the maintenance of health but on a broad level rather than in depth. He/she would probably only care for a woman who is expected to have a relatively normal pregnancy and delivery. GPs rarely do deliveries in urban areas, they mostly practice obstetrics in rural settings where there are no specialists available. A Obstetrician/Gynecologist is a specialist in women's reproductive health in depth. He/she will have completed a four year residency in this specialty, ns dwill care for women with both normal and complicated pregnancies. Perinatalogists are sub-specialist obstetrician gynecologists who have completed an additional three year fellowship in high risk obstetrics (including ultrasound and fetal interventional medicine). They usually see complicated patients by referral from OB/GYNs. In US most pre-natal and labor care is provided by OB/GYN doctors, particularly in urban areas. There is also a Family Practioner, who is residency trained, like an OB/GYN, but with a concentration on general medicine. An FP will have done severalmonths of training during his/her residency in obstatrics. Some of them can do C-Sections (depending on their hospital privileges), and care for normal risk patients. It is also important to know whether or not your doctor is Board Certified in his or her field, and if the certification is current. (Most specialties require recertification on a regular basis.) Certification means that the doctor has not only completed a to be competent in his/her field by the national board. In most of the rest of the world the vast majority of care is provided by midwives who are specialists in normal pregnancy, labor and after-care and they will refer any problems to the specialist obstetrician. The credentials for becoming a murse-midwife vary from state to state in the U.S., there are lay midwives who have virtually no medical training and do home deliveries. These are dangerous and I would suggest nobody seek care from a lay midwife. Have your baby in a hospital so if anything goes wrong, proper treatment is available. It could save the life of you and/or your baby.