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Pregnancy Doctor

Depending upon the community in which you live and the type of health-carecoverage you have, you will be dealing with one or more of the following typesof providers:

An obstetrician/gynecologist (ob/gyn) has completed four years of medicalschool, followed by at least four years of residency training specializing in the fe-male reproductive system. An ob/gyn is prepared to handle both routine andproblem deliveries and can perform cesarean sections. Some have additionaltraining in treating infertility. A maternal-fetal medicine specialist is an ob/gynwho has expertise in dealing with unusually difficult or high-risk pregnancies.Perinalologists may follow a pregnancy from beginning to end or may serve asconsultants to other ob/gyns in their community.

Many family physicians (FPs, also called family practitioners) provide carefor pregnant women. (In Canada, FPs take care of most uncomplicated deliver-ies.) Following medical school, an FP completes a three-year residency that en-compasses the gamut of health care, including adult internal medicine,pediatrics, ob/gyn, and surgery. A family physician can provide routine obstetriccare and baby and child care as well. Most do not take care of women with high-risk pregnancies or complicated deliveries, so FPs will routinely have an ob/gynavailable for backup if trouble arises.

While most obstetricians and family physicians hold the familiar M.D. de-gree, a number of doctors who hold a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) degree areequally qualified to serve as primary-care physicians during pregnancy and childbirth. However, this is not the case with chiropractors, naturopaths, and-.1ner alternative practitioners, whose training does not qualify them to provide::enatal care or deliver babies.

Nonphysician providers of prenatal care include the following:

A certified nurse-midwife (CNM) is a registered nurse who has additional hosspital experience in labor and delivery and a year of training in midwifery and by passing a certification exam and obtaining a state license, a CNM can follow a normal pregnancy through delivery. The practice patterns of midwives in.:iven community will vary, depending upon the facilities and medical backup to them. In a best-case scenario, they collaborate actively with ob/gyns FPs, providing care for patients in hospitals and/or adjacent birth centers- handle uncomplicated deliveries.

In some physicians' offices, a nurse-practitioner or physician's assistantprovide basic prenatal care under a doctor's supervision but will not actu-deliver the baby.

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