2 midwives vs. doctor / midwife

[Schmickers]

My MAIN concern is - I want a successful HB. I do NOT want to transfer to hospital. Am I less likely to need to transfer with a GP? E.g. if something really goes wrong, is there anything he can do that might help avoid a transfer?

Honestly, no. You are least likely to transfer to hospital with an independent midwife who screens her clients appropriately for risk factors. I don't think having a GP there would make any difference. In fact, having an experienced midwife as opposed to a less experienced GP, the midwife is at an advantage because she is more likely to notice the very early signs of a potential problem, and help you manage that, rather than not noticing until complications occur.

[HotI]

The GP and midwife you are looking at are both very experienced, with Peter Lucas who

has been a general practitioner for 35 years...and has attended in the order of 5000 births as a specifically trained General Practitioner. Peter has wide experience with hospital deliveries and planned Home Birth.

and Jan Ireland

who has been involved in hospital births, birth centre establishment and home births for 30 plus years.

I don't think the experience of either professional is in dispute. I think it is really important how comfortable you are with your health care providers and how they work with you.

(Quotes are from the Clinic they work at, found through Google)

[Schmickers]

Given their background, I don't think it would make a difference which way you went - so I'd go with whomever you feel most comfortable with.

[LionsandBears]

It would be interesting to see how the changes being brought through re: medicare and midwives affects things. I think it may soon be that midwives HAVE to work with doctors. I'm not sure - I'm not understanding what is going on.

[Talia*L]

Just a quick update We have gone ahead with the IM, Jan, and couldn't be happier!

We've had a couple of appointments (on the sofa lol) and are really happy with our choice.

[Tegam]

Sounds like a great option to get a choice as to who you have!

All i would have said it that the thing that is going to make you transfer or not is going to be the limit of equipment, NOT skills. There is nothing a GP could do than a skilled MW!