2 midwives vs. doctor / midwife

[Talia*L]

We are planning a home birth for our first baby, due in June next year.

I had planned to use a midwife (Jan Ireland) as my lead carer, and to attend the birth. Now, Jan uses a second midwife for home births, to support her.

Last night, I was at my GP, who often works with Jan (Peter Lucas). He mentioned that I could either have the 2 midwives, OR have him, with Jan as his support. He said that, while he supports either choice, he feels that there is some arguament for having a doctor attending a first home birth.

I need to decide within the next ten weeks as, if he is NOT going to attend the birth, he cannot continue to provide care until after the birth (insurance reasons).

SO now I am trying to decide whether I want Jan plus another midwife, or Peter plus Jan? Ideally, I want Jan as the 'lead midwife', delivering the baby, but I am starting to wonder if it might be nice to have Peter there too, as it is a first baby?

[Indadhanu]

Personally, I'd stick to the midwives.

He's a GP. Is he specialised in childbirth? If not, theres no huge advantage over having him there compared to two experienced and specialised midwives. I doubt he could do more than what your midwives could do.


ETA:

I need to decide within the next ten weeks as, if he is NOT going to attend the birth, he cannot continue to provide care until after the birth (insurance reasons).

If he's a GP why can't he provide shared care at his practice leading up the birth? Sorry if this is naive, but I'm a bit confused lol.

[Talia*L]

Ahh yes sorry I forgot to say! He is a pregnancy and birth specialist GP, he has delivered over 3000 babies, many/most of whom were at home! He was a pioneer of the home birth movement in Vic in the 70s, he is very experienced with HB. In fact, I would say he is one of the only doctors in Aus that attends home births...

[Arimeh]

I agree with leash. I'd rather have people there supporting me who do this as their sole job - more experience, than a GP who deals with other complaints as well, and may not be as specialised.

FWIW - I'm having two midwives for a VBA2C - no doctors allowed. I don't even have a GP at the moment!

ETA - sorry, I just read your last post. I would still go the midwives.

[HotI]

My MIL had him and a midwife for 4 (i think) of her births, and speaks very highly of him.

Have you talked to Jan? She might be able to tell you how she works with Peter, and how she works with another middie.

[Indadhanu]

Yeah I'd probably still go the midwives. But since you want Jan there regardless, why not ask her opinon?

[Talia*L]

Kate - do you know if your MIL found him to be fairly hands off? I am not interested in having him there if he will insist on internal examinations etc... I am very keen to hear anythin your MIL might have mentioned!!

But I get the feeling he will pretty much stand back and let it happen? I just checked his bio, over 5,000 births wow!

Leasha the question re. providing shared care is a really good one. Basically he said that his insurers will not allow him to be part of the shared care if he knowingly then allows the woman to birth without any medical support people (of course, insurers do not recognise midwives!). Basically, he would be liable if anything went wrong at the birth.

He is working hard to change this - he is in full support of midwives in private practice. He is happy for me to go either way - with him or without him.

I am curious as to what the advantages might be of having him there... I think I need to ask him about what he sees as the advantages, and also ask Jan what she sees as the disadvantages. They do work together all the time!