I would often spend hours waiting for my Ob too And he missed both the births! With the strangers at birth comment, no matter if you go private or public, you will be labouring with strangers anyway, an Ob will only come should there be a complication. A midwife caught Marisa and a fill-in Ob caught Elijah. Obstetric care does not offer continuity of care in labour. Midwives you wont know, you may or may not like and will have more influence in the outcome of your birth as they are there during your whole labour (or 2 or 3 over shifts).

I figure, in my home, in my jamies and no waiting, a midwife will come to me!

Not dissing anyone's choices - just stating the differences because I never knew all this