Claudia Koch, MD Family Practice Bay View Family Health Center

November 01, 2005

For every woman, there is the right caregiver for your childbirth. You just have to find the right fit. For some women, it’s her family physician.

Family practice physicians bring a unique view to maternity care. Like a well-equipped photographer, they have a whole bag full of lenses that offer a range of perspectives.

Family physicians’ wide-angle lens
Family physicians have a unique opportunity to see the big picture. Caring for the whole family, we often gain additional insights into a woman’s social environment and its implications for her health. We usually know if she’s a busy volunteer or if she’s up at night, worrying about a parent’s failing health or a child who is struggling in school. It’s a great advantage when caring for a birthing mother to already know her well, to know her husband and her other children.

Emphasizing prevention and general health care, family physicians take a broad approach to care. We are trained during our residencies to provide prenatal care and deliver babies, but we also practice well-adult and well-child care, illness prevention, chronic illness management, basic internal medicine, pediatrics and gynecology. We address need and concerns relating to all the body systems.

Family physicians treat diabetes and hypertension on a daily basis and know what to do about it. Or if a pregnant woman has a sinus infection, her OB might say, “Call your primary care doctor for that.” A family doctor would treat it directly.

Family physicians take the long view
Family physicians are educated to provide care over the lifespan of the whole family. Consequently, we spend most of our time helping people stay healthy. We can help women of childbearing years improve or maintain their health prior to becoming pregnant.

As part of our routine questions, we will ask women, “Are you planning to get pregnant?” If they are, we can also begin prenatal care prior to pregnancy. That’s an example of the preventive approach family physicians take to health care. And it’s always better to prevent problems than to deal with them later.

Family doctors have long relationships with their clients. After birth, we will continue caring for the newest member of the family as he grows into a toddler, a child and a teenager.

Focus on what’s best for you
Family physicians are better suited for some women than others. For women who have low-risk pregnancies, a family physician may be a good choice. Many family physicians offer very individualized approaches and are willing to assist women pursuing a variety of healthy birth experiences.

We work closely with our OB-GYN colleagues, so if any special needs arise, we can co-manage together. Meanwhile the woman still has the benefit of working with her family physician, a doctor who knows her well and with whom she is comfortable.

If you ever feel uncomfortable with a physician, I would encourage you to look around. Whomever you choose to be your caregiver for the birth of your child can have a profound influence on the course of your pregnancy, birth and early parenting. The best caregiver for you is the one who supports your desires about childbirth and makes you feel confident—the caregiver who respects your perspective.