Your Pregnancy, Your Way: Meet the Prenatal Care Team
We are so happy you are planning to get your care with BMCHS. You have lots of choices: where you get your prenatal care, where you give birth, and what kind of provider takes care of you during your pregnancy and during your delivery. The descriptions below of the different providers we offer at BMC Health System (BMCHS) can help you understand your choice of provider specific to your situation, location, health, and pregnancy goals.
Regardless of who you choose, all BMCHS clinicians work as a team across groups to meet your medical needs during pregnancy. With all of them, you will receive:
- Expertise in low-risk pregnancy care
- Your choice of pain medications (including epidurals) or no medication
- The option of having a doula
- Breastfeeding education and support
- The opportunity for your support people to be present when you are in labor and during birth
Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNMs)
Certified nurse-midwives are advanced practice nurses with advanced training in pregnancy, childbirth, and women’s health. Midwives focus on natural and low-intervention approaches to pregnancy and birth. They provide emotional support and education, as well as medical care for healthy pregnancies. You might consider a midwife if you prefer a low-intervention approach and your pregnancy is low risk.
Family Medicine Physicians
Family medicine physicians are medical doctors who care for people of all ages, including pregnant people. They provide prenatal care for routine pregnancies, deliver babies, and continue caring for you and your baby after birth. Some of these doctors have additional training and can perform Cesarean sections (C-Sections). You might consider a family medicine doctor if you have a routine risk pregnancy and want the same medical team to care for you and your family before, during, and after pregnancy.
See BMC's Family Medicine Providers
Obstetricians
Obstetricians (OB/GYNs) are medical doctors who specialize in pregnancy, childbirth and women’s health. They are trained to care for patients with both routine pregnancies and pregnancies with medical concerns. They deliver babies and can perform surgery such as Cesarean sections (C-sections) if needed. They also care for you after your baby is born and can care for any gynecology concerns. You might choose an obstetrician if you want a more specialized doctor who can handle any medical or surgical needs during your pregnancy and delivery.
Learn More about BMC Obstetrics
Maternal–Fetal Medicine Doctors
Maternal–fetal medicine (MFM) doctors are medical doctors who have had extra training in high-risk pregnancies. These doctors are experts in caring for pregnant patients with medical problems (like diabetes) or complicated pregnancies (such as twins or growth concerns). These MFM specialists often work with your regular midwife, OB, or family medicine doctor to give specialized advice over the course of your pregnancy. They will sometimes deliver babies in complicated situations. You might see a MFM if your pregnancy has higher medical risks or if your doctor or midwife wants expert guidance for your care.
Explore BMC Maternal–Fetal Medicine
Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants
During your prenatal care, you may also receive care from nurse practitioners (NPs), who are advanced practice nurses with training in women’s health, and physician assistants (PAs), who are licensed clinicians who provide OB/GYN care. These clinicians work with doctors to provide routine prenatal, postpartum, and gynecologic care. If you have a pregnancy or medical concern that is complex or requires specialized care, they collaborate with a doctor to make sure you receive the right care at the right time.
Medical Care
