It is not right to compare the Dutch system, where highly - trained midwives lead the majority of birth care, with the US, where most births are
attended by obstetricians, and untrained midwives able to practice.
Most births in the United States are
attended by obstetricians - surgeons who are trained to handle complications, and who are likely to resort to obstetrical interventions.
Not exact matches
If you have private health insurance you may wish to
attend a semi-private clinic in which case you will be
attended by a registrar working in a team with midwives and under a consultant
obstetrician.
13 % of vaginal deliveries were not
attended by a licensed
obstetrician.
A woman may also see mostly the same provider if her care is provided
by a family doctor, but women
attending for
obstetrician - led hospital - based care may see different members of the multidisciplinary team providing that care.
This model is used in Australia as well, but in the US only about 12 % of births are
attended by midwives, and usually with the requirement that an
obstetrician is available for back up.
She is more likely to be
attended by a midwife, who in the UK is the autonomous professional who leads on normal birth and only makes referrals to an
obstetrician when there are complications.