The Benefits of Seeing a Family Medicine Obstetrics Provider

Content medically reviewed by Dr. Hana Main

If you’re planning to grow your family, you may be wondering which medical expert to trust with your care. Many people choose an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN), a family medicine obstetrics provider (FMOB), or a certified nurse-midwife. All are highly trained to care for you during pregnancy and delivery, and each offers a unique approach.

An OB/GYN specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and reproductive health. An FMOB is a family medicine physician with additional training in obstetrics who can provide pregnancy care, delivery, as well as ongoing primary care for individuals and families beyond pregnancy. Understanding the similarities and differences between OB/GYNs and FMOBs can help you choose the provider who best fits your medical needs, personal preferences, and plans for your family’s future care.

What Is a Family Medicine Obstetrics Provider?

A family medicine obstetrics provider offers comprehensive primary care and obstetrics care, caring for pregnant women and delivering babies, with some performing cesarean sections (c-sections). These providers have training in prenatal and postpartum care, and some choose to obtain board certification (a sign of high level expertise in a medical field) in family medicine obstetrics. These providers can see common pregnancy-related conditions such as gestational diabetes or thryoid disorders.

“A new or expectant mother can turn to a family medicine obstetrics provider for all of her primary care and pregnancy needs, including delivery,” said Dr. Hana Main, a family medicine with obstetrics doctor at Essentia Health. “In addition, after the birth of a child, the provider can care for the child as they grow while also managing mom’s health. Essentially, the provider can serve as the medical home for mom, baby, and the entire family for years to come.”

4 Advantages of Family Medicine Obstetrics

Receiving care from a family medicine obstetrics provider comes with many benefits for you and your loved ones. Here are four reasons this medical expert may be the right choice for you.

1. Trust

“Few decisions are as crucial as choosing a medical provider to manage your health,” Dr. Main said. “When you see a family medicine obstetrics provider, you can trust them to learn your health inside and out, understanding it better than anyone except you. That profound knowledge is particularly important as you grow your family. You can feel more comfortable knowing you’re in the care of someone who understands how your health history may affect your pregnancy journey.”

2. Holistic Care

Your family medicine obstetrics provider doesn’t just care for your reproductive health. Family medicine obstetrics providers care for every aspect of your health and adapt as your needs change. They see the whole picture of your wellness. In addition to delivering prenatal and postpartum care, they provide –

• Physical exams
• Screenings
• Vaccinations
• Care for sinus infections, rashes, sprains, strains, and other minor illnesses and injuries
• Management of chronic conditions, like depression, diabetes and high blood pressure

3. Continuity of Care

Once your baby is born, the family medicine obstetrics provider can continue to see them as they grow. With a family medicine obstetrics provider, the same medical expert who brought them into the world can manage their health as they navigate childhood, young adulthood, and beyond.

Your family medicine obstetrics provider will be there as you turn the page on pregnancy and start the next chapter as a new parent – and for all the chapters that follow.

4. Convenience

Imagine being able to see one provider not just for your pregnancy and primary care, but also for your whole family’s health care needs. That’s the convenience of seeing a family medicine obstetrics provider. Rather than organizing appointments with different medical experts for various members of your family, everyone—your kids, spouse or partner, and parents—can see one provider in one location.

Key Takeaways

Ultimately, the type of provider you choose to manage your pregnancy and overall health is the one you feel most comfortable with. A family medicine obstetrics provider may be right for you if you’re looking for someone who offers both primary and pregnancy care. They can refer you to another specialist, such as an OB/GYN or maternal-fetal medicine physician, if you need more advanced treatment. Keep these facts in mind –

1. An OB/GYN specializes in women’s health and reproductive care.
2. Like an OB/GYN, a family medicine obstetrics provider can care for you during pregnancy and deliver your baby. They can also handle all aspects of primary care, including physicals, screenings, and the treatment of short- and long-term conditions.
3. Everyone in your family can see a family medicine obstetrics provider.