Introduction
Are you or someone you know preparing for family life? You should learn more about obstetricians, the professionals who care for pregnant women.
Who are they? What do they do? How can they help you or your friend? These are questions you need to provide answers to.
Obstetricians, also referred to as OBs, specialize in women’s reproductive health, focusing on pregnancy and childbirth.
This article sheds light on their job description and responsibilities.
What is an Obstetrician?
An obstetrician is a medical doctor who underwent additional training in obstetrics and gynecology. This certifies them to specialize in female reproductive health. Their duties entail being there for patients before pregnancy, during pregnancy, during birth, and after childbirth.
Also, they provide necessary care and information needed even years after. And maternal and fetal health is their major focus.
In some settings, obstetrics is available as a single course of study. Such graduates practice as obstetricians alone. This means that their focus is limited to just labor and delivery. However, in most settings, doctors further in obstetrics and gynecology. In this case, they practice as both obstetricians and gynecologists.
Obstetricians can work in hospitals, clinics, birthing facilities, and other healthcare centers. They provide more specialized care than midwives and are preferred in high-risk pregnancies, pregnancies with complications, and pregnancies in women over 35 years of age.
Responsibilities of an Obstetrician.
The typical responsibilities of an obstetrician include but are not limited to:
- Adequate data collection of medical histories, reports, and also results.
- Proper documentation of data collected and cases handled.
- Working together with nurses, midwives, physician assistants, and other health professionals to provide optimum care for mother and child (or fetus).
- Monitoring patient and fetal health via routine ultrasounds, measurements, and other tests.
- Advice on proper diets, exercises, and also .
- Assisting with information on how to cope with morning sickness and other pregnancy complications like back pain and leg swells.
- Monitoring for health conditions that could cause pregnancy complications, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and infections.
- Providing answers to questions related to reproductive health, childbirth, and postnatal care.
- Delivering babies; assisting the mother in breathing techniques and pushing the baby through the cervix.
- Performing Cesarean sessions when the need arises.
- Monitoring maternal health after delivery.
- Providing emotional support and encouragement during labor and in cases of miscarriage or stillbirth.
- Assisting patients with developing a working family planning strategy.
- Planning and administration of lectures on infant and maternal health, female reproductive system, etc.
- Preparation of statistical reports on birth, death, and the like for health facilities.
Qualifications for practice as an Obstetrician.
To practice as an obstetrician in the United States, the following is necessary:
- Graduation from medical school and completion of a four-year residency program in obstetrics and gynecology.
Or
- A bachelor’s degree in a biomedical course and a degree from an institution, followed by internship and residency programs.
Other requirements include:
- Interpersonal skills.
- Patience.
- Effective communication skills.
- An ability to work under pressure.
- Care and empathy.
- Clinical assessment skills such as How to check blood pressure and pulse rate, etc.
Work Schedule and Salary
Obstetricians often work from 50 to 65 hours a week on call patterns, inclusive of weekends and holidays. They can also work in a hospital or practice privately with adequate licenses.
On average, an obstetrician earns about $230,849 per annum.
Job Opportunities
An obstetrician can work in the following places:
- Hospitals
- Clinics
- Private health centers
- Birthing centers
Conclusion
Obstetricians are an important part of the healthcare force. They provide optimal care for women, pregnant women, and infants, with a focus on pregnancy and delivery. Their job description offers more specialized services than those of midwives. As such, they are preferred for high-risk pregnancies and pregnancies with complications. Although any licensed doctor is legally permitted to deliver a baby, many women choose to see an obstetrician rather than a general practitioner or family physician.
In conclusion, if you are pregnant or you need information on your reproductive health as a female, you should reach out to an obstetrician.
Also, if you desire a career that avails the opportunity of adding value to the lives of women (at a point where they need all the care they can get), you should consider one in Obstetrics.
