Family support category
Find the right obstetricians for your family.
ParentPatch helps families understand when obstetricians may fit, compare service types, and prepare clearer questions before booking support.
What is an obstetrician?
Use this definition to understand the support before you compare practitioners or book an appointment.
Obstetrician
Pregnancy and birth doctor
A specialist doctor who manages pregnancy, labour, and birth from a medical standpoint. While a midwife handles normal, low-risk pregnancies, an obstetrician steps in when things are more complex - twins, previous C-sections, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, or any pregnancy classed as higher risk. They can perform C-sections and other interventions that midwives cannot.
Questions to ask before booking
Will you personally be at my birth, or will an on-call colleague be there if it's outside your working hours?
What's your C-section rate, and how do you feel about birth preferences like delayed cord clamping or skin-to-skin during a caesarean?
Related support
Families often compare this category with adjacent support routes.
Related guides
Useful reading before choosing support.