What Should You Look for in an Obstetrician?

Maybe you and your partner have started talking about trying to conceive, or maybe you just took a home pregnancy and the results were positive. Regardless of the stage you are at in becoming a mother, there’s one question that all women have once they think about the logistics of carrying a pregnancy to term: How do you find a good obstetrician?

If your current gynecologist is also a practicing obstetrician, which is common in the field, you may feel comfortable going to the same office for your prenatal care. Since your needs during pregnancy are going to be vastly different from those regarding your general reproductive health, though, you might want to consider all of your options first.

Giving birth is an incredibly personal event in a woman’s life, but it also happens to be a serious medical procedure, and complications can and do arise. For the health of both you and your baby, it is essential to consider more than just personality when seeking an obstetrician. In addition to finding a doctor who makes you feel comfortable, you need to look for someone who is confident, assertive, and attentive in the delivery room.

Sadly, substandard care during pregnancy, labor, and delivery is more common than most women realize. Researchers have estimated that there are nearly 30 birth injuries per 1,000 live births.

These injuries and the subsequent damage that they cause can range in severity. Unfortunately for some parents, negligent care in the delivery room can have lifelong repercussions for their child.

If your baby suffered a birth injury and you want to hold the liable provider or facility accountable, contact The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm. David A. Bowling has more than three decades of trial experience, and he will fight relentlessly for the compensation you deserve. Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a case evaluation with a birth injury attorney in New Orleans.

Read on to learn what kinds of qualities you should look for in an obstetrician:

1. A Track Record of Quality Care

Your gynecologist may refer you to a particular obstetrician, but the only way to know precisely what kind of care he or she provides is by talking to past patients. Ask friends or family members in the area who they turned to for prenatal care, and then look up reviews or testimonials on the doctors they recommend. If the provider you are considering has a long history of happy and healthy patients, chances are you will have a good experience, too.

2. Relevant Credentials

Credentials worth considering include experience, board certification, and malpractice history. Forbes details the various resources and online directories that will help you find all of this information at the click of a button.

3. Access to an Exceptional Facility

The quality of the facility that your doctor works out of will have a direct effect on the kind of care he or she is able to provide. Review hospital ratings when looking up obstetricians so you have a better idea of the kind of setting in which you will be delivering your baby.

Unfortunately, doctors are only human, and at the end of the day, even the best providers make mistakes on occasion. If you were the victim of a medical mistake that resulted in a birth injury, contact The Bowling Christiansen Law Firm to determine the best way to proceed.

Call (504) 586-5200 to schedule a consultation with a birth injury lawyer in New Orleans. If you want to learn more about birth injury claims in Louisiana, visit USAttorneys.