Choosing your maternity care provider is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during pregnancy. The right care can shape not only your pregnancy and birth but also how supported and confident you feel throughout the journey.
Midwives and obstetricians are both highly trained maternity professionals, but they have different roles and areas of expertise. Many women with uncomplicated pregnancies receive excellent care from a midwife, while others benefit from the specialist medical care of an obstetrician. In some cases, both work together to provide comprehensive maternity care.
Understanding these differences can help you choose the model of care that’s right for you.
Midwife vs Obstetrician: What’s the Difference?
The main difference between a midwife and an obstetrician is the type of care they provide.
Midwives specialise in supporting healthy pregnancies, labour, birth, and postnatal care, with a focus on personalised, evidence-based support.
Obstetricians are specialist doctors who manage both routine and high-risk pregnancies. They diagnose and treat pregnancy complications, perform procedures such as caesarean births, and provide emergency obstetric care when needed.
These roles are complementary rather than competing. Together, midwives and obstetricians work to provide the right level of care for every stage of pregnancy.
What Is a Midwife?
A midwife is a university-qualified healthcare professional who specialises in caring for women with healthy, low-risk pregnancies. They provide care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and the postnatal period, with a focus on education, personalised support, and promoting normal birth where appropriate. If complications arise, midwives work closely with obstetricians to ensure women receive the care they need.
What Is an Obstetrician?
An obstetrician is a specialist doctor trained in pregnancy, childbirth, and women’s reproductive health. They care for both routine and high-risk pregnancies, diagnose and manage complications, perform procedures such as caesarean births, and provide emergency care when required. Their advanced medical and surgical training allows them to manage complex pregnancies and births.
Can You Have Both a Midwife and an Obstetrician?
Yes, and for many women, this is the most appropriate model.
Shared maternity care, where a midwife and an obstetrician are both involved in your pregnancy, is widely used across Melbourne’s public and private hospital networks.
In a shared care model, the obstetrician oversees the medical management of your pregnancy, while the midwife provides more frequent appointments, continuity, education, and practical support.
At Create Health, our obstetricians and midwife work as an integrated team. Your care notes are shared, your concerns are known to everyone involved, and you are not starting from scratch at every appointment.
Women who experience continuity of care consistently describe feeling more confident, informed, and supported throughout pregnancy and birth.
Midwife vs Obstetrician: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Midwife | Obstetrician |
| Training | Midwifery degree and AHPRA registration | Medical degree plus specialist FRANZCOG training |
| Best suited for | Low-risk pregnancies | High-risk or medically complex pregnancies |
| Performs surgery | No | Yes |
| Medicare rebates | Yes | Yes |
| Private hospital birth | Yes | Yes |
| Continuity of care | High in caseload models | High in private care |
| Private costs | Generally lower | Higher out-of-pocket costs |
| Emotional support | Central to role | Present but more clinically focused |
What About the Public System vs Private Care in Melbourne?
Public maternity care
Public maternity care is free under Medicare and offers excellent clinical care. However, you will usually see different doctors and midwives throughout your pregnancy and may not know who attends your birth.
Private maternity care
Private maternity care allows you to choose your own obstetrician and receive continuity throughout pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. Costs are higher but are often offset by private health insurance and Medicare rebates.
Clinical Insight: Most private health funds require a 12-month waiting period for obstetric services. If you are considering private care, check your cover as early as possible.
How Do I Choose What’s Right for Me?
If you are unsure, the most useful first step is an early appointment with your GP or a specialist maternity team.
As a general guide:
• Healthy first or second pregnancy with no significant history → Midwifery-led or shared care is usually appropriate
• Pre-existing medical conditions or previous pregnancy complications → Early obstetric involvement is recommended
• Unsure of your risk level → An obstetric assessment is often the safest starting point
Clinical Insight: An initial specialist review is not a commitment to intervention. It is simply an opportunity to gather information and make informed decisions about your care.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a midwife less qualified than an obstetrician?
No. They hold different qualifications for different clinical roles. A midwife specialises in normal pregnancy and birth, while an obstetrician specialises in complex and high-risk pregnancy care.
Can I change from midwifery to obstetric care during pregnancy?
Yes. If your risk profile changes during pregnancy, your care can be escalated appropriately.
What is an independent midwife?
An independent midwife is a privately practising midwife who provides antenatal, birth, and postnatal care outside the traditional hospital model.
What does shared care mean?
In the public system, shared care usually involves your GP and hospital team. In private care, it often refers to care shared between your obstetrician and midwife.
