Got Baby Fever? Five Obstetrics Careers To Consider

Helping bring a new life into the world is, quite simply, a wonderful experience for many people. From conception to birth, being involved during the various stages of fetal development is what drives many individuals to a career in obstetrics. If you have a passion for women’s reproductive health, prenatal care, labor and delivery, a rewarding future may be waiting for you in obstetrics.

Obstetric Careers To Consider

Whether you want to be a key player or wish to have an important role somewhere in between, all obstetric specialties will provide vital services during the reproductive, birthing, and aftercare process. When considering which educational path to follow, you might find the following careers to be of interest:

• Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN)
• Nurse-Midwife
• Ultrasound Technician
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Labor Coach

In the mix of obstetrics and growing medical technology, this field can provide many promising opportunities.

Optional Sub-Specialties In Obstetrics

If you’d prefer to venture beyond the general protocol of an OB/GYN, you might wish to think about alternative specialties. As a Reproductive Endocrinologist, you’d be using artificial methods to assist women in fulfilling their motherhood dreams by utilizing cutting-edge technology to break through infertility barriers. If you’d like to focus on diagnosing, treating, and providing adequate care for high risk pregnancies, Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) might be another specialty to consider. What if you only want to deliver babies and nothing more? As a Laborist, you could deliver babies full-time in a hospital, but would not see the patients in an office setting during their pregnancies.

Will The Career Fit My Lifestyle?

Let’s face it, you may love babies, but are you passionate enough to be called at any hour of the day or night to deliver one? Are you amenable to giving up family or personal time? If the answer is yes, then entering most fields of obstetrics will suit you. However, if you’d prefer a more reliable schedule with the possibility of weekends and holidays off, perhaps you can consider a nursing position within the obstetric field. A high-risk pregnancy specialist, who can be found on LinkedIn, says there isn’t really a “typical” day in maternal-fetal medicine. That said, this isn’t the career path for you if you’re not the adaptable, quick-thinking type. Any career in obstetrics can be extremely rewarding if you are driven and love what you do. Whether it be the actual delivery, the health care in between, or the newborn care afterwards, you can find the best option that suits your individual interests.

The Pros And Cons of Obstetrics

When considering a career option, you must think of the risks you’re willing to take. Unforeseen difficulties during labor and delivery can be devastating to both the patient and caregiver. The creation of a life is far more desirable than the loss of one. In any healthcare field, liability and emotional risks run high. In obstetrics, while most specialties focus on reducing infant mortality, premature births, and diagnosing birth defects, there are those unavoidable occurrences that will pull on your heart strings. When considering your options in obstetrics, you should ascertain your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your tolerance levels, and ask yourself which field will be most rewarding for you without risking too much of your individual self.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that if you love everything about babies, you’ll find a very enjoyable, rewarding career in the field of obstetrics. Whether you desire to work in a hospital, private practice, or a clinic, expectant mothers and newborns will always need tender, high quality care. If you’re dedicated to entering this healthcare field, the proper education and specialized training will have you handling those bundles of joy for many years to come.