How to Choose an Obstetrician or OB-GYN

Editorial note: This guide is for preparing questions when choosing prenatal care. It is not individual medical advice and cannot tell you which provider is right for you. Discuss your own health history, pregnancy and care needs with a qualified health professional.

Choosing an obstetrician or OB-GYN is often one of the first decisions people make after learning they are pregnant or when planning a pregnancy. A good starting point is to look for a provider and care setting that can meet your individual needs, then use an initial conversation to decide whether the practice feels like a good fit.

Understand the types of prenatal-care provider

Depending on your circumstances and where you live, prenatal care may be provided by an obstetrician-gynaecologist, a certified nurse-midwife, a family medicine doctor, or a team that includes a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. The options available, and the most suitable arrangement, depend on your health history, the pregnancy, local services and your preferences. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ prenatal-care guide explains these roles in more detail.

Questions to ask when you contact a practice

• Do you accept my insurance, and can your office explain likely out-of-pocket costs?
• Which hospital or birth centre are you affiliated with?
• Who may see me for routine appointments, labour and delivery if my usual clinician is unavailable?
• How are urgent questions handled outside normal office hours?
• How does the practice communicate results, changes to appointments and referrals?
• What support is available if my care needs change during pregnancy?

It can also help to ask about language access, location, appointment availability and whether you feel comfortable raising questions with the care team. Fit matters: you should be able to understand how your care is organised and feel heard when you ask for clarification.

Prepare for a first appointment

Bring a current list of medicines, vitamins and supplements; relevant personal and family health history; and information about previous pregnancies if applicable. Write down questions in advance. ACOG’s medical-history form is one example of the information a clinician may discuss at an initial visit.

Use trustworthy sources while you decide

Reliable starting points include ACOG’s guide to finding an OB-GYN and MedlinePlus guidance on choosing a pregnancy and childbirth provider. Your insurer, primary-care clinician or local health service may also help you identify available care.

If you have concerns about your health, pregnancy or symptoms, seek individual advice promptly from an appropriate health professional or urgent-care service rather than relying on a general web guide.

Sources checked August 2026. This page should be reviewed again if the cited guidance changes.