Who Will Care For Me?

Pregnancy is a critical time. Apart from having to cope with great physical and emotional changes, you worry whether your baby is growing well inside your womb. There is nothing more valuable during this time than a qualified and experienced obstetric caregiver who can care for and guide you through the next nine months.

Obstetric caregivers in Malaysia generally fall into three broad categories: general practitioners (GPs), midwives and obstetrician/gynaecologists (ob/gyns).

The services, role and availability of each one are different. Your choice depends on your needs, expectations, location and personal preference. Here are some points to help you get started:

Do you have a low- or high-risk pregnancy?

Low-risk pregnancies can be handled by most general practitioners (GPs) and midwives. An ob/gyn, a specialist trained in the female reproductive system, is able to handle both low and high-risk pregnancies, as well as perform Caesarean sections. Unusually high-risk or complicated pregnancies are referred to an ob/gyn with expertise in foetal-maternal medicine.

Who is available where you are?

Your choice of an obstetric caregiver depends on their availability in your area. Specialists are usually less available in rural areas and small towns whereas GPs are easily accessible in family clinics everywhere. Midwives for instance, can be found in the Government clinics known as Klinik Kesihatan Ibu & Kanak-Kanak (KKIK).

What is your budget?

Cost depends on the qualifications of the caregiver. Generally, midwife services are the most affordable and specialists’ the highest. Do check around as costs vary from clinic to clinic, hospital to hospital. The cost structures for private and government setups also differ.

How particular are you about the continuation of care?

Some women prefer to have one consistent caregiver while others do not have any particular preference. If you are one of the former, you may opt for the services of a dedicated ob/gyn who will see you through your pregnancy and delivery all the way to care after birth.

GPs or midwives, on the other hand, may provide pregnancy care but not be the ones to deliver your baby or provide post-natal care. Take KKIK clinics, for example. Pregnant women are cared for by midwives and then, passed on to a doctor in the hospital for delivery. They then return to KKIK for postnatal care.

What is the setup like?

Besides qualifications, you may want to know the clinic’s or hospital’s setup. Is it safe? Do you feel comfortable there? Is it easily accessible? What facilities are available? Are there emergency facilities such as an operation for the mother or a ventilator for a premature baby? Pay a visit and personally experience the setup. Some hospitals have antenatal classes where they bring you on a tour of their premises.