Although you are well prepared and will give birth to your baby, choosing your care provider is the first step to a positive pregnancy and birth.
Too often I hear women tell me that they are unhappy with their midwife or OB. Getting along with your care provider is one of the first steps in building your birthing support team. Asking questions on your first appointment will help you make a decision. Here are some sample questions I put together:
Do you support home birth, birth center birth ?
Do you support water birth ?
After the due date has passed, how long do you wait to induce?
What are your reasons for inductions?
During labor when do you encourage your client to go to the birthplace ?
What is your C-section rate ?
What is your episiotomy rate?
What are the routines during pregnancy?
What device do you use for monitoring during labor?
Do you perform a routine vaginal exam during labor ?
What is your opinion on delayed cord clamping ?
What is your routine for delivering the placenta ?
How many of your clients are due the same month as me?
Are you planning your vacation on or around my due date ?
Do you have a backup? If yes, can I meet this person at least 1 month before my due date?
Now, if you have an OB who tells you they support home birth but have a very high C-section rate, something is wrong. If you have any doubts and the answers to the questions are not coherent, don't go with this care provider, choose another one. You can change anytime during your pregnancy, but the sooner the better.
Prepare your questions and interview your care provider. Change if you're unhappy, and find someone you get along with, and is on the same page as you.
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