Pregnancy can be overwhelming with everything we need to think about and prepare for, like choosing a healthcare provider. How do we know if our provider is the right fit for us? What questions do we even ask? How do we know we have chosen a provider that helps us make informed decisions and supports our decision-making throughout our pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care?

You should feel comfortable communicating with your provider, and they should support your wants and decisions as much as possible after all, you know your body better than anyone else. It is always important to make sure you can communicate clearly with your doctor. Ask as many questions as you need to, and always remember they have an answer. If they do not want to answer or reply with, “we can talk about that later,” that is not an answer. Once you have asked all your questions, you should feel heard, understood, and understand your doctor-patient relationship well.

Here are some questions recommended by Best Doula Training and Dr. Stacey Rosenberg, author of Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby. After asking these questions, you should know whether or not you have chosen the right provider for you.

• How long have you been practicing? How many births have you attended?

• What percentage of your births are c-sections?

• What is your VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) rate?

• If planning a VBAC, what would lead you to recommend a cesarean birth rather than a VBAC?

• Do you attend home births?

• How do you support breech birth?

• What is your standard schedule or frequency of prenatal appointments?

• How much time do you set aside for each prenatal visit?

• What types of tests are you likely to recommend over the course of my pregnancy?

• Under what circumstances do you recommend an ultrasound at the end of my pregnancy?

• Do you recommend an ultrasound to check the size of my baby?

• Does this differ if I am planning a VBAC?

• What percentage of your patients write birth plans? What advice would you offer if I decide to write one?

• Under what circumstances, if any, would you transfer my care to another healthcare provider?

• Under what circumstances do you induce labor? How is this different if I am planning a VBAC?

• How often do you recommend my contractions and baby be monitored during labor? What might change your recommendation? How is this different if planning a VBAC?

• Do the majority of your patients choose medicated or unmedicated/natural births?

• What methods of pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain relief (e.g., comfort measures) do you recommend often?

• Do you encourage couples to attempt unmedicated deliveries?

• How do you feel if I were to decide to use the services of a doula or other labor support person?

• How do you feel about using natural or alternative therapies such as chiropractic, herbs, aromatherapy, and homeopathy during pregnancy and labor?

• Do you routinely use electronic fetal monitoring during labor?

• Do you routinely use IVs during labor?

• What percentage of women in your care receive episiotomies?

• When do you prefer I notify you of my labor?

• When do you prefer I come to the birth center or hospital?

• How long are you comfortable with me laboring?

• How much time will you be able to spend with me while I’m in labor?

• Are you comfortable with me moving, walking & positioning myself while laboring and/or pushing?

• How long are you comfortable with me pushing?

• What are your feelings about delaying cord clamping until my partner or myself determines pulsing has stopped?

• Does any of this change if I am planning a VBAC?

• Do you support immediate skin-to-skin in the OR in a cesarean birth? Are clear drapes available?

• Will you support my partner and doula being present for cesarean birth? Will you support delayed cord clamping in this case?

• Will my baby be able to remain with me after birth?

• Do you provide breastfeeding support?

• Do you routinely use the antibiotic ointment in the baby’s eyes immediately after delivery?

• Do you routinely do vitamin K injections in the baby?

• What types of neo-natal testing do you normally do?

• What are your feelings on vaccinations?

• How often will I see you in the post-partum period? Should or will my baby be checked by another health care provider during this period?

• How do I contact you in an emergency, and when are you unavailable (e.g., are you taking holidays)? Who should I call instead?

For the midwife….

• What would cause me to risk out of your care or birth location?

• Should I risk out of your care, who becomes my health care provider?

• If planning a VBAC, who makes the decision, if necessary, that a cesarean birth is best? At what point is a cesarean birth considered?

Remember that if you feel uncomfortable with any of the answers or the practitioner is unwilling to accommodate your wishes, it is your right to change providers at any time!

References

Devereux, A., & Pokluda, M. (2017). Preparing for Birth. Best Doula Training

Rosenberg, S. (2008). Natural Pregnancy, Natural Baby. Xlibris Corporation