Little Mama's Lowdown

Over the next couple days I will be meeting two different midwives in town and decide who’s going to work best in delivering Chris & I’s baby.  I’m not going to lie– cost is going to be the hugest factor in choosing my midwife since I’m suspecting that both work in similar ways and believe in similar practices… however, I’ve been compiling a list of questions I want to ask, not only to be sure of their ideas, but also so I look more mature!!!

I thought I’d share these questions with anyone who’s interested in the gazillion viewpoints and options related to the birthing process, or anyone who’s searching for a good list of interview questions particularly related to midwives:

• What kind of training do you have?  (Did you graduate from a nationally accredited midwifery program?)
• How will you determine if I am an appropriate candidate for midwifery care?  What will happen if I need the care of a doctor?
• Do you provide gynecological care including screening for common health problems?
• Where will you attend births?
• What prenatal tests do you recommend? Require?
• Can I walk and move around during labor?  What positions can I birth in?
• Can I eat and drink during labor?
• How will you monitor the baby?  How often?
• Do you do water births?
• Do I have to have an IV?
• In what conditions will you transfer me from home to hospital for? From birth center to hospital? Will you stay with me if I have to transfer?  What is her rate of transfer from home? From the birth center?
• Will you provide complete prenatal care?
• Will you stay with me continuously throughout labor and birth, or could someone else relieve you?
• What happens if you are unable to attend the birth?
• What is your cesarean section rate? Assisted delivery rate?
• What is your view on episiotomy?
• What procedures do you perform immediately on the newborn? What can wait? Will you wait if I request it?
• Will you provide me with education as I prepare for the birth?
• Who will you bring with you to the birth?  What will you bring?
• How long will she stay after I deliver my baby?
• What kind of postpartum follow-up do you give?
• When do you recommend my baby see a pediatrician or doctor?
• How long does an appointment normally last? What is a typical appointment like?
• How many babies are you catching during a month?
• What happens if two clients are in labor at the same time?
• Have you ever missed a birth?
• When will you come to me after I begin labor?
• Will you do a breech delivery? Twin delivery?
• What do you do in the event of a long labor? A “stalled” labor?
• What do you think of premature rupture of membranes (PROM)?
• How long do you wait to cut the cord after the baby is born?
• What do you do if there is a post partum hemorrhage?
• What are your fees and what do they include? What is your payment schedule?
• What do you do if a mother goes “post dates?” What if a mother is approaching 42 weeks?
• Why did you become a midwife?
• How many births have you attended as primary caregiver?
• Do you do regular continuing education?
• Where will my prenatal visits be at?
• What do you expect regarding self-care during pregnancy?
• What is your view on nutrition and weight gain during pregnancy?
• Have you ever lost a baby? What were the circumstances?
• Will you help me with breastfeeding?
• How do you feel about circumcision? Immunization?
• How do I get my baby’s birth certificate?