Questioning your Doctor/Midwife is your right as a consumer! That’s what you are a consumer! For instance, if you needed your carpets cleaned and told the cleaner what rooms/stairs you wanted cleaned and to move the furniture while doing it, but they turned around and cleaned only the rooms they wanted, skipped the stairs and didn’t move furniture, would you just roll with the flow because they know what they’re doing? I don’t THINK so!
So ask questions! Listen to your intuition. If you don’t like the answer or how it’s given, then maybe it’s not the right Doctor or Midwife for you.
What tests or procedures do you normally recommend in pregnancy?
Every practitioner probably has a slightly different offering of tests. From Amniocentesis to Stress tests, your midwife or doctor should explain each thoroughly to you.
What do you recommend for normal pregnancy aches and pains?
There are many common discomforts associated with pregnancy. Many of these can be eased WITHOUT medications. Just think about it, would you give your toddler an adult dose of the medications your doctor prescribed you? NO, but that’s what you’re giving your unborn little baby, and their little systems are not ready for that at all.
Who are your back up practitioners? When might I see them? Can I meet them before the birth?
Knowing the possibilities, even if remote, can make you feel more at ease. Don’t hesitate to meet them even if just to say hello, and get a feel for them. If you don’t like a specific back up Doctor, you have the right to have written in your chart to not allow treatment from said Doctor unless it’s absolutely unavoidable. Remember, your body, your baby.
Do you recommend any certain childbirth classes?
There are lots of choices available to consumers when it comes to childbirth classes. Do you go to classes that your friends took? Should you take hospital based classes? Find out what options are available in your community.
I personally recommend ONLY taking Hypnobabies. Hypnobabies includes using hypnosis for childbirth, relaxation techniques, birth partner included!, breathing techniques, childbirth education, prenatal exercise, birthing positions, and CONSUMER issues.
Do you routinely use interventions in labor or do you wait to see if they are needed?
At what point do you talk about the artificial induction of labor?
What are your vaginal birth rates? For first time moms? For moms who have had babies before? For moms who have had previous cesarean births?
Ask questions about the likelihood of you having a normal birth. Ask early and often. Let your doctor or midwife know you’re committed to having a normal birth.
What pregnancy books do you recommend I read?
What is your policy on walking while in labor?
What about after my water has broken?
What is your policy on eating and drinking in labor?
What is your policy on having IV access while in labor? (heplock?)
Can a woman have her husband and doula with her for the entire labor? While pushing? For delivery? In the OR?
How many people are allowed with her?
What is your policy on continuous monitoring during early labor? active labor? pushing? Do you have telemetry monitoring? (a portable monitor, means they monitor you but you can still be up and walking the halls)
how often do moms require internal monitoring? Or is that reserved for emergencies? (the one attached to baby’s head)
What is your policy on photography and video during labor? during delivery? in the OR? after delivery? Are there particular doctors that have issues with it?
What is your policy on baby care immediately after birth? Is the baby taken to a warmer? Is the baby taken to a nursery for the bath or is that done in the room? Is mom allowed time to nurse the baby before the footprints, weight, shots and drops are done?
What is your policy on supplementing breastfed babies with formula? When do you consider it “necessary”? Do you ever give breastfed babies a bottle of water? Do you give pacifiers to breastfed babies?
Do you support VBAC moms? Can they birth here? What about VBAmC?
Continuous efm? Or intermittent? During VBAC
Episiotomy Rate?
Cesarean rate?
How many births do you have a month?
During the birth, how many vaginal exams do you typically do? Or do you go mainly by mom’s emotional and physical signposts?
How do you support women who seem to be having a hard time coping, but are determined on a natural birth? Assuming that both mom and baby are okay and healthy, and there are no signs of distress.
Does you have an anesthesiologist in house, or on call? What’s the fastest a woman could receive an emergency c-section?
Have mom’s been able to push in positions other than lithotomy? For instances, squatting? Side laying?
How many moms have you SEEN give birth in a position other than lithotomy?