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Questions to Ask When Choosing an Obstetrician or Midwife

How long have you been in practice? How many babies have you delivered?

Are you certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The American Board of Family Medicine or the American College of Nurse-Midwives?

Do you have a solo medical practice (a single doctor or midwife plus her support staff)?

Do you have a partnership or group practice (two or more doctors or midwives who share patients, costs and space)?

Do you have a combination practice (one or more obstetricians and one or more midwives and other specialists working cooperatively)?

Do you have a maternity or birth-center practice (a practice in which certified nurse-midwives provide the majority of care, but physicians are available if they are needed)?

Do you have an independent certified nurse-midwife practice (midwives work on their own but have a physician backup available for consultation and emergency care)?

How would I get in touch with you in the event of an emergency? Are there times when you are unavailable? If so, whom would I call in that situation?

10.

Who other than you might be present at the birth? Will I have the opportunity to meet the backup caregiver before I go into labor?

11.

Will you be available to take my non-emergency phone calls during working hours? If you are not available, who will be able to answer my questions or address my concerns?

12.

What is your call schedule? Will you be available around the time I am due to deliver my baby?

13.

What percentage of your patients' babies do you deliver yourself?

14.

Do you use residents or interns as part of your practice?

15.

What hospital(s) and/or birth center(s) are you affiliated with?

16.

Do you attend home births?

17.

What proportion of your fees are likely to be covered by my insurance company or HMO?

18.

What is your recommended schedule of prenatal visits? How long do you set aside for each appointment?

19.

What tests will you order during my pregnancy (ultrasound, amniocentesis, genetic screening and so on)? What if I have a concern about a certain test?

20.

Under what circumstances, if any, would you need to transfer me into the care of another healthcare practitioner? (That is, if you develop certain types of complications, will the caregiver be able to manage these complications, or will you be transferred to someone else?)

21.

Under what circumstances do you induce labor?

22.

How do you feel about the fact that we intend to prepare a birth plan? Will you set aside time to review our birth plan with us before the onset of labor?

23.

How much time will you spend with me when I'm in labor?

24.

Do the majority of women in your practice have medicated or non-medicated births? What percentage have epidurals?

25.

What are your thoughts on natural childbirth?

26.

How would you feel if I wanted to use the services of a doula or other support person?

27.

In what positions do most of the women in your practice labor and give birth?

28.

What percentage of women are induced?

29.

Do you routinely use electronic fetal monitoring during labor?

30.

What percentage of women in your practice have episiotomies?

31.

What percentage of women in your practice have cesareans?

32.

What percentage of women attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) manage to deliver vaginally?

33.

Do you allow labor support people other than the father to be present at the birth?

34.

Will my baby and I be separated after the birth?

35.

Do you provide breastfeeding support and/or postpartum care?

Provided by Ann Douglas

Author of The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby

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