When interviewing midwives and determining which care-provider is right for YOU and your family, it can be difficult to know which questions to ask! Sara and Becky have come up with a list of questions you can certainly feel free to ask our team when interviewing us, and one that you’re welcome to print off and bring to interviews with other local midwives. We hope they help!
Questions to ask your potential midwife:
What is your education/experience?
How many births do you attend a month/year?
How many clients do you have due around my estimated due date?
What is your birth philosophy?
What are your protocols for: breech babies, twins, post-dates, etc.?
How do you prefer communication for general questions outside of my appointments?
Who will be present for my prenatal appointments? Who will attend my birth? What if I have a preference for my birth attendance or don’t really click with a member of the team?
What happens in the case of a transfer?
What if there is no medical reason for transfer, but I decide I want to go to the hospital? How would you handle that?
Are you trained in neonatal resuscitation? What might a resuscitation look like?
What are your goals for prenatal care?
Do you recommend any prenatal testing? How is that done?
Do you work with any OBs in the area?
What are your expectations of me as a client?
Do you recommend childbirth education classes? Who/what do you recommend?
What are you recommendations for exercise during pregnancy?
When do I call you if I think I am in labor? If having a birth at the birth center, when should I come in?
At what point will you come to my home when I am in labor?
What happens if you do not make it before the baby is born?
What do you do/how do you support me during labor, birth, and immediate postpartum?
Do you bring any of these equipment/supplies to birth: bag and mask, DeLee, anti-hemorrhagic medications?
What supplies must I provide?
How and how often do you monitor baby during labor and the pushing stage?
Do you do vaginal exams during pregnancy and/or cervical checks during labor?
Are you comfortable with me having family members/friends, other than my partner, at my birth?
How do you feel about my children being at my birth/what are your recommendations?
Do you provide waterbirth options? Do you have a tub for rent/use?
How can I avoid tearing during birth?
How do you manage the delivery of the placenta? Do you use firm traction? How long do you wait for it?
Do you support delayed cord clamping? How long do you wait?
What does the immediate postpartum period look like?
How long do you stay after birth?
What happens if I do tear? Are you able to stitch?
What happens if I hemorrhage?
How long do I stay in your care after birth? How many postpartum visits do you do?
How soon do I need to see a pediatrician?
What are my options for my placenta? Do offer encapsulation? Can I do a smoothie? What are your recommendations?
Do you work with birth photographers?
How do you feel about me having a doula? Any recommendations?
Do you work with any other midwives in the area? Who is your back-up?
Do you recommend any other type of alternative care? Chiropractic? Massage? Acupressure? Acupuncture? Naturopathic? Etc.?
Do you support VBACs?
How can you help me with breastfeeding?
Can insurance cover my birth? How does that work? What do you/I need to do?
How do I go about circumcision if that is what I choose to do?
Can I eat or drink during my labor? What are your recommendations?
Are you familiar with local resources for pregnancy and postpartum support?
