Something we are seeing more and more is pregnant women blindly choosing health care providers, and in turn complaining about them for the duration of their pregnancy, or having a negative experience with that provider for the birth of their child. My biggest suggestion to newly pregnant women, and pregnant women in general is interview several different providers before picking one to stick with for your pregnancy. This will help to eliminate stress from disagreeing or not getting along with your provider.
I certainly did this with my second pregnancy after having a less than ideal experience my first time around. So when it came time to interview providers, though I was interviewing for a VBAC provider, I put together a sample list of some questions mothers may want to ask before committing to a provider. Also remember, you can change providers any time during pregnancy, even if you are at your due date already!
- What Hospital/Hospital’s do you deliver at?
- How do you handle post date pregnancies? (Meaning over 40 weeks gestation)
- What type of protocol do you have for delivery such as requiring IV’s, constant monitoring, etc.?
- What percent of your patients have cesarean sections?
- What percent of your patients have inductions?
- What percent of your patients have epidurals?
- What positions can I give birth in? (Most providers will only allow you to birth on your back in stirrups)
- What kind of pre natal testing do you order? (And how do you handle patients that decline testing?)
- How many providers are in your practice?
- What is the likelihood I will have you attend my birth?
- Do you perform episiotomies?
- What are after hour policies?
- What is the protocol when I go into labor?
- When should I call you?
- How many babies do you delivery yearly?
- Do you have any vacations coming up?
- How long have you been practicing?
- What made you want to deliver babies?
- What is your view on pregnancy & birth?
- What percent of your patients are high risk?
- How do you handle low risk pregnancies?
All these questions are simple suggestions, you do not need to go into a providers office and ask all of them, or even ask any of them if they do not apply to you. Be sure to ask things that are important to you, just not what is on a sample list.
If you have any questions that you would like ot add, please leave them as a comment!!
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Comment by Interviewing Pre Natal Care Providers – Pregnancy, Parenthood … | Pregnancy Chart — January 21st, 2010 @ 2:42 am
Good set of questions – should be helpful for more.
Comment by Sandy Naidu — January 21st, 2010 @ 11:29 pm
[...] Interview Providers – Most women I have come across usually choose the OB their sister used, or even a simple referral from their insurance provider. With my first pregnancy, that is exactly what I did. By the end of my pregnancy, and after my birth, I knew the provider choice was a mistake. Providers can make or break your experience. Choose wisely. [...]
Comment by Preparing for Natural Childbirth -- First or Second Time — Giving Birth with Confidence — June 2nd, 2010 @ 1:01 am
[...] Interview a number of different providers before choosing who will provide your prenatal care and delivery. Ask them the tough questions — what you really want to know about someone who could potentially be delivering your child, or helping to call the shots when it comes to medical choices. This will prevent issues with your provider from arising later in pregnancy, or worse, during labor and delivery. [...]
Comment by Do Everything in Your Power « Mother's Advocate Blog — June 14th, 2010 @ 2:51 pm