Being pregnant is a very exciting and overwhelming time. You have a 1000 questions and want to make the most of every minute, especially during your birth, having a capable care provider you trust is ever important. Who you chose as your care provider can make your pregnancy and birthing experience either an amazing or terrible experience. Here is a list of questions to ask your care provider during your pregnancy and birth to see if they align with your birthing ideas. These questions  were posted by TBS moms and includes additional important questions I included. Please add any that you asked or think are missing in the comments below.

Prenatal Care

1.       What is your general philosophy about pregnancy and childbirth?

2.       When and how often do you suggest ultrasound be performed? When do you do the gender ultrasound?

3.       Do you recommend any prenatal classes?

4.       What are some things I need to avoid (exercises, foods, activities)?

5.       Do you have particular pregnancy books or sources of information you recommend?

6.       Do you have specific recommendations about diet and exercise? Is there a level of exercise that might be too much?

7.       Is sleeping on my back really a bad thing? And why is sleeping on the left side important, as opposed to the right side?

8.       How often will my appointments be and what will they generally consist of?

9.       Could anything in my medical history affect my pregnancy?

10.   What genetic tests should I get?  Are all of these covered by insurance or are any of them possibly considered optional?

11.   Do you have a list of acceptable over the counter medications?

12.   What is my blood type?

13.   What are your guidelines for a normal vs. high risk pregnancy?

14.   Do you recommend Bradley or hypnobirthing classes, and anywhere in particular? When should we take them?  Any other prenatal classes you think we should take and when?

 
Birthing  & Labour Care

1.       How do you regard written birth plans?

2.       What are your feelings about doulas?

3.       Who do you allow present at the birth?

4.       Will you be in town on my due date?

5.       How many women do you have due at the time of my due date?

6.       Is there an after-hours number to call or a way to get a hold of you in case of emergency?

7.       Who would be your replacement if you were to have another mom in labour at the same time?

8.       How many births have you missed?

9.       When and how often will I see you before, during and after birth?

10.   What is your general opinion of the hospital? If I am transferred to a hospital or birth in a hospital, will they let me walk around or eat? Can I labor in different positions? Do they have tubs, squat bars or stool?

11.   Are you comfortable with different pushing positions (i.e. squatting)?

12.   What are your recommendations for less interventions and medications?

13.   What percentage of your patients begin labor spontaneously?

14.   How far will you let me go before inducing? What if I  do not want induction? What is your induction rate?

15.   What are your grounds for transfer to hospital?

16.   How long, and under what circumstances will you let me labour for before interventions?

17.   Do you perform vaginal breach births?

18.   What are your procedures for handling breech/twin pregnancies?

19.   Do you do episiotomies? When and why?

20.   What is your standard for using Pitocin? How often and why do you use it?

21.   What is your c-section rate? What are the conditions you would recommend a c-section?

22.   What is your policy on rupturing/stripping membranes?

23.   What do you think of vernix rubbed in rather than washed/wiped off of baby?

24.   Do you have issues examining the baby while I hold him?

25.  How do you feel about delayed cord clamping/cutting?

26.  Have you had any maternal and/or infant deaths? If so, why?

Here is a great short resource for what to look for in a care provider. http://www.injoyvideos.com/mothersadvocate/pdf/hbyw-ChoosingCaregiver.pdf

Read one mom's answers when she went to ask her OB.