Interview Q's for dr/midwives

lmudra

I realize this might be a little late but I've made the decision to switch practices and I'm touring a midwife clinic on Thursday.  What would you ask?  Spam me with all the questions you wish you would've asked or did ask and why!
Thabks for helping!!!  I'm such a nervous nelly so knowing what to ask will really help.  

tuxielove93

@lmudra I'm a dirty lurker from July, but I'm in the same boat as you (finally got an appointment with my dream midwife and birthing center clinic) and now I think I'm going to start my own board for it in my month too. And follow yours. Feel free to come over and follow mine too. 

acrose0226

We just interviewed a new midwife clinic and I've listed below some of the questions my hubs and I asked....I'm sure I'm leaving some out. It also depends on what you're looking for -- what type of birthing approach, etc. 

Prenatal
-Prenatal - what is their philosophy on ultra sounds and doppler heart rate monitors (this is important to us as we've done a lot of research showing that US and dopplers are not the best for baby's development so wanted to use a midwife practice that would support us in this decision)
-Use of fetal monitors during labor -- do they require continuous monitoring?
-For Gestational Diabetes testing, what approach do they use -- many practices require you to drink the super sweet stuff; the practice I'm going to tests you for GD an hour after giving you a breakfast of 2 eggs, a slice of toast, glass of OJ and glass of milk - if your sugar levels are high after having a well-balanced meal, then it's more evident that you have GD vs. having high sugar levels after drinking an abnormally sweet beverage
-What type of nutrition guidance / counseling do they provide throughout pregnancy
-Do they have a lactation consultant on staff 

Labor / Delivery
-At what point during labor do they recommend that you go to the hospital
-Are you allowed to move around/walk around during labor once at the hospital 
-Do they allow you to have food/drink during labor
-How long will they let you labor before "requiring" an intervention
-Do they use/allow herbs and/or essential oils as part of labor
-Do you labor and deliver in the same hospital room
-How are husbands treated -- are they respected, involved in the process without being pushed out of the way, etc.
-Do they have a birthing chair, tub for water births, what type of delivery positions do they support....squatting, all fours, etc.
-How much control do they let the woman have during labor
-How do they help prevent tearing (massaging, hot compresses, etc.)

Post-Delivery
-Do they do skin-to-skin right away 
-Will the baby sleep with you in your room that night / make sure the hospital room also has sleeping accommodations for husband
-How soon can you leave after giving birth

Other
-How do they assign patients to midwives for prenatal and labor/delivery - if labor/delivery is accompanied by whoever is "on call" at the time, will you have the opportunity to meet all of the midwives at the practice during your prenatal visits
-Rates of births that follow the "birth plan" 
-Rates of interventions...c-sections, episiotomy, rates of tears, etc.
-How many births does the practice conduct per year / how many births has each midwife attended

I'm sure I've forgotten some of the Qs that we asked, but hopefully that's a helpful start. Again, a lot of it depends on what you're looking for, what your beliefs are, and what type of approach/support you want during your L&D.

Good luck!!

mombod

Everything @acrose0226 said. Also I would ask their policy on induction (based on due date not complication). What methods do they use? When do they start?

tuxielove93

Some of this almost definietely doesn't apply (I'm a vegan and using a birthing center) but this is the list I've compiled for my appointment tomorrow. Hope it might help! I have put off asking about postpartum care, placental delivery, bleeding, and what to pack for labor until another appointment. Also I put some of my own preferences under the questions, so you can ignore that. Also, I'm sorry for how long it ended up being due to formatting. 

Provider Interview Questions:

Who delivers?

*The person I have been seeing!!

Who will I see in visits?

*The person who delivers!

• If in rotation, can I have an appointment with everyone pre-labor? Will I meet the associated OB prior to possible complications?

Can I tour the birthing center and do you do weekend tours?

When do you send a woman for a C-section? What do you try first?

What kind of monitoring do you do during the labor?

- occasional strapping down, but not constant

What kind of preventative measures can we take to avoid an episiotomy/tear?

Do you shave women for labor? Is there another option? Can you do a partial shave and can I bring my own razor?

Under what circumstances will you induce a woman? How late can I go?

My baby measured behind in the ultrasounds, will you consider this time when talking about inducing for being late?

Do you use Pitocin to induce labor? Are there other options, and how early would these be started (sweeping the membranes, dilating the cervix)

Am I free to eat and drink during labor? What do you recommend?

Am I free to move during labor? What kind of furniture/tools do you have to help women move and be comfortable during labor? Do you have birth balls or can I bring my own?

How do you handle the pushing stage of labor?

Can my husband or I “catch” the baby?

Can my husband be there, and is there a time when he wouldn’t be allowed to be by my side?

If for some reason I cannot hold the baby after birth, can my husband do skin to skin?

What happens in the first hour after birth?

• Delayed cord clamping

• Skin to Skin for 1 hour

• Delayed weighing and vaccines

• Delayed bath

Do you have a lactation consultant available after birth?

What are the reasons I would be switched to a hospital birth rather than staying at the birthing center before labor begins?

What are the reasons during labor that I would be switched to the hospital? What kind of option do I have?

How do you handle breech babies? Can they be turned, and what do you do for this?

What are the reasons that I would be switched out of your practice and to an OB?

Is there a pediatrician linked to your practice?

What is your policy on birth plans if they are considered flexible and for the best case scenario?

When can I call if I have any questions?

Due to being a distance from the practice, when during labor should I travel to the center?

If I go into early labor, should I go to a hospital near me and call your practice?

How early is too early?

How long can I labor before I would be sent for a C-section? When does that timer start?

Would you come to the hospital with me? What would be your role at that point?

Do you use Pitocin to start stalled labor? Are there other options you try first?

If everything is going well as I go into labor, will I have an IV? Can it be tied off so I am not strapped to a machine?

Assuming that all goes well, how long will I have to stay/be allowed to stay at the birthing center? Can my husband stay overnight is necessary? Where will baby sleep?

I am a vegan. Is this an issue?

Do you have any specific recommendations for me due to my diet?

I have not taken a prenatal up to this point. I am planning on taking iron and calcium as well as Vitamin D. Everything else I am confident I get enough of in my diet. Are you comfortable with this? Do you have any recommendations? NOTE: I think I’m allergic to copper, part of the reason I don’t want to take a prenatal

What is a typical visit going to be like?

Do you always check the HB?

I have an anatomy scan being scheduled at a clinic close to me. Can I keep this appointment instead of driving back down here?

Will I have any other ultrasounds after the anatomy scan?

Are there alternatives to the glucose test that don’t include drinking the glucola drink (WFPB vegan and I can’t imagine that drink is going to go down well, especially pregnant)?

Do you require or offer any prenatal classes?

Do you have any assistants at the birth?

What procedures are provided/required for the infant after birth? ie vitamin k, Hep B, PKU test.

Will the baby and I be separated at all post birth? For how long and for what procedures?

What complications may lead to the baby being transferred but me not? How soon can I transfer with the baby?

How do you handle the pushing stage of labor?

mombod

I forgot to add...
What is your episiotomy policy?
What is your policy on pitocin shot after delivery? (I didnt know this was a thing but some practices automatically give pitocin after delivery).