specific questions to ask the OB

wife1014

I am seeing my OB for what could be the lsat time tomorrow. I am meeting with a midwife on Monday and trying to decide which route to take.  With my daughter, I feel I went over my birth plan and expectations enough but none of it was acted on.  From the epi to the baby being taken to be cleaned and weighed before putting her on me.  I really want to get to the nitty gritty tomorrow.  Do you have anything specific you wished you had asked or have gotten the right/wrong answers on?  Also if you had a doula and an OB, what types of things should I ask the OB in regard to the doula?  Thanks

drewiekc

Here is a list my doula gave me to ask my OB.  I had pretty much gone over it all with her anyway, and felt like I got a pretty good feel for how she'd handle things based on these questions.

 

For instance, what is her rate of cesarean sections? 

Rate of spontaneous natural deliveries?

How often does she have women deliver naturally? 

In what positions do they deliver in?  Her rate of episiotomy? 

How often she performs amniotomy(or rupturing the membranes)?

Will she allow you to get in the Jacuzzi if your membranes have ruptured?   

Will she allow you to drink water and juice and light foods like yogurt or soup, smoothie? 

How often will you have to be monitored?  Is it 20min out of every hour, can or will she require less?

Will she require IV fluids?  Is ok with an IV hep lock and no fluids?  Is it ok to refuse the IV hep lock?

Are you willing to refuse IV fluids and keep hydrated by other means? 

What is her policy on how many other attendants are usually in the room at delivery?  Can she limit the number of those attendant and techs (pt. nurse, baby nurse, techs?

Does she usually have all the lights on at delivery?  Do you want the lights dim at delivery? 

Under what circumstances does she recommend inducing labor? 

What does she consider failure to progress?  How does she handle slowly progressing labors? 

What are her strategies to protect the perineum? Will she consult with you before doing any procedure? What position does she usually deliver the baby in? (Deliver and Pushing are or can be different) Are there any position she will not allow delivery?

How often does she use forceps and vacuum extractions?  Does that mandate an episiotomy?

What is her policy on delivering the placenta?  How long will she wait for the delivery of the placenta? Does she participate in active management? 

What needs to be done with the baby right after birth? 

 

drewiekc

Sorry it all kind of runs together, it was formatted much more coherently in Word

wife1014

Thank you so very much!!!   Exactly what I was looking for.  Would you mind emailing that to me so I can print it up.  I will PM you my email address...

 

 

drewiekc

Not a prob!