Questions for Midwife

babyLOLO13

Hi all! I just switched over from OB to midwife and am compiling a list of questions to ask her. Any other questions to add to this list would be greatly appreciated! TIA!!

episiotomy ?
do you do breeched births?
intermittent monitoring?
how long can I labor at home after water breaking?

... Hitting a roadblock .. Thanks ladies!

jamrosj

Do you encourage different laboring positions?

What are your beliefs about induction?

What situations would you use pitocen/ARM/forceps/etc

What do you do if a labor is stalled? 

aylafsu88

How long will she let you go before recommending an induction?

KatieEl

These are the main questions that I asked my Midwife when I moved from a traditional OBGYN practice to a hospital based midwife practice; I hope this helps! 

If an induction becomes necessary what methods will they use?

What "tools" will be available to me while laboring? (E.g. birthing ball, squatting bar, stool, tub, etc.)

Once I'm on the hospital, am I "On the clock"?  If so, how much time will I be given to labor naturally before artificial methods of speeding up labor/c-section are discussed? 

May I move around during labor?

May I eat/drink while laboring?

May I labor in my own clothes?

How is pain relief handled?  If I don't want an epi offered will it be anyway?

Do you use any meds for the delivery of the placenta, shrinking of the uterus or stitching?  If so, which ones? 

Will I be able to have immediate skin-to-skin contact with the baby post-birth?

Can we do delayed cord-clamping?

At what point would I be risked out of the midwife practice? 

Are you comfortable with my having a doula present?  How many support people are you comfortable with being present?

How many other women are due around the same time that I am?

How much time is allowed for me to deliver the placenta naturally?

What can I do to best facilitiate a natural birth?

Do you have any requirements/expectations for me? 

babyLOLO13

Awesome feedback!!! Thanks ladies!

trebekastan

I went crazy but only felt the need to ask a handfull of the questions I came up with...

Experience
What is your philosophy regarding pregnancy and birth and your role in it?
How many births have you attended? Please differentiate between births where you?ve assisted and those where you?ve been the primary midwife (responsible for labor management, the birth, newborn exam, postpartum care).
What percentage of women successfully have a natural birth under your care?
What percentage of moms end up with a C-section?
What percentage of moms end up with an epidural?
What percentage of babies are transferred to NICU?
What is the mortality rate for moms? For babies?
If you have children, what were your birth experiences like?
How many midwives or obstetricians are on the team? Who are your assistants? Will I get to meet all of them? What is their experience? Can I be sure that you will attend my birth?
Do you deliver breech babies naturally? VBACs? Twins?
How many births do you attend per month? Do you limit the number of due dates in any 30-day period too avoid conflicts?

Pregnancy & Prenatal Care
What usually happens at prenatal appointments? How many? When? How long are they?
Are you available by phone or email for questions?
What is your philosophy on weight gain, nutrition, prenatal supplements, and exercise?
What factors would risk me out of your practice? How will you help me prevent these?
What child birth class do you recommend?
What prenatal testing to you encourage?
What type of gestational diabetes testing do you typically use?
Do you recommend ultrasounds? When? How many?
Do you routinely perform vaginal exams? When do you think they?re indicated and why?
What happens if I go past my due date? How late can I be and still birth under your care (if a midwife)?
What testing do you do for a late baby? Starting at how many weeks?
Do you have any concerns about big babies being birthed naturally?

Labor
When do you do vaginal checks during labor?
What type of monitoring do you do during labor? How often? For how long?
Do you routinely use an IV or hep-lock?
Are there birth tubs in each room in the birth center? What if one is not available when I'm in labor?
Is a water birth available? If not, am I able to push in the tub at all?
How long do you recommend I stay in the water at one time? Do I need to get out for monitoring?
How many women are under the care of one midwife or doctor at a time? How much will you be with me throughout my labor?
What do you do if another client is in labor at the same time I am?
Who else would be at my birth? Another midwife? A birth assistant? What is her experience and training? Will I meet her before the birth?
Are you comfortable working alongside a doula? Do you have particular doulas you recommend?
How will you determine if I am an appropriate candidate for midwifery care and what will happen if I need the care of a physician?
How long can I labor without induction?
When would you recommend induction? Do you use natural induction methods first?
How long can I labor without intervention after my water breaks?
Who attends a birth? (Students, assistants, nurses, etc.)
When do you feel amniotomy is indicated?
Can I eat and drink during labor?
What's your process for implementing a family's birth plan?
What positions are available during labor? While pushing?
Do you do anything to help prevent tears, and what kind of tears are you able to repair?
Under what circumstances would you perform an episiotomy, and how many times have you done this?
Do you have any experience with shoulder dystocia? Postpartum hemorrhage? Cord prolapse?
How long do you allow for delivery of the placenta? When do you cut the cord?

Postpartum & Newborn Care
What post-partum care do you provide? When? How many appointments? Where?
What does newborn care consist of? Under what circumstances would my newborn need to be taken away from me for treatment?
Are you comfortable with me declining bathing, vitamin K, heel poke, eye ointment, vaccinations?
Can you help me initiate breastfeeding?