questions to ask MW?

[DalaiMama]

Hey guys! Does anyone have a link to/suggesions for a list of good questions to ask a potential midwife? I have no idea what I need to know in order to determine if we're compatible or not. Mylo was born in hospital, where I was on state medical ins, so didn't have much of a choice in care providers. This time, I want to make sure that I get the care that I want. any help would be great.

[Jessviola]

bump

[Larissa]

I got the following questions of the North Carolina Home birth web site www.nchomebirth.com


Ask Your Prospective Midwife
** What is your educational background, what type of midwife are you (CPM, CNM, etc)?


** How long have you been a midwife?


** How many births have you attended? How many of these were at home?


** Have you had any mothers or babies to die? Why?


**Do you work with a backup doctor?


** Will you have other clients around the time my baby is due? What happens if you are with another client when I go into labor?


** How much do you charge?


** At what point during my labor will you come to my house?


**Will you have an apprentice? Will I be able to get to know her before my birth?


** Do you have equipment to resuscitate the baby in case it is needed?


** Are you certified in neonatal resuscitation?


** What emergencies could arise during labor? How are you prepared and equipped to handle them?


** How many prenatal visits do you recommend, what will happen during those and where would they be held?


** If I start my pregnancy low-risk, what will it take to put me in the high-risk category?


** Do you encourage your clients to have a doula? Is there a doula that you work with that you would recommend?


**How will you monitor the well being of my baby and me during labor?


** What will you do if my labor is progressing slowly?


** Do you do episiotomies and why?


** Are there any drug-free techniques you provide for pain relief during labor?


** How many of your clients have ended up at the hospital? For what reasons?


**What is the procedure if I have to be transported to the hospital?


** What is your approach to newborn care? What care is offered if the baby is healthy and normal?


** How long will you stay after the baby¡¦s birth?


** How many postpartum visits will we have and where will they take place?


** Will you provide references?

[DalaiMama]

Thanks Larissa, that's exactly the kind of thing I was looking for!

[Larissa]

I am glad I could help!!!

[Jessviola]

yeah, great list!

[Kundalini-Mama]

pamelamidwife also has a great list on her site.

[HokieGirl]

I also just found a list of questions at the ACNM.org website - under the For Consumers section. I had to dig a little. And I think many of the questions are similar to those listed above and on the Circle of Life Midwifery page.

[nikirj]

That's a great list. I also plan to ask (since there is every possibility my baby will arrive on Christmas) if my midwife is willing to forego alcohol at Christmas parties and such if I've not delivered yet (hey, I don't mind a little, but a drunk midwife doesn't sound like fun to me). I know it is a little paranoid of me, but a friend had a doc show up drunk for her delivery and it was NOT a pretty picture.

[jayayenay]

,

[MammaV]

I compiled a list from several sources. I found that I did have some redundencies, and have not edited it yet. Here's my list.

1.How long have you been practicing and how many births have you been the primary midwife responsible?
2.Are you licensed? Why?
3.What is your philosophy about childbirth?
4.Why did you become a midwife?
5.Do you practice with a partner or assistants/apprentices? When will I meet them? What happens if I don't want one of them, or prefer one of them at my birth?
6.What happens if two people are in labor at once?
7.What are your expectations of me regarding self-care in pregnancy?
8.Do you use a beeper? If not, how do I reach you? Are you on call 24 hours a day?
9.Are you comfortable with herbs and homeopathy being used by my natural healer during pregnancy and birth?
10.Do you have a limit on the number of births you attend per month?
11.Do you provide postpartum visits in the early days after birth? How many? How long do you provide postpartum care?
12.What equipment do you normally use at births? What medications and equipment do you have for emergencies? What emergency equipment and medicinals do you bring? When will you use the following: pitocin or methergine, newborn ressuscitation equipment, oxygen, suturing materials, IVs?
13.Are you certified in CPR? What complications have you seen and handled? How would you handle complications such as hemorrhage, cord around the baby’s neck, baby not breathing spontaneously?
14.Do you have adequate medical backup? Do you rely on a particular doctor or hospital? Can I choose my own physician? Who is your back up doctor?
15.What hospital is s/he at?
16.Do I need to see him/her prenatally?
17.What situations do you consult him/her for?
18.What medical complications require transport to the hospital? Will you be able to continue labor support should I need to go to the hospital?
19.What situations do you transport for?
20.When will you come during labor? What happens if my labor goes on for days? What happens if it's so fast you miss the birth? Have you ever missed a birth? Why?
21.How do I get my lab work done? What routine prenatal tests do you require?
22.What situations should they occur, would I be too high risk for homebirth?
23.Where do you conduct prenatal examinations?
24.How many women do you see at prenatals daily?
25.How long do you give each woman? What is discussed? What is done?
26.What pharmaceutical drugs, homeopathics and/or herbs do you use prenatally and at births?
27.Do you use a doppler or a fetoscope? Why?
28.What is your fee and what services does it include? Which fees are separate (ask about prenatal care, lab work, newborn assessment, breastfeeding support, postpartum care, and birth control counseling)? What about payment plans? (Note: It would also be a good idea to research basic expected?
29.Do you accept reimbursements from insurance companies? Which ones?
hospital charges such as normal and cesarean birth.) When is payment
30.What other costs might I encounter?