So, what questions should one ask when interviewing a midwife?

Are you interviewing a homebirth midwife or a birth center or hospital MW? That really changes some of the questions.

Here are some questions. Feel free to pick and choose the ones that best suits your situation. :)

* How long have you been involved in birth?
(Many midwives were doulas or childbirth educators before attending births formally as a primary midwife)

* How many births have you attended as primary midwife?
(This number excludes births attended as part of the apprenticeship / learning process)

* How did you make the decision to become a midwife?

* Who attends births with you? Do they also come to the prenatal appointments? Do I have a choice in who assists you at my birth?

* Do you have a relationship with a physician should we need to transfer care or arrange a consult?

* What kind of childbirth education programs do you recommend?

* Are there any sort of birth scenarios that you would be uncomfortable attending at home?

* What is NOT included in your fee?
(Many times labwork, including prenatal testing, is not included, as well as birth kits or other supplies)

* How are payment arrangements made?

* Do you accept insurance?

* What are your feelings on waterbirth? Do you have a tub that clients can use?

* What do prenatal visits consist of? Where do these visits take place? How often?

* What is your opinion of father/partner/family involvement in birth?

* How do you feel about fathers/partners catching the baby?

* What is your protocol if a client goes past her due date?

* What equipment, supplies, etc., do you bring to births?
(This includes resuscitation equipment and medications for hemorrhage, etc.)

* What sort of monitoring of the baby do you use during labor?
(Some midwives will use a fetoscope, others a doppler, while others will use both. If it is important to you that a doppler is NOT used, you may want to state your feelings and get input from the midwife on how she feels about it)

* How often do you listen to baby during labor?

* What happens if you have two clients in labor at once?

* What are your expectations of clients during prengancy and birth?

* Do you assist women with Vaginal Births After Cesarean (VBAC)?

* What complications require a transport to the hospital? What happens during a transport and once we're at the hospital? (Some midwives in states where midwifery is illegal cannot risk accompanying a client to the hospital - this is important to know!)

* Do you have a limit on the number of clients you accept a month?

* How do your clients get in touch with you?

* Do you have books and videos that clients may borrow?

* How do you feel about siblings at birth?

* What do you provide as far as postpartum services (breastfeeding support, newborn care, etc.)?

* What is your basic philosophy about birth?

* How do you feel about having a doula at a homebirth?

* Do you have any former clients that could be called about your services?
From fabulous MDC mama/midwife Pamamidwife's site. http://www.midwifemama.com/interview_midwife.html

Other links:
http://www.babycenter.com/general/pregnancy/childbirth/3431.html
http://www.rpi.edu/~vostral/hist_med/MidwiferyInterview.html
http://www.birthingnaturally.net/pregnant/team/quest.html

Best of luck! :)

What a great list! Thank you so much!

I am interviewing one birth center MW, and one that does hospital births and homebirths. I already know that my insurance will cover everything except for the inital consult fee no matter which way I decide to go (yay personal choice!) :)

I already know that my insurance will cover everything except for the inital consult fee no matter which way I decide to go (yay personal choice!) :)

OMG! CAn I be you!?!? That's SO awesome!!!

(Oh, I was editing my post as you were posting, so there's some other links in there now)

Kristin, have you interviewed yet?

hope it went/goes well! :)

wow those are great! thanks!! i'm gonna print that out and ask those questions of my birth center MW on Thursday.

Ooh, how fun, Michele! I hope they're just the right group of people to assist you! :)

My two appts. are 4/20 and 4/21.

Oh! You have some time then! :) Oooh, I hope you find just the right option! :)