Articles or advice on questions to ask while interviewing Midwife?
By*Asking this here because the pregnancy section moves so fast, LoL.*
I am about 6 weeks along and planning a home water birth. I will be contacting a few midwifes and interviewing them. I have a few ideas of some questions to ask to see if our opinions on childbirth “mesh” well, but I want to be as thorough as possible.
Any articles or advice on things to ask/discuss?
Related posts:
- Big daddy + gestational diabetes = huge baby. Advice on c-section vs. induction?
- Those who used a midwife for births, will you please answer these few questions?
- The Midwife’s Advice
- looking to start new job after maternity leave and interviewing while 9 months pregnant?
- Having another baby? Advice/Give us, Questions/Ask Away!
5 Comments
April 12th, 2010 at 5:26 am
I don’t really know any questions to ask, but I just wanted to say congratulations. I had my first at home, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I wish I was having my second at home but my hubby said it scared him (even though everything went great, he is a wimp
) My mom helped deliver so I didn’t really have any questions. It is so special and so much more personal! Best of luck!
April 12th, 2010 at 5:29 am
I never used any specific questions when I interview. Usually I pick what is most important to me about my births and then go from there with the conversation. If you have some specifics that you want to ask then you are probably going to have a successful interview. It sounds like you’ve done your research on what you want out of this birth. Now it’s time to figure out who’s going to give you the birth your desire. I am fairly autonomous in my births. I don’t like a lot of intervention in the finally stages. I usually demand quiet and low lighting. I interviewed one midwife who was very clear that might not happen if she didn’t deam the situation fit that. I didn’t pick her. I have given birth to 5 babies, 2 of them at home. I trust their judgement in finding problems if there are any, but if all is well, my body can give birth on it’s own without much help. That was one of the criteria I had for the midwife. But I feel that it’s got to be what you want.
I did post a list of questions to ask a care provider that I got off childbirth.org. That website is pretty supportive of midwifery in general.
God Bless.
mom of 5 w/ #6 due Nov 08
April 12th, 2010 at 6:00 am
Home water birth = birthing heaven in my mind, that is definitely the route I will follow next time round.
Some questions I would ask would be –
How long has she been a midwife/how many births has she attended?
What is done with the after birth, does the midwife dispose of it, or is that up to you?
What arrangements does she have if she is sick at the time of the birth or if two of her clients are in labor at the same time?
What is her views on episiotomy?
Does she assist with clean up after the birth?
How long does she stay for after the birth?
Under what conditions would she consider transporting you to a hospital?
At what point of your labor will she arrive?
How long will it take her to get to you?
– These are just the ones off of the top of my head, I would have about a million more though!
April 12th, 2010 at 6:19 am
I had a home waterbirth with my third child – one of the best decisions of my life. Good for you!
Anyhow, here are some things that I might ask about…
.Who, if anyone, will assist during the birth
.How long will she stay after the birth
.How many visits will she make following the birth
.What various problems will require a transfer
.If a transfer is necessary, what will her role be once you are at the hospital
.What conditions/problems will risk you out of a homebirth
.How long do her prenatal visits usually last
.Can you video record the birth
.How long has she been delivering babies
.At what point in labor, will she come to your house
.Who are her back-up midwives
.How does she require payment – month-to-month, all at once
Actually, I think one of the first things I asked my midwife was whether or not she had ever had a baby die……depressing, I know.
Good luck with everything. You will love this route!
April 12th, 2010 at 6:27 am
When interviewing a midwife, the most important thing to me is that you “click” – do you like her? Do you have a similar philosophy about birth? Similar values and religious beliefs, if they are important to you? And so forth.
In addition:
How many waterbirths have you done? What, if any, is your waterbirth protocol?
What equipment/drugs do you bring to the birth?
Do you have a birth tub I can rent?
Are you practicing legally in this state? In case of transfer, what would happen? Does this state allow you to do _? (VBACs, twins, breaches, >42 wks, etc.)
Do you have a back-up midwife or an apprentice? Can I meet her before the birth?
That’s all I can think of offhand.