Choosing an OB
What to ask
If you have decided to have your baby in a hospital then you will most likely choos and OB or a midwife. Choosing a caregiver is an important decision that you need to make pretty early in your pregnancy.I didn't choose very carefully and I wasn't happy with any of the doctors or the midwife in the practice I chose. It's very important to choose a practice or caregiver that has the same philosophy as you do about birth.
My MIDWIFE wouldn't allow me to say "natural childbirth" she said that there was nothing natural about childbirth... Needles to say, I left there.I attended a childbirth class and got the name of some doctors that had the same philosophies as I did. I was just grateful that they took me, I was already 32 weeks. It is reasons like this, and decisions like this that you need to make carefully to have the birth that you want to have and deserve to have. If you do decide on a caregiver and you aren't happy... then you have the right to leave and find someone else. I suggest if you want a natural childbirth then you need to go to other's who have the same idea's as you and get referrals from them. Ask you local natural childbirth educater. Check out the practice, is the staff friendly? You will be dealing with them a lot in the next several months and making phone calls frequently. Make sure they are providers of your insurance. Ask about the on call schedule if there is more than one doctor. If you are at a practice of more than one doctor or midwife you will most likely see a different doctor every visit so they can get to know you. If this is OK with you, this means you won't know who will actually deliver your baby. For me, I liked all of the doctors in my practice and this wasn't a concern for me.
Questions to ask your OB
- What percentage of patients have a cesarean section in your practice?
- What percentage of patients have episiotomies?
- What is the most common choice for pain relief amongst your patients?
- What percentage of patients have VBAC's?
- What is your opinion and practice of induction of labor?
- Do you have a midwife on staff?
- What is your after hours procedure?
- What are the chances of your doctor delivering or one of your associates?
