Questions for Prospective Doctors and Midwives
Print out this page and bring it along to your interviews with prospective doctors or midwives.

Background and Philosophy
__ How long have you been in practice?
__ When and where did you receive training?
__ What is your general philosophy concerning pregnancy and birth?
__ How many babies do you deliver per week/month/year?
__ Who do you share on-call duties with? What is the rotation schedule?
__ How long have the others been in practice?
__ Will I be seen by every practitioner?
__ Do I have a choice about who I see?
__ What is your definition of a high-risk pregnancy?
__ Do you return calls personally, or ask a nurse or receptionist to call back?
__ How do you feel about partners being involved at prenatal exams and during labor and birth?
__ What is your policy on induction? How long beyond term, for what reasons and what percentage of women do you induce?
__ What is your cesarean rate? When do you perform cesareans?
__ Do you encourage VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)?
__ What is your episiotomy rate? When do you perform episiotomies?
__ What tests do you require for a woman with my background (age, history of miscarriage, etc.)?
__ Please explain fully each test that will be performed.

The Birth Experience
__ Do you do home births?
__ Where do you deliver (name of hospital or birth center)? Why?
__ Do you support the presence of a doula?
__ Do you encourage and respect written birth plans?
__ When a mother arrives in labor, what is the standard procedure?
__ May I labor, give birth, and recover in one room?
__ What is the nurse-to-patient ratio? (According to ACOG, it should be one nurse for two women in early labor, then one-to-one in the pushing stage.)
__ Does the hospital have a policy on the use of electronic fetal monitoring during labor?
__ Do you have a squat bar or birthing chair?
__ Do you do water births?
__ Is there access to a whirlpool/tub for those in labor?
__ What is your policy on epidurals?
__ Can my partner and/or doula be with me at all times, including in the operating room if I have a cesarean?
__ How many other people can I have with me at all times?
__ Will my baby be with me at all times after birth?
__ Can my partner spend the night in my room if he or she wishes after the birth?
__ Is there a lactation consultant on staff? Is she on call 24-7?
__ How soon after birth can/must I leave the facility?
__ What is the average cost of a vaginal birth? A cesarean birth?

Labor and Delivery
__ At what point in labor do you recommend coming to the birth center?
__ How long will you allow me to labor before starting intervention?
__ How much time will you spend with me when I'm in labor?
__ Do you do vaginal breech births?
__ Will you attempt external version (turning a breech before birth)?
__ Do you require IVs during labor?
__ Do you recommend epidurals?
__ What is your policy on using Pitocin in labor? After birth?
__ How do you handle a long labor? Are there time limits?
__ Do you use vacuum extraction or forceps? Under what conditions?
__ Do you have a set position you would want me to birth my baby in? What laboring positions do you recommend?
__ Is my partner allowed to catch the baby? Cut the cord?
__ Can I breastfeed immediately after birth?
__ Do you encourage women to breastfeed?
__ What is your policy for postnatal care?

Questions for Prospective Doulas
Print out this page and bring it along to your interviews with prospective doulas.

__ What training have you had? Are you certified? (You may want to verify this with the appropriate organization.)
__ Tell us about your experience with birth, both personally and as a doula.
__ What specific services do you provide?
__ May we call you with questions or concerns before and after the birth?
__ Which care providers have you worked with? Where have you attended births?
__ When do you join women in labor? Do you come to our home or meet us at the hospital?
__ Will you meet with us after the birth to review the labor and answer questions?
__ Do you work with one or more backup doulas (for times when you are not available)? May we meet them?
__ What is your fee? Is any part of your fee refundable if you do not attend the birth?
__ Please provide us with a list of previous client references.

After the interview, discuss the following questions with your partner:
__ Did you find the doula to be kind, warm, and enthusiastic?
__ Is she knowledgeable?
__ Does she communicate well?
__ Is she a good listener?
__ Do you feel comfortable with her?

Sources: The Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy and Baby's First Year (Morrow, 1994); RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, www.resolve.org; The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, www.acog.org and www.medem.com

The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your or your child's condition.

Content courtesy of American Baby.