CADCA

Midwives are an important part of your birth so it pays to make sure your midwife has the same views as you. Afterall, the well being of you and your baby depend on it. That's why its' important to know what your midwife's preferences are and how they will handle different situations. How much medical intervention do they think you'll need? Take the time to find a midwife that respects you and respects your decisions. Trust is very important so make sure you find someone you can put your trust in.

Before going to the midwife, have a list of questions you want to ask. Be very clear about your concerns and find out what their policies are. Your questions should be detailed so you know what to expect. And its' important that the midwife really supports what you want. Remember that you should NEVER be made to feel like your questions and concerns are unimportant.

    How long have you been a midwife?
    What credentials and certifications do you have?
    Approximately how many births have you attended?
    What is your Cesarean rate?
    What percentage of patients have you had to transport to a hospital?
    Will I always see you during appointments? If not, who else would I see?
    Do you have any vacations or trips scheduled during my pregnancy or near my due date? If so, is there a backup midwife or doula available?
    What are your usual reccomendations for IVs, Pitocin, Prostaglandin gel, amniotomy, epidurals, EFM and so on?
    How many people can I have during my labor and birth?
    How often do women under your care give birth with no medication? How many with minimal medication? How often do you induce labor?
    What is our episiotomy rate? How often do you resort to forceps delivery or vacuum extraction?
    Do others in your practice share the same philosophies and practices?
    What prenatal procedures and tests do you recommend?
    Do you have any books you recommend?
    What would you suggest if my baby were breech?
    What happens if I needed to be transported to the hospital? Will you be there?
    Under what circumstances would you recommend a cesarean?

    Approximately how many VBACs have you attended?
    Of all your clients that wanted VBACs, how many were successful?
    What do you think my chances of VBAC are, considering my history?

When making the appointment, make sure you let the midwife know that this is for an interview and that you will not be getting an exam. Bring your questions with you along with a pen. Take notes and go down your list of questions. Don't try to memorize your questions because they may get overlooked. Before concluding the interview, double check your questions to make sure every question has been answered to your satisfaction.