Choosing a Provider

Your birth experience is largely dependent on the care provider you choose. All too often, women get their pregnancy confirmed by their Ob/GYN and then don’t give any more thought to who will provide their prenatal care. It almost seems like they do not have a choice. But women DO have a choice and they should interview a variety of providers to find the best fit for them.
Most providers follow the same prenatal schedule, one visit during the first trimester, monthly during the second trimester, twice a month and then weekly as the due date approaches. That’s pretty standard; however, the care provider’s approach to pregnancy and birth can make all the difference in your care. Here are some questions that can help you select the best fit for you:

• What is your cesarean rate?

• What is your episiotomy rate?

• What percentage of births at your practice are medicated?

• What are your feelings towards unmedicated births?

• How much time do you spend with women during prenatal visits?

• Will you deliver my baby or does it depend on who is on-call?

• What are your policies for women who go past their expected due dates?

• Do you have a time limit for how long you will allow women to labor?

• How do you use fetal monitoring? Is it intermittent or continuous?

• What is your protocol for babies with a breech presentation?

It is vitally important that your trust your provider and you are comfortable with him/her. Your provider should respect you and answer your questions directly. If you don’t feel that level of comfort, you are not obligated to stay with your provider, even late into your pregnancy. The care provider should be part of your birth team. His/Her job is to help educate the mother and build confidence in her body’s ability to grow and nurture the baby inside.