Some Questions to Ask Your Provider
This is a list of questions compiled by Liz Hochman FACCE, LCCE, CLC, CD(DONA) of BirthED. I highly recommend her childbirth education classes. She’s fantastic. Ask these questions as early as possible to see if your provider and hospital support your vision for your best birth.
Can I expect you to attend my birth? Or do you work in a larger practice?
How many providers are on your team?
Does your team enjoy working with doulas?
How often does your group support the type of birth I want?
Does your team support labor and pushing in upright positions?
What position do you most often see birthing people pushing in?
What positions do you normally recommend for labor and birth?
Do you have a time limit on the length of labor or pushing phase?
Will I be able to eat and drink when I’m in labor?
How often does your team induce labor and for what reasons?
What is the cesarean rate for your practice and for your hospital?
What do you normally do to support labor and pushing phases?
What do you consider routine practices for labor? (i.e. IV, monitoring, etc)
How often do you and your partners perform episiotomies?
Do you routinely delay cord clamping until cord stops pulsing (3-5 minutes)?
What is the time limit before augmenting if water breaks before contractions?
Some of these seem like questions you wouldn’t think to ask, like “Will I be able to eat and drink when I’m in labor?” So don’t leave anything to chance. You know what they say about assuming! If your provider doesn’t match your values, find a provider who does. Even if you discover something that doesn’t align at the last minute, it’s never too late to change providers. You deserve to have the best chances for the birth you dream of.