Questions to Ask Your Potential midwife
Below are the questions that I asked to the potential providers that I met. If you are unfamiliar with any of the terminology in the questions, be sure to educate yourself beforehand, that way you can have informed conversations with them.
Save this list as it will help you pick the provider that is right for you!
Hospital, Birthing Center, or Home Birth Setting
How many years have you been a midwife?
How many babies have you delivered?
Have you ever lost a mom or baby?
At what point do clients become too high risk to continue working together?
What % of patients have an epidural?
C-section rate? Forceps/vacuum rate?
Are water births offered?
Is it required to be hooked up to an IV or electronic fetal monitoring system during labor?
Experience with postpartum hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, breech deliveries, cord prolapse?
What physicians would step in and why?
How many prenatal appointments will we have together and what will they look like?
Will I be attended by you during birth?
How many people are allowed in the delivery room?
What does the first hour after birth look like?
Do you allow delayed cord clamping?
How long is the typical postpartum stay?
Additional Questions Specifically for a Home Birth
What is the transfer rate to hospital? When/why?
When is a home birth not recommended?
Do you recommend that I see a physician at some point during my pregnancy? Do you work with a consulting physician for this purpose?
Do you supply oxygen? Why would it be needed?
In what circumstances might you arrange an in labor transfer?
Do you support breech births at home?
What supplies do we need to provide for the birth?
Why should we choose you?