Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Careprovider

With many careproviders requiring mums to book pretty much as soon as a pregnancy is confirmed, the temptation is strong to just get into whoever you can and be grateful you got in to anyone at all. Unless you've been super organised and done some research prior to getting pregnant, the reality is that you generally won't have time to shop around, especially if you are using private care.

That doesn't mean though, that you can't "interview" careproviders to make sure that their view of birth fits with your own, and that the care they provide is what you are going to be happy with. So here's some questions you might ask at your first appointment that will help you to get an idea of what you might expect from the person you have chosen to help you birth your baby.

1. What is your approach to post dates pregnancies? At what point would you feel I should consider induction or other intervention to start labour?

2. What is your caesarean rate for normal, uncomplicated pregnancies? If a careprovider is evasive or vague on this question it may be worth probing further. Our caesarean rate in Australia is between 30% and 50% depending on the hospital. The WHO advises that only about 15% of those are genuinely necessary.

3. What is your approach to the management of gestational diabetes? GD is being diagnosed more frequently in women with no prior risk factors. Around one in ten Australian women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes and if you are one of them, the way your care provider views a GD diagnosis, and manages it, can have major implications for your pregnancy and labour.

4. What percentage of mother's in your care have an epidural? Epidural uptake may give an indication of their support for natural birth. Presumably an obstetrician that has positive view of labour pain will not have the same epidural uptake as one who views labour pain as unnecessary suffering to be avoided or medicated.

5. What is your view of a managed vs natural third stage of labour? If your careprovider is opposed to a natural third stage and this is your preference, asking this early gives them an opportunity to let you know their concerns and what they will or will not support.

6. Are you happy for me to have a doula at my birth? This question can tell you a great deal about their view of birth. Do they understand how your emotional needs can affect labour, or do they view your physical wellbeing as their only concern? It can also be a clue as to how supportive they will be of other choices you make.

7. Under what circumstances, if any, would you be likely to perform an episiotomy?
Episiotomies are rarely, if ever necessary. A careprovider with a high rate of episiotomy may be one who is quick to intervene generally.

8. What will happen if my baby is breech at term? This is a trick question. It's more than likely that your baby won't be breech at term, but asking your careprovider about what they usually do in this situation can be enlightening. Do they see breech presentation as a problem, or a variation of normal? Obstetricians and midwives who view breech as a variation of normal and not an automatic indication for caesarean are highly likely to be a low intervention, hands off careprovider.

9. Under what circumstances do you believe continuous fetal monitoring is necessary? Continuous EFM during a spontaneous, normal labour has been shown to increase the likelihood of caesarean without improving outcomes for babies. Intermittent monitoring is just as safe and doesn't restrict your ability to move around or use water for pain relief.

10. When are you planning holidays in the next 12 months? Something you probably won't think to ask with the birth so far away - but check. If it's close to your due date and it's important to you that this particular person is in attendance, you might want to keep looking.


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Published:
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by Tina