Questions to Ask Your Care Provider If You Want a Natural Birth

How many doctors/cnm are on-call for me?
Whats the chances of having YOU at my birth?
How often do you attend unmedicated births?
Have you ever worked with other Hypnobirthing couples?
Natural tearing vs episiotomies. What's your philosophy?
What positions do most of your patients birth in? hands and knees? in the tub? squatting?
What does your on call rotation look like?
What hospitals do you have rights to?
Do you stay the entire birth or until the end of your shift?
Do I meet all the providers in the practice?
Do you have other locations?
What is your birth philosophy?
Do the other providers have a similar view?
How often do you offer vaginal exams? What if I decline?
How late do you allow your patients to go past their due date?
What is your induction protocol?
When do I need to come into the hospital?
What do I do if my water breaks?
What do I do if I think I’m in preterm labor?
What happens if I do go into preterm labor?
What happens if I need a cesarean?
How do you feel about Doulas?
Can my Doula attend my cesarean?
How many people can I have with me?
Do you support natural childbirth?
What happens if I want an epidural?
Can I eat in labor?
Can I use water as a comfort measure? Water birth allowed?
Will you break my water?
How long can my water be broken prior to birth?
Can I choose my laboring and delivering position?
Do you have birth balls available?
How many staff member are typically in the room?
What happens if my baby needs the NICU?
Do you require Pitocin for the third stage of labor?
How long do you give the placenta to be delivered?
What happens if I hemorrhage?
Can I delay cord clamping?
Can we do immediate skin to skin?
Can I wait to do routine newborn exams or have some done on my chest?

It seems like a lot of questions, right? And truth be told, there are even more that could be asked depending on what you personally are looking for. These questions may also spark other questions that you need answered. My hope is that this list doesn't intimidate you, but rather it gives you a starting place to start to think through your top priorities for your birth.

In my classes we learn a little more in depth the different options behind many of these questions and how to find a provider that aligns with what you are desiring. Consider educating you and your partner about the many choices you have for birth and sign up for one of my classes!