CHOOSING YOUR MIDWIFE: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
· What is your birth philosophy?
· What is your training? Are you certified? If yes, with whom and why? If no, why not?
· Are you licensed in the state of _____?
· What is your scope of practice?
· When would you find it necessary to go outside your scope of practice?
· Are there any circumstances (physical, emotional, and/or spiritual) would you not take a woman as a patient?
· When would you risk out a patient?
· What is your style of practice (laid back, hands on, managing)?
· How much time will be spent with me during each appointment? Do you come to my home or do I come to your office?
· At what intervals will you see me during pregnancy?
· What can I expect at a prenatal visit?
· What routine tests are utilized during pregnancy? What if I decline these tests?
· What routine herbs or supplements do you like your patients taking during pregnancy?
· At what point in labor do you normally arrive?
· What positions are you comfortable catching in? Birth stool? Hand/Knees? Squatting? Standing? Water?
· What do you do in the event a complication arises during labor or birth? When would you transfer a patient?
· Do you ever do episiotomies? If yes, when, why and how often?
· How are post-dates (post-42 weeks) handled in your practice?
· Do you ever encourage induction by pharmaceutical, herbal, AROM or other natural means? If yes, please describe.
· Do you have a partner or an assistant?
· Who would attend me if you are ill, had an emergency or are at another birth?
· Briefly please describe the types of births you are most and least experienced with.
· What if I hire a doula? Are there restrictions on the doula I may hire? If yes, why? What is your perception of the role of a doula at a homebirth?
Points to ponder afterward:
· Did you feel immediately comfortable and heard at the interview?
· Was MW willing to answer questions in detail without being annoyed?
· Are you comfortable with her scope of practice?
· Are her expectations of you reasonable?
· Are your expectations of her reasonable?
· Are you able to take full responsibility for your decisions with this midwife?
All Rights Reserved Desirre Andrews Birthing Touch 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Finding The Right Midwife For Your Home Birth
Labels:
baby,
childbirth,
consumer,
healthcare,
home birth,
homebirth,
midwife,
vaginal birth after cesarean,
VBAC,
waterbirth
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2 comments:
Desirre, PERFECT TIMING! I am interviewing 2 midwives on Monday for our September HBAC.
stick baby stick!
Oh and one question - what do you mean by this?
When would you find it necessary to go outside your scope of practice?
I know that breech delivery is out of MT midwives ordained SOP. So is this a way to ask if they ever do consider some scenarios that fall outside of the SOP?
Thanks!
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