How to Interview an Obstetrician

One of the most important things you can do in your pregnancy is to choose the correct caregiver. Choosing your caregiver wisely will enable you to have better communication, build a trusting relationship, and a have better birth experience. The following steps will assist you in choosing a good caregiver by providing you with questions to ask. If you do not feel comfortable with the caregiver's answers or find conflict between the two of you during the discussion, it's best to interview someone else.

Things You'll Need

• List of questions
• Paper and pen

Instructions

Setting Up the Interview

1. Contact the obstetrician you would like to interview. Set up a 15 to 20 minute time slot. Arrive on time to your interview and thank the obstetrician for his time.

2. Introduce yourself and let him know the reason for your interview. Most women agree they want to interview obstetricians because they want to find a caregiver who is willing to provide care that is similar to their own idea of care.

3. When reading your questions, be courteous yet blunt. Make sure that he understands exactly what you are asking him. For instance, if you want to push while standing up, do not simply ask if you can change positions during labor. You need to be specific to get correct answers. He may allow you to change positions however you want during labor, but his protocol for delivery may be that you would have to lie down in stirrups. If you aren't clear, the message could be misinterpreted.

4. If he disagrees with something that you want or don't want, ask him to explain the reason. Sometimes there are very good medical reasons why doctors can't comply with certain things. Other times it's just their personal preference.

Questions to Ask

1. Ask if there are any restrictions on having your partner or family/friends with you during a vaginal or cesarean birth. Every doctor has his own policy regarding the number of people who are allowed in the delivery room, whether it be a vaginal or cesarean delivery. Knowing ahead of time what the policy is can help you make arrangements about who you want with you.

2. Ask him how he feels about having a doula or other childbirth professional there to support you. Some doctors and nurses love this idea because they know that support is a positive thing. However, some doctors feel having another birth professional there poses a conflict and may not allow it. It is very important to know the doctor's opinion on this, especially if you are planning on having a doula.

3. Ask him about attending childbirth preparation classes. This will give you a really good idea of his mindset. If he's a natural birthing doctor, he will probably agree with and even encourage your decision. If he is the type of doctor that makes all of his clients get an epidural whether they want one or not, he may not suggest this at all or may even invalidate the class as an unnecessary cost.

4. If you are interested in having a natural (non-medicated) birth, ask him what percentage of his patients have a natural birth. This could possibly give you a good indication of how supportive he is during labor and birth. Caregivers who aren't very supportive of natural birth will generally have much lower rates of natural birthing moms.

5. Ask him if he has standing orders in place for i.v. fluids, pain medications, augmentations, inductions, etc. If he does, ask him if these orders are flexible. If they aren't, it is very likely that you will also have to comply.

6. Ask him about his policy regarding inductions and augmentations. Does he do them often? Will he let you reach a full 42 weeks pregnant before he tries to induce as long as the baby and you are healthy? Will he want to augment your labor by rupturing your amniotic sac when there is no medical reason? Does he cut routine episiotomies?

7. Talk to him about the cesarean rate in his practice. It should be under 50%. Ask him what the most common reason for cesareans is in his practice. Also, when does he find it necessary to perform a cesarean?

8. It is also very important to ask about the baby's care. What happens to the baby after delivery? Can you keep the baby with you or is it hospital policy that the baby goes to the nursery?

9. Ask him about how long you should expect to stay in the hospital with either a vaginal or cesarean delivery. This is important to know so that you may plan postpartum care and assistance.

10. Finally, ask about follow up care. When is it performed on you and the baby? Where do you have to go and what should be expected.

11. Make sure that you are satisfied with the obstetrician's answers and reactions to your questions before you commit to his practice. There is nothing more frustrating than not being satisfied with your caregiver. You hire a caregiver because you want someone to make professional decisions regarding the care of you and your baby. If you don't trust the professional making those decisions, it will affect the outcome of your experience.

Tips & Warnings

• Before scheduling the consultation, you should sit down and make a list of things that are important to you. This will give you an idea of where you should begin with your questions.

• Try to stay open-minded. The caregiver may not answer all your questions with what you'd like to hear, but listen to his explanation of things as well.

• Weigh the pros and the cons of the caregivers policy.

• Evaluate the staff as well.

• Re-evaluate caregivers who become irritated with your questions.

• Re-evaluate caregivers that tell you inductions are routine after you are 40 weeks.

• Re-evaluate caregivers who are not concerned with how you feel or interested in your proposed method or idea of birthing. Remember that this is your body and your baby and both of you deserve respect.

Resources

• Birthplan.com