Birthologie.com

How did you pick your doctor or midwife?

If you’re like most women, you scanned your list of insurance approved caregivers, maybe asked for friends’ referrals, and then just picked one randomly, or the one who could get you in the soonest, right?

That’s what I did with my first baby.  I was so clueless and because we didn’t have insurance or local friends to ask, I just opened up the phone book and went to the first guy who could see me.

Lucky Duck

Eventually we did obtain some coverage, which forced me to switch caregivers, and on their provider list was one practice of Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs).  I really didn’t know the difference between CNMs and doctors, but it just sounded more up my ally.  I was immediately more at ease with this thriving practice, and went on to have a wonderful hospital birth with them, my husband, and doula – who was also our childbirth educator.

Shortly after I became a doula and childbirth educator, and what I quickly realized is that I completely lucked out.  I just happen to pick a great practice who just happen to refer to my childbirth educator, so really, I just happen to have a great birth.

DON’T LEAVE IT UP TO CHANCE

But for so many women, they aren’t so lucky.  Who you choose for a caregiver, especially with your first pregnancy, is probably the biggest and most influential factor that decides how your birth goes.

You cannot afford to just pick a caregiver randomly.

BE PROACTIVE

I’d love to give every woman a game plan on how to go about making this most pivotal decision for their pregnancy.  And the thing is, it’s not hard to do, but as Corte and Scaer – authors of the book A Good Birth, A Safe Birth, say, “If you don’t know your options, you don’t have any.”

So, the first step is understanding your caregiver options:

1.  A homebirth midwife or doctor

2.  A birth center midwife  or doctor

3.  A hospital based midwife or doctor

I highly encourage women to interview all three, if possible, even if they are not covered by your insurance and you are sure you are not going to hire one or two of those three options.  Interviewing all serves two purposes.  One, you know for sure what the differences are in care and what is truly available to you.  Two, it’s incredibly educational.  You would be amazed what you can learn about not only the logistics of the birth year, but gain perspective and understanding about differing birth philosophies – how two or three completely approaches to birth impact the outcome.

STEP 2: INTERVIEW

Even if you are not planning on a natural birth, it’s advantageous to interview as if you are.  A caregiver’s true skill and education come through when presented with a woman who is interviewing as if she’s employing him/her for a natural childbirth.  In my childbirth education course I have 4 questionnaires that the students can then take to either their midwife (home or hospital), doctor, or hospital to get the complete picture of their odds of achieving their ideal birth at the caregiver or birthplace they have.

Additionally, regardless of your plans it’s important to know things like your caregiver’s cesarean rate, episiotomy rate, and death rates.  If your caregiver ever makes you feel inhibited to ask these important questions, then that is your first red flag to move on to step #3 below.

SWITCH IT UP

If, mid relationship, you find out that your practice is not for you, you can switch caregivers.  Yes, you can leave the practice you’re with.  For any reason at any time.  No, your doctor is not going to stay up nights wondering why you left, and no, they will likely not even care.  Most of the time, it just takes a phone call to set an appointment to another caregiver, BUT!  By all means, interview that caregiver first before switching.