Interviewing Your Future Midwife
This is one of the questions we receive most often, and for very good reason! It is very important that you take the time to interview potential midwives, and become familiar with their process of care, before making your ultimate decision. We hope to help in this process by offering a list of some of the top questions you want to be sure to ask as you interview.
▪How long have you worked as a midwife?
▪What is your training?
▪How many births have you attended?
▪What were the outcomes & what is your transfer rate?
▪What does my prenatal care look like with you as my midwife?
▪Will an assistant or team be involved in my care/labor?
▪What happens if there’s a complication in my pregnancy?
▪What happens if I’m am still pregnant past my expected delivery date?
▪What might labor/delivery look like with you as my midwife?
▪How will my baby and I be cared for postpartum?
Other questions to consider:
Why did you become a midwife?
What makes you a highly qualified midwife?
Are you certified in Neonatal Resuscitation and CPR?
Continuing education?
What can I expect at prenatal visits? Frequency? Location?
How many clients would you accept near my EDD?
Do you work with another highly trained midwife to provide back-up in case you can not attend my birth?
Will any else attend my birth as your assistant or apprentice? Will I be able to meet them before I go into labor?
Do I need a doula?
Are you experienced with water birth?
Do you provide a birthing tub if I am interested in water birth?
What percentage of your clients transfer to the hospital? What percentage are emergency transfers? Non-emergency transfers?
Why did those women transfer to the hospital?
Will you stay with me if I transfer?
Do you have a relationship with a local OB/GYN who will serve as my backup doctor?
What kind of equipment do you bring to births? Medications? Herbs?
Are you experienced with using herbs with laboring and postpartum women?
Tell me about different complications you have encountered and how you dealt with the problems.
How do you prevent a postpartum hemorrhage?
How do you stop a postpartum hemorrhage?
Do you have experience with shoulder dystocia?
What is your policy on meconium staining?
Do you routinely break women's bag of waters?
What do you do to help me prevent a tear as I push?
If I tear, are you experienced in suturing my repair? At what point do you recommend I see my OB/GYN or transfer to the hospital for repairs?
What do you do if I exceed your average length of time for placental delivery?
What happens if my placenta does not come out in one solid piece?
Do you delay cord clamping?
What routine baby care do you provide immediately after birth?
Do you have access to Rhogam if I am Rh-?
What do I need to do for my baby's birth certificate? Social Security card? Do you provide the newborn screening test?
How many postpartum visits do you do?
Do you accept insurance? Do you have a provider number so I can file my own claim?
