47 Questions to Ask at Your First Prenatal Appointment With an Obstetrician
In my last article, I discussed questions to ask a midwife before hiring her for your home birth. But did you know that you should also do the same for an obstetrician? You may not have many options but, I encourage you to interview as many candidates as you can so you can find a good fit.
These questions are a great starting point if you don’t know what you desire in your pregnancy and birth. Feel free to use them to research different terminology and outcomes. Then, when you head into your first visit with a new obstetrician you’ll know which questions to ask at your first prenatal appointment. The best relationships between doctor and patient come with open communication.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions that may seem common knowledge. It’s better to know exactly what the answer is than to regret not knowing your options.
Alrighty, grab your notebook, and let’s dive in!
What to Consider When Hiring an Obstetrician
Ideally, you want a doctor who values and supports your desires. Whether that means they support an unmedicated birth, are on board with an elective cesarean section at 39 weeks, or believe that induction should only be used for a medically necessary event, you want to know who is working for you.
Because that’s just it, a doctor works FOR YOU. He or she is there to care for you and offer their knowledge and expertise when you need it. You want someone who lifts you up and encourages you. We have all heard stories of a mom being berated and belittled by her doctor. A solid first appointment can save you from heartbreak and frustration.
The first appointment with a new obstetrician can act like a first date. You lay out your desires, hopes, and expectations and see how the doctor reacts. You want to be sure there aren't any “bate and switch” tactics. A response of “Let’s just wait and see how everything goes” can often dismiss your values, while an earnest understanding of your needs can be very apparent.
Listen to your instincts and pray for your provider. The Holy Spirit will guide you if you listen. Remember, you want to feel safe, loved, and supported. Pregnancy and birth need an oxytocin-rich environment to run smoothly.
How to Use These Questions At Your First Prenatal Appointment
When you head into your first prenatal appointment, take a list of questions that are most important to you. You can also use these questions to guide your research and help you envision the kind of pregnancy, labor, and birth you want.
Whether you want a low-intervention, physiological birth, or simply want to know what all of the different interventions are, doing your research is important. Unfortunately, we aren’t taught very much about our bodies and pregnancy before having our first baby. So rather than being like a deer in headlights, research what you don’t know so that you know what options you’d like to have.
As you’re interviewing the doctor, keep in mind that hospital policy vs. doctors' philosophy can vary drastically! You may have a holistically minded doctor but hospital policy may dictate what is or isn’t allowed. Make sure you get clear answers on the points that are most important to you.
Training & Philosophy
Why did you go into obstetrics?
Do you believe that birth is a medical event or a natural process?
How long have you been practicing?
What happens if you can’t attend my birth?
How many other doctors are in your practice?
What do you believe about interventions?
Do you support VBACs, breech, twins, and post-dates?
What are the hospital policies concerning the above situations?
When is a woman considered high-risk?
What are your expectations of your patients?
How do hospital policies influence my care?
Pregnancy
What are your prenatal visits like?
How long are prenatal appointments?
How often are they scheduled?
May I invite friends and family members to attend appointments?
What are your policies for standard prenatal testing? Urine dips, blood work, fundal checks, doppler exams, group beta strep, gestational diabetes, ultrasounds, etc?
Are there alternatives to the standard tests?
Do you recommend bodywork? Massage, chiropractor, acupuncturist, etc.
What’s your philosophy on weight gain?
What nutrition advice do you follow and recommend?
Labor & Birth
Do you advise having a doula?
What’s your cesarean section rate?
What’s your induction rate?
How do you handle post-dates?
How do you handle inductions? (pharmaceuticals, membrane sweep, castor oil, foley bulb, herbs, tinctures?)
How do you handle a long labor?
How do you handle a precipitous labor?
Do you do vaginal exams?
How many vaginal exams do I have to have?
Do you consider yourself hands-on or off during birth?
Can I move freely about during labor?
Can I push in whatever position I feel comfortable in?
How often do you check fetal heart tones?
Do you artificially break the bag of waters?
How long can my water be broken before you consider a transfer?
If my water breaks before labor, how long can I wait before you intervene?
Can I catch my baby? Can my husband?
Do you ever perform episiotomies?
How do you handle the placenta?
Can I keep my placenta?
Can you wait till the cord turns white to cut it?
Can I do immediate and uninterrupted skin-to-skin?
Postpartum
Do you have education in breastfeeding support?
How long do you stay after the baby is born?
When can I go home after birth?
How do you handle perineal tears?
How many visits do you offer postpartum?
Questions to Ask Yourself
Were you able to ask all the questions you wanted?
Was the visit enjoyable?
How do you feel talking about birthing with the doctor? More or less anxious?
If there were family members present, how did they feel about the conversation?
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Tough Questions at Your First Prenatal Appointment
Answers to these questions can help you get a better understanding of the provider, the hospital, and the expectations of your pregnancy and birth. Remember, these are just a starting point. Pregnancy and birth are dynamic and can have many different outcomes. Use this information to help you create a birth map rather than a set-in-stone plan.
And remember, always, always, follow your intuition. If you feel safe and comfortable with your provider, you have a much higher chance of having a fulfilling birth experience. Even if things don’t go exactly how you desire, a provider who is on your team and truly respects you is essential to having a fulfilling birth outcome.
