Written By Adrienne Rutherford, Director of Operations and Clinical Support

Do you know who the right person is to deliver your baby? You will want to address these questions with your midwife practice early on to make sure you and your family are comfortable moving forward and know specifics about the model of care the midwife and practice use. Is there just one midwife for prenatal, labor/birth, and postpartum care or a shared model where you have access to ALL the midwifes at that practice. Something to think about is what will happen if you choose to work with just one midwife and they get ill, have travel plans anytime near your due date or have more clients than they can handle.

It’s better to do a little digging upfront to avoid working with a midwife that is not the right fit. Nowadays, you need to do some research on birth centers & stand-alone midwifery practices by discussing their overall philosophy including the COVID protocols that they are following. Keep in mind there are shortages of midwives worldwide, so be as kind as you can throughout your discovery process in case you need to fall back on one of your second or third choices. There may be different questions you need to ask as it relates to your unique pregnancy needs and care, but these are some of the general questions you should ask your midwife.

What will my prenatal care include?

This is an important question as it helps you understand the flow for many of your future appointments. How often will your appointments be? The average appointment can be approximately 30 to 45 minutes with clients expecting to see their midwives monthly until around 28 weeks, then biweekly up to 36 weeks and weekly until the birth of your baby. Expect to discuss what tests and screenings will occur at the clinic during the prenatal visits. It’s good to note that obstetricians and physicians offer most of the same routine tests as midwives.

How do you manage issues from any complications that could arise during my pregnancy?

There are typically state protocols, procedures, and guidelines that midwives are committed to following for pregnancy care including what types of complications they can manage. There are instances where you may need to transfer your care to a specialist if the complication falls outside of the midwifery care state guidelines.

What are my options for a homebirth or birth center?

Your options will depend on what is available at your chosen midwife practice. Your midwife can go over the options that are available to you, and would likely take into consideration your birth plan preferences and the level of care needed for your unique labor and birth needs.

Can you tell me how you would handle if I’m overdue?

Your midwife practice will have different protocols you can choose from to induce your labor. Ask your provider so you can make an informed choice before you consent to any option. Midwives usually support care that is evidence-based approach with the least amount of intervention.

What should I expect my labor to be like?

The amazing midwife you choose will want to walk you through the details of the labor process. There are several stages involved starting with early labor where you should be intermittently in communication with your midwife usually via phone. Once you are past the early labor stages and go into active labor then your midwife will guide and support you on a more constant and continuous basis. Often the goal of your midwife will be to intervene as little as possible. They typically follow an evidence-based approach with your care, for example, the evidence shows there is no benefit to have an electronic monitor attached to you throughout labor in a low-risk pregnancy situation. Midwives often help sort through these common concerns.

How involved can Daddy be?

As involved as he wants to be both prenatally and at the birth. Many fathers cut the cord and join with the mother in announcing the sex of the baby. Some fathers even want to be in the tub during birth and help “catch” their babies. Others just want to be present.

What will postpartum care include?

If you deliver at a birth center or home, you should have a visit from your midwife within 24 to 36 hours (Ask about your states requirements for postpartum visits), where your midwife will monitor and check both baby and mama’s health. Expect your midwife to offer some tips for lactation as well, but also consider having a lactation consultant that can provide even more help if needed.

 Most likely you may have more questions than the above when you have your midwife consultation, and that is “A” ok. The point is for you to get to know your midwife and birth center operations, so you can feel the most comfortable with the whole process before you venture into the next steps. It’s important to have the assurance that you are choosing wisely, so you can be confident in the care you will receive throughout your pregnancy.

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