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Tips & Tools: CaregiverHow can I become familiar with my options before making my decision? What should I ask myself about the experience of meeting with a maternity caregiver? How should I go about interviewing possible caregivers? How do I know that a caregiver practices in line with the best research about safe and effective care for mothers and babies? What questions should I ask when interviewing a midwife? What questions should I ask when interviewing a doctor? How do I find out which caregivers and services are covered by my insurance plan? How can I become familiar with my options before making my decision?We encourage you to meet with several caregivers to explore options and become informed before making this important decision. If you are unsure about which type of caregiver to work with, you can interview different types of maternity caregivers. If you know you want to work with a specific type of caregiver, it is a good idea to consider more than one individual before making this important decision as personal styles and practices can vary.What should I ask myself about the experience of meeting with a maternity caregiver?When you go to interview a caregiver and during your prenatal visits, ask yourself how you feel about the experience:
How should I go about interviewing possible caregivers?Make arrangements for a separate visit that is devoted to learning about the caregiver and practice — a "consultation" rather than an "intake" visit. This will give you a chance to gather information before you commit to working with one caregiver or another. Find out in advance whether the office charges for such a visit and, if so, whether your insurance company will pay for a consultation for this purpose. Some practices offer regular informal get-togethers for newly pregnant women to meet with caregivers and learn about the practice.You may want to ask your partner or a friend to come with you to the interview. This will allow you to discuss your thoughts and impressions afterward with someone you know and trust. Having a list of questions with you (see below for questions that you may wish to print out) can help:
How do I know that a caregiver practices in line with the best research about safe and effective care for mothers and babies?Maternity care can vary from one caregiver to another. This website can help you understand why it is important to choose a caregiver who practices according to the highest standard of care, and can help you recognize such care.What questions should I ask when interviewing a midwife?This website provides a list of important questions you may want to ask to get to know midwives, their policies, and styles of practice. Think about what is important to you, and be sure to add any other questions or concerns that you may have.You can download a pdf version of this list with space for making notes, and take it with you when you interview midwives. What questions should I ask when interviewing a doctor?This website provides a list of important questions you may want to ask to get to know doctors, their policies, and styles of practice. Think about what is important to you, and be sure to add any other questions or concerns that you may have.You can download a pdf version of this list with space for making notes, and take it with you when you interview physicians. How do I find out which caregivers and services are covered by my insurance plan?Contact your insurance plan to find out:
Most recent page update: 3/10/2006
© 2010 Childbirth Connection. All rights reserved.
Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families. |
News and Features : Health Professionals
New VBAC Guidlines
ACOG has just issued new Guidlines for VBAC. What changed? What continues? We've Moved!
On July 1, 2010, the Childbirth Connection office moved to 260 Madison Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10016. All other contact information is unchanged. "2020 Vision" and "Blueprint for Action" Reports Available
Rising Maternal Mortality
Help Transform Maternity Care!  Please join our efforts to make quality maternity care a top national priority. Your support will help make the transformation possible. View 2010 Supporter Roster 
Updated Maternity Care Statistics Available
US Cochrane Center (USCC)/Consumers United for Evidence-based Healthcare (CUE)
New Mothers Speak Out National Report Released The latest report in Childbirth Connection's Listening to Mothers series is now available. Get an eye-opening look at the reality of life as a mother of young children in the United States, based on national surveys conducted by Harris Interactive. Learn more, get the report Read the Wall Street Journal story and listen to the podcast Download Quick Facts (PDF) Why does the national U.S. c-section rate keep going up? Current research points to an optimal cesarean section rate of 5% to 10%, but 1 pregnant woman in 3 is giving birth by major surgery in the United States. Why the surge and is this safe? A new page - and a PDF handout for journalists, policy makers, students and others - answer these questions. Read more about the rising cesarean section rate New Content!
March/April 2009 evidence column is now available.
Features: National Quality Forum endorses consensus perinatal performance measures; systematic reviews on induction of labor, environmental tobacco smoke and fetal health, and HPV infection and cervical neoplasia Get the column Popular Pages
 Comfort in Labor, by Penny Simkin Penny Simkin, the internationally recognized leader in childbirth education and labor support, shares her wisdom with women, including comfort measures, effective positions, and tips for partners and doulas. Download Comfort in Labor (free PDF) 
Every woman has the right to accept or refuse procedures, drugs, tests and treatments, and to have her choices honored. She has the right to change her mind. (Please note that this established legal right has been challenged in a number of recent cases.)
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