First Midwife Visit: Questions to Ask
A question list for your first birth-center consultation: the midwife, the birth center, transfers, prenatal care, first-trimester symptoms, postpartum, and logistics.
For a birth center consultation at around 5 weeks.
The midwife
- Will you be the one present at my actual delivery, or could it be someone else?
- If it's not you, when would I meet that person before the birth?
- Who covers if you're unavailable when I go into labor?
The birth center
- What birth options and environments do you offer here?
- What do you typically recommend for first-time mothers, and why?
- What pain management options are available?
- What happens if all rooms are occupied when I go into labor?
Transfer
- How common is it for patients to transfer to a hospital, and what usually causes it?
- Which hospital would we go to, and how far is it?
- What situations would automatically require a transfer?
Prenatal care
- How often will we meet, and will those appointments always be with you?
- What would disqualify me from delivering here, and what conditions or complications would move me to a hospital?
- When is the first ultrasound?
First trimester (~5 weeks)
- What symptoms right now are normal vs. a reason to call you?
- Are there any medications or supplements I should stop or start immediately?
Postpartum
- How long do we stay at the birth center after delivery?
- What newborn care happens on-site before we leave?
- What does postpartum follow-up look like?
Logistics
- What does insurance typically cover here, and what's usually out of pocket?
- Is the birth center fee separate from your prenatal care fees?
Bring someone with you to take notes. It's easy to forget details after the appointment.