Questions to Ask Midwife at First Appointment
Essential questions for your first midwife appointment to establish a trusting relationship, understand their approach to care, and ensure you're comfortable with their philosophy and practices.
1What's your philosophy on pregnancy and childbirth?
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What's your philosophy on pregnancy and childbirth?
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Why this works
Establishes their approach to care and helps you understand if their philosophy aligns with your values and preferences for your pregnancy and birth experience.
2How do you handle routine prenatal care and what can I expect at each appointment?
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How do you handle routine prenatal care and what can I expect at each appointment?
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Why this works
Clarifies the structure of your care and helps you understand what to expect throughout your pregnancy, including appointment frequency and procedures.
3What's your approach to pain management during labor?
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What's your approach to pain management during labor?
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Why this works
Reveals their philosophy on pain management and helps you understand your options for comfort during labor and delivery.
4How do you handle complications or high-risk situations?
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How do you handle complications or high-risk situations?
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Why this works
Shows their experience with complications and helps you understand how they manage situations that require additional medical intervention.
5What's your policy on interventions like inductions, episiotomies, and cesarean sections?
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What's your policy on interventions like inductions, episiotomies, and cesarean sections?
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Why this works
Reveals their approach to medical interventions and helps you understand when and why they might recommend or perform these procedures.
6How do you support natural birth and what are your thoughts on different birthing positions?
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How do you support natural birth and what are your thoughts on different birthing positions?
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Why this works
Shows their support for natural birth options and helps you understand their approach to facilitating a natural birth experience.
7What's your experience with different types of births and what's your cesarean rate?
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What's your experience with different types of births and what's your cesarean rate?
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Why this works
Reveals their experience and statistics, helping you understand their track record with different types of deliveries.
8How do you handle emergencies and what's your backup plan?
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How do you handle emergencies and what's your backup plan?
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Why this works
Shows their preparedness for emergencies and helps you understand how they manage situations that require immediate medical attention.
9What's your approach to postpartum care and how do you support new mothers?
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What's your approach to postpartum care and how do you support new mothers?
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Why this works
Reveals their commitment to postpartum care and helps you understand what support you'll receive after delivery.
10How do you involve partners and family members in the birth process?
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How do you involve partners and family members in the birth process?
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Why this works
Shows their approach to family involvement and helps you understand how your partner and family can participate in your birth experience.
11What's your policy on continuous monitoring during labor?
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What's your policy on continuous monitoring during labor?
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Why this works
Reveals their approach to fetal monitoring and helps you understand how they balance safety with mobility during labor.
12How do you handle different cultural or religious preferences for birth?
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How do you handle different cultural or religious preferences for birth?
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Why this works
Shows their cultural sensitivity and helps you understand how they accommodate different cultural or religious practices during birth.
13What's your approach to breastfeeding support and education?
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What's your approach to breastfeeding support and education?
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Why this works
Reveals their commitment to breastfeeding support and helps you understand what education and assistance you'll receive for breastfeeding.
14How do you handle different birth settings and what are your thoughts on home birth?
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How do you handle different birth settings and what are your thoughts on home birth?
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Why this works
Shows their experience with different birth settings and helps you understand their approach to home birth and alternative birth locations.
15What's your policy on visitors during labor and delivery?
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What's your policy on visitors during labor and delivery?
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Why this works
Clarifies their approach to visitors and helps you understand what to expect regarding family and friends during your birth experience.
16How do you handle different types of pain relief and what are your thoughts on epidurals?
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How do you handle different types of pain relief and what are your thoughts on epidurals?
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Why this works
Reveals their approach to pain relief options and helps you understand their philosophy on epidurals and other pain management methods.
17What's your approach to prenatal testing and screening?
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What's your approach to prenatal testing and screening?
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Why this works
Shows their philosophy on testing and helps you understand what tests they recommend and how they approach prenatal screening.
18How do you handle different types of births and what's your experience with VBAC?
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How do you handle different types of births and what's your experience with VBAC?
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Why this works
Reveals their experience with different birth types and helps you understand their approach to vaginal birth after cesarean.
19What's your policy on different types of birth plans and how do you support them?
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What's your policy on different types of birth plans and how do you support them?
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Why this works
Shows their support for birth plans and helps you understand how they work with you to achieve your desired birth experience.
20How do you handle different types of birth complications and what's your approach to emergency situations?
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How do you handle different types of birth complications and what's your approach to emergency situations?
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Why this works
Reveals their experience with complications and helps you understand how they manage emergency situations and when they might need to transfer care.
Best Practices for Midwife Conversations
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Best Practices
Show Genuine Interest in Their Philosophy and Approach
Midwives appreciate when you demonstrate understanding of their role and show interest in their philosophy of care. Ask questions that reveal their approach to pregnancy and birth.
Be Open About Your Preferences and Concerns
Share your birth preferences and any concerns you have. This helps the midwife understand your needs and how they can best support you.
Ask About Both Routine Care and Emergency Situations
While most births are normal, it's important to understand how they handle complications and emergencies. Balance questions about routine care with questions about emergency management.
Question Sequences
The Philosophy and Approach Sequence
The Experience and Safety Flow
Common Pitfalls
Don't Focus Only on Natural Birth
While natural birth is important, also ask about their approach to medical interventions and emergency situations. You want a midwife who can handle all types of births.
Avoid Being Overly Rigid About Your Birth Plan
While it's important to discuss your preferences, be open to their professional judgment and recommendations. Birth is unpredictable and flexibility is important.
Don't Ignore Their Experience and Credentials
Ask about their experience, training, and credentials. You want to ensure they have the necessary qualifications and experience to provide safe care.