What questions do you wish you'd asked your obstetrician or midwife on the first visit?

Question

(Trying to make a list here...)

Answer 1

i wish i had asked for epidurals to be mandatory lol - it sure would have saved a lot of time and aching if i had it right off bat...

Answer 2

I used the wrong period date the first time I went. I didnt know anything about the implantation bleeding or anything like that. So thats what I told them was my LMP. So make sure your cycle was 28 days and if not ask what affect it has on your due date. I waited until I was 24 weeks to tell my dr. about my messed up cycle..and it actaully brough my due date up a week and a half. So thats the biggest thing I wish I would have known or asked about then. Also ask what things you should watch out for..like how much weight is safe to carry and things like that. Good Luck!!

Answer 3

" What can I do to lower my risk of C-section?"

Some other good questions I found were in the books:
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
&
The VBAC Companion by Diana Korte

They include: ( But it really depends on where you plan to give birth...at a hospital, birth center or at home?)

"What is your Cesarean section rate ?"
"What is the hospitals cesarean rate?"
"Do you have birth assistants (doula's)available or do I have to find one myself?"
"What is you epidural rate?"
"Do you have spas/tubs or showers available for during labor?"
" What is your policy for induction?" (ps: having an induction increases your risk of c-section!)
"Can my husband stay over nightwith me, should I be here overnight?"
"Are your anestisiologist affiliated with the hospital (do they take my insuranece?) (I got stuck with a $10,000. bill after emergency c-section, because no one told me he dodn't take our insurance - the hospital only got a slap on the wrist! for not telling people!)

Also somethings you just have to tell them, like:
Under No cercumstances with out my approval do not bottle feed my baby! (If you are planning on nursing?)

I do not want an episiotomy...

Keep in mind these are examples: Figure out what you want then write a birth plan, when you interview you care provider, be it a doctor or midwife, ask questions about the things you want to have at your birth!! Or things you don't want! You have rights to refuse treatment & rights to ask for things.

Answer 4

I wish I would have discussed the type of labor I want in detail, I told both the Doctor and my nurse I wanted an unassisted birth but didn't find out till 32 weeks that she had no idea what that was and doesn't really feel comfortable with it. she also has many old fashioned ideas about birth, like keeping women in labor NPO (no food), and continuous monitoring which have been shown to be harmful to mom and baby

Answer 5

Continuous monitoring DOES NOT harm mother or baby. Some studies link it to a higher rate of c-sections. Anyways....probably just my limitations (exercise, lifting...etc), diet (like limiting mercury and how many calories are NEEDED and not eating for two lol) and ways to fight fatigue. I know it this time around, but the first time was rough waiting a whole month to ask those questions lol! Good Luck!