Ask Your Doc!

Fifteen useful questions – from basic to complex – that you may want to get answers to before choosing your obstetrician.

“Which hospitals do you attend?”

“Are you available around my estimated due date?”

“If you’re unexpectedly not around at the time I give birth, who would be your backup doctor?”

“How involved can I be in the decision-making process during pregnancy and labour?”

“What are your thoughts on pain relief in labour? Do you assume that everyone will rely on some kind of medical pain relief, or do you support and encourage natural pain relief methods?”

“Will you and the hospital staff respect my birth plan but provide guidance if and when it needs to be changed?”

“Are you open to me having a doula at the birth?”

“What are your thoughts on electronic foetal monitoring during labour, and when do you think it should be used?”

“What are your rates for induction, caesarean section and episiotomy? In what situations do you consider or recommend these?”

“What do you think about time limits for labouring?”

“How often do you use forceps or vacuum extraction to deliver a baby?”

“Will I be able to have skin-to-skin contact with my baby and start breastfeeding shortly after the birth?”

“Are you willing to let me have a vaginal birth for my second baby even though I had my first via caesarean?”

“How do you feel about vaginal breech birth? If you support it, what conditions do you have?”

“How do you manage the third stage of labour, the birth of the placenta? Do you allow it to happen naturally, or do you intervene and give an injection to expel the placenta?”