Questions For Doctor

Questions You Should Ask Your Doctor

Choosing the right practitioner is an important part of making your pregnancy as safe and comfortable as possible. While most women (8 of 10) choose an obstetrician as their caretaker, some opt for the family practitioner, general practitioner, or certified nurse/midwife. Regardless of which practitioner you choose, there are many questions that you should ask to ensure that you are comfortable with and confident in your caretaker. A good idea is to take a list of questions to your first prenatal visit. Between visits, if other questions arise, write them down to take to your next visit.

As a physician, what at is the physician's cost of care? (Anyone without provincial health coverage)
Are you a solo physician or part of a practice?
If part of a practice, ask if he/she specifically will be present for your pre-natal visits and birth?
If you have partners, will you come in to perform the delivery even if you are not on call?
Can my birth partner stay with me during all appointments, labor, delivery and during a Cesarean section?
How will you monitor the pregnancy (blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound, amniocentesis)?
What is your opinion on natural vs. anesthesized vs. pain relief as needed childbirth?
What hospital do you use?
What facilities do the hospitals have (birthing rooms, chairs, rooming-in, neonatal intensive care, etc.)?
What kind of fetal monitoring do you use? NOTE: External is less cumbersome but less accurate, too. Internal is more accurate but requires that you stay in bed.
What sort of routine procedures are conducted (shaving, enemas, feet in stirrup during delivery, other concerns you may have)?
What is your C-section rate? (Remember, normal rates are around 20% and lower is better.)
Do you induce labor? When?
How many of your patients are high risk deliveries?
When do you use forceps for vacuum extraction?
What is your policy on episiotomiea?