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Questions to Ask A Midwife During a Home Birth Consultation in Berkeley, CA

Emunah Tarver

It is always a good idea to interview several different midwives before making a selection. Choosing your provider is a big decision, and talking with a few different people will help you get a wider perspective on the various styles and approaches to home birth midwifery care. Midwives offer complimentary consultations, either virtually or in person, where you will have the opportunity to ask questions and feel the connection.

 Getting a Sense Of Your Midwife’s Vibe

Just as important as the answers to specific questions, getting a sense of the midwife’s personality, communication style, and overall “vibe” will help you assess if this person is the right fit. Since your midwife will be playing a very intimate role in your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey, including seeing you naked and spending time in your home, you want to make sure that you feel really comfortable together.

 

Here is a list of 10 questions to ask a potential midwife:

  1. Why did you decide to become a midwife?

    This will help you get a better sense of who this midwife is as a person, their story, and their passion.

  2. How many births have you attended in total? For how many of these births were you the primary midwife? How many years have you been in practice?

    This will help you get a sense of the midwife’s level of experience. A more experienced midwife isn’t necessarily better than a newer midwife, yet this might be an important factor to you.

  3. What supplies do you bring to a birth?

    Learning what the midwife carries to a birth gives overall reassurance of safety, and can help shed light on their practice style.

  4. What is your philosophy on birth?

    This is a very general and open-ended question, but hopefully, it helps clarify the midwife’s point of view on interventions, evidence-based care vs. a more intuitive approach, what type of support they give, and how they generally practice midwifery.

  5. Who else comes with you to the birth? Will I get to meet them before I am in labor?

    This gives the whole picture of who you can expect to be on your home day of. Does the midwife have a student as part of the team? Will the assistant be another licensed midwife, a student, or a qualified Birth Assistant? What are the roles of the student and/or assistant?

  6. What is your hospital transport rate and what are the most common reasons for transport?

    You don’t want a transport rate that is too high (in my opinion, above 20%), but you also probably don’t want a midwife who never transports to the hospital. Every midwife orients a bit differently regarding what situations necessitate hospital transport and what can be safely managed at home. In addition to asking about the rate of transport, ask which hospitals the midwife frequently goes to, and what the process of transporting looks like.

  7. What does your prenatal and postpartum care look like?

    It’s not just about the birth, the midwife will be caring for you during your pregnancy and for the first six weeks postpartum, so you’ll want to get an idea of what those appointments consist of. How long do appointments last? Are they at home or in the office? What tests are offered?

  8. What is the cost of services? Do you take insurance? What is and is not included in the price?

    Make sure to discuss all your financial concerns so that you know what to expect before signing on.

  9. What kind of support do you provide during labor?

    This will help you get a sense of whether this midwife is more hands-on or hands-off.

  10. What does informed choice look like in your practice?

    One of the most common reasons people seek out midwifery care is because they want more freedom to make decisions about their pregnancy and birth. Find out from the midwife you are interviewing about what informed choice looks like in practice: how is each test and procedure discussed? Are there any tests or procedures that the midwife requires? What happens if you two have a disagreement on how to manage something in your care?

Some Other Helpful Hints:

 

Take a few notes during the interview about basic facts like cost, but try not to overdo it, as you want to stay present in the conversation. After the consultation is finished, take a few minutes to jot down your impressions while they are fresh. Spend a few days reflecting and sitting with the decision before making a final selection. Most importantly, trust your intuition.

Ready to Get to Know Your Midwife? Reach Out to Emunah Midwifery in Berkeley, CA Today!

Choosing the right midwife for your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey is a deeply personal decision. Beyond asking specific questions, it's crucial to get a sense of your midwife's personality, communication style, and overall "vibe" to ensure a comfortable and trusting relationship. If you're seeking a midwife in Berkeley, CA, Emunah Midwifery offers compassionate and holistic care. With a focus on informed choice and personalized support, they strive to create a nurturing environment for you and your baby. Schedule a consultation with Emunah Midwifery today to discuss their philosophy on birth, level of experience, comprehensive care, costs, and more. Trust your intuition and find the midwife who aligns with your values and needs for this transformative journey.