Interviewing your Midwife

Training

• How did you become a midwife?

• What was your academic training?

• What was your clinical training?

• How many births have you attended?

Philosophy

• What is your philosophy of care?

• Why are you a midwife?

Certification

• Are you certified?

• Are you certified as a CPM or CNM?

• Why or why not?

Services

• What do your services include?

• Is prenatal care at my home or your office?

• Where is lab work done? Is there an additional cost for lab work?

• What lab work do you recommend?

• How many postpartum visits to you recommend?

• Do you offer childbirth classes?

• Do you attend waterbirth?

• Do you rent birthing tubs?

• What do you expect of me (us) the expectant mother (parents)?

Assistants

• Who will you bring to my birth: a partner, an assistant, an apprentice?

• What is each person’s role?

Back Up

• How many births do you attend per month?

• What happens if two or more mothers are birthing at the same time?

• Have you ever missed a birth? Why?

• Who is your back up if you can’t make it to the birth?

• Can I meet them in advance?

• Do you have any time off planned during my pregnancy?

Complications/ Transport

• What is your experience with complications and how do you handle them?

• What equipment do you bring to births?

• Under what circumstances would you transfer care during pregnancy, birth, or postpartum?

• Do you have a preferred hospital that you transport to?

Payment

• What is your fee?

• What does it include?

• What does it not include?

• When does it need to be paid by?

• Can you provide a receipt so I can submit to my insurance?

• What is refundable or non-refundable if I move or change care providers or my care is transferred during my pregnancy?

When your interview is over, ask yourself:

• Do I like her?

• Do I feel comfortable with her?

• Do I trust her?

• Do I want her at my birth?