Pregnant and Afraid?

You were really looking forward to being pregnant. Now that you are, congratulations! But wait a minute. Now this life-changing event is beginning to cause you to doubt yourself, possibly even doubt your ability to move forward with the safe pregnancy and delivery you envision.

 Too often, women find that the healthcare they receive comes with a lack of clear communication, too little information about their bodies or conditions, and a lack of a personal relationship with their obstetrician.
Many women don’t know the kinds of information they need to make good decisions about their pregnancy in cooperation with their doctors. Knowing what questions to ask will have a positive and meaningful impact on the choices women make to create the kind of pregnancy they want.
I encourage you to ask questions of those charged with working with you through your pregnancy and delivery. It’s all about empowering yourself to create the pregnancy and delivery outcomes you want.

 I hope the answers to the following common questions about pregnancy help you let go of some of your fears so you can enjoy this life-changing event.

Interview Your Obstetrician
On your first initial interview with your obstetrician, ask how many babies he or she has delivered. Experience is especially important in obstetrics. A physician who has delivered 1000 babies will be more practiced in the art of medicine than a physician who has delivered 100 babies. It’s okay to accept care from the less-experienced doctor. However, just be sure you feel comfortable and trust this physician.

Who am I to be asking questions of my doctor?
Navigating the world of pregnancy and delivery will most certainly result in your having hundreds of questions. One of the most important decisions you will make is choosing the best obstetrician for you. Keep in mind that a
good working relationship with your obstetrician is a critically important step to establishing your peace of mind. Unfortunately, many doctors see pregnant women as numbers, not individuals. That is why women must
advocate for themselves and choose an obstetrician with whom they feel comfortable.

 I suggest interviewing several to find the right fit. Here are five questions I recommend asking before committing your pregnancy care to a doctor.

Five Questions to Ask Your Obstetrician
Will you be the one delivering my baby?
Often, the obstetrician you’re working with may not be the one to deliver your baby because many hospital obstetricians work on rotation in delivery rooms (called the doc on deck). Asking this question allows you to understand who will be with you during your delivery. After investing time in finding an obstetrician whom you feel comfortable with, you will want to make sure that physician will be at the delivery. If you like your obstetrician and he or she can’t guarantee being with you during delivery, consider asking to meet some of the other obstetricians who might be there so you will at least recognize familiar faces.

Will I be allowed to have my support team in the birthing room with me?

You will need an advocate, someone to represent you, your wishes, and your best interests. This is a relationship that begins with your pregnancy and lasts throughout your delivery and postpartum. Ask your
obstetrician if he or she is willing to work with another professional in the delivery room such as a midwife or a doula.
If you want your partner or a doula in the birthing room with you, this is a crucial question to ask your doctor. Hospitals vary on who they will allow to be with a woman in labor. Obstetricians vary on who they will allow in the delivery room. The time to ask these questions is on your first visit to your obstetrician.

What is your C-section rate?
If you want to avoid delivering your baby by C-section (and I recommend you do), then you should ask your obstetrician on your initial interview how many C-sections he or she has performed. When I was a resident 40 years ago, the normal C-section rate for an obstetrician was 11 percent. Today a physician’s C-section rate should be around 15 percent. 

If it’s greater than this (especially if it hovers around 30 percent) you should consider interviewing other obstetricians if you want to avoid a C-section.

C-sections are the most common surgery in the U.S., and cost nearly twice as much as vaginal deliveries. Consumer Reports collects information about the rate of C-sections at various hospitals (these rates can vary considerably). Be sure to ask your prospective obstetrician about his or her personal rate of C-sections and the overall hospital rate for C-sections.