Pregnancy Tools: Birth Center Interview Sheet by BabyPartner

Interview Sheets: questions to ask your birth center

Use these questions to guide you during your interview when choosing a doula. Click on the "printable version" icon above to get a simply formatted version of this page that you can print and take with you to an interview.

When choosing a doula, it is important to find one who shares and is supportive of your birth philosophy. Doulas are not competitive and usually do not want to be hired by someone who is not confident and trusting in their abilities. If you feel uncomfortable you should request a reference to another doula who may be more compatible.

Print out the following questions and carry it with you to your interviews so that you can make the most of your time!

Questions to ask your birth center
by BabyPartner.com
http://www.babypartner.com/tools/interview-sheets/birth-center.php

Birth Center Name:

Contact Name:

Address:

Date of interview:

01Birth Center Policies & Procedures

How many labor, delivery & recovery rooms do you have?

Notes:

Are they the same or separate:

Are they always staffed:

What is your policy on eating during labor & delivery?

During early labor:

Drinking clear fluids:

Sucking on ice-chips:

Which prenatal tests do you require?

Notes:

What is your epidural rate?

Notes:

What is your policy on fetal monitoring?

Minimum amount of monitoring required:

Constant monitoring required during:

Remote monitoring required during:

Is intermittent monitoring acceptable (yes/no):

What is your internal monitoring rate?

If yes, when is it required:

With the approval of the doctor or certified nurse midwife, can I substitute Doppler ultrasound for electronic fetal monitoring?

Notes:

What is your policy regarding VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean)?

Notes:

What is your policy regarding IV?

Notes:

Is it okay to substitute Heparin lock for IV

Is it okay to substitute Heparin lock for IV when VBAC

What is your transfer to hospital rate?

Notes:

What situations indicate the need to transfer:

Common reasons:

What hospital and doctor do you use?

Name & Location:

What situations do you consider high-risk?

Notes:

What is your philosophy on childbirth?

Notes:

At what point during my labor will I be allowed to come to the birth center?

Notes:

Who may be present during the birth?

Partner:

Relative:

Professional Labor Attendant:

Older Children:

When may I return home after the birth?

Notes:

02Birth Center Staff & Services

Do you have certified nurse midwives, lay midwives, nurse practitioners or obstetricians available?

Will I meet the obstetrician:

Will the obstetrician be present at the birth or prenatals:

Notes:

Are you comfortable with patients bring their own professional labor assistants?

What percentage of your patients have drug-free births?

Notes:

Are the following natural pain-relieving methods available to me and approved by the doctors and nursing staff?

Squatting, walking and kneeling:

Sitting on the toilet:

Birthing tub:

Standing in the shower:

If not, why:

Do you have water births available?

What pain relieving drugs do you have available to me?

Notes:

When are they used:

What emergency equipment do you have available?

Notes:

Who will be present during labor and delivery?

Notes:

Do you have lactation consultants available?

Do you have breastfeeding classes/instructors available?

What percentage of your patients leave the hospital breastfeeding their babies?

What is your policy on rooming-in?

Can the baby sleep in my bed:

Can my partner spend the night in the hospital with me?

Can my older children be present during the birth?

If not, why:

Can we take our placenta home?

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