Choosing an Ob-Gyn for Your First Pregnancy

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.

The person who attends your birth can have a great impact on your experience, and on the outcome of your birth. Many women, not realizing this, put very little thought into choosing a provider. They flip through the phone book and choose a name, ask for recommendations from friends, use the same GYN they've always seen, or allow their insurance company to choose for them. Birth care varies widely, and there are dozens of choices to be made. It makes sense to choose a provider whose ideas about birth line up with yours.

Of course, first you have to have ideas about birth. Start by doing your research. Read about birth. Branch out beyond the basic pregnancy books. Look for books that back up assertions with actual medical research. Definitely make sure you read at least one good book that discusses risks and benefits of various birth choices. With that information, you can make the choices that are right for you.

Now that you've done your homework, it's time to think about how you'd like your birth to happen, ideally, and how unpredictable circumstances might change that plan. An example from my fifth birth: I planned a homebirth attended by a midwife. Near the end of my pregnancy, I was anemic enough to increase the risk of hemorrhage, making homebirth riskier. I decided that the hospital was the wiser choice for that birth. Knowledge about the real risks of birth helped me change my plan without losing control of my birth. So, are you pretty certain you'll want an epidural? Include that in your ideal plan, and make a contingency plan in case it doesn't work or you miss the opportunity. Don't want to be induced? Write it down, but know what circumstances will make you reconsider, and research induction methods so that you can make an educated choice if it becomes necessary.

You've learned all you can about birth, and you've made plans and contingency plans. You're ready to interview prospective caregivers. It's fairly important that your care provider has a similar philosophy of birth to you, but it's vastly more important that he or she is honest with you about risks and benefits, and respects your decisions about your care. When discussing your birth plan, watch out for vague answers. If you want to avoid an episiotomy if at all possible, and your OB says he does them "only when necessary", ask for more specifics. What prompts him to do an episiotomy? What percentage of his patients "need" them? If he says most women need episiotomies, he is not the doctor for you.

I know what you're thinking. What if I'm already pregnant and seeing a provider? Unless the baby is crowning, it is never too late to change providers. I mean that literally-women have actually fired their OBs in the delivery room. Of course, it's easier to do your research and investigate your options when you aren't heeheeing and hoohooing, and it's generally easier to change providers before 36 weeks. Many, many women, though, figure out midpregnancy that they really don't want the birth they're going to get with the provider they've got, and they change.