Questions to Ask an OB-GYN About Childbirth

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting and confusing times in a woman's life. Myths, bad advice and horror stories float around most circles of women. That misinformation mixed with the variety of delivery options and medications available to women makes for a long list of questions to ask your doctor at your first prenatal visit. Thinking ahead and jotting down a list of questions before your visit can help put your mind at ease and ensure you take the best possible care of yourself and your growing baby.

Discuss Your Doctor

• Ask your doctor basic questions about his background, specialty and practice. Make sure you're working with a board certified OBGYN. Find out if your doctor will deliver your baby or if other members of a group practice will attend to your birth. Ask if the doctor delivers at the hospital or birthing center of your choice. Find out who will deliver your baby if your OBGYN is on vacation, sick or tending to another patient. If you have any medical conditions or complication risks, talk to your doctor about how experienced he is with these issues.

Discuss Your Risks

• Talk to your doctor about medical conditions you have, medications you take, previous pregnancy complications you've experienced or other health problems that you think may affect your pregnancy. Determine what tests your doctor would like you to have and at what schedule. If you've had a previous caesarian birth and wish to have a vaginal delivery, ask you doctor's opinions, as some OBGYNs discourage the practice, and some make every effort to provide women with the birth experiences they want and are safely capable of. Ask how to prepare for prenatal visits and what to expect at each visit.

Discuss Nutritional Needs

• Ask your doctor about prenatal vitamins and safe prenatal nutrition. Discuss which foods are safe to eat and which you should avoid. Talk about any habits you need to immediately break, like smoking, drug use or alcohol consumption. Address concerns about whether you're at a healthy weight and how you should proceed to safely lose or gain weight. Ask about safe forms of exercise and nutritional remedies for common problems, like morning sickness, swelling and headaches.

Discuss Delivery Options

• This is the most important discussion you'll have with your doctor. Ask in-depth questions about how your OBGYN feels regarding natural childbirth, doulas, pain medication, hospital stays, c-sections and inductions. Ask if the doctor or hospital offers lactation support or shares your feelings about circumcision, vaccinations and post-birth care. Many women have strong opinions about their birthing process and only want doctors who will respect and encourage their wishes so long as they pose no threat to mother and baby.

Ask All Your "Silly" Questions

• This is your opportunity to myth-bust. Ask your doctor any question you think might be silly, like if it's safe to dye your hair, travel, paint, use your microwave, have the occasional glass of wine or swim in the ocean. Use this opportunity to ask anything on your mind so you can spend your pregnancy well-informed and worry-free. There's no silly question, and it's likely your doctor has fielded all your questions before from other patients.