Evansville Birthnetwork

The Evansville Birthnetwork has received a grant from Birthnetwork National to have an online survey asking local women about their maternity care experiences.  The survey is open to any woman who has given birth in the last three years within a 50 mile radius of Evansville, IN.  We hope to use the responses to help other women make informed decisions about their maternity care.  If you would like to take the survey, click here-

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EvansvilleAreaBirthSurvey

All questions, except the first, are optional.

So, you just found out you're pregnant and now you're deciding who you should pick as your care provider during pregnancy and birth.  Do you go with the OB/GYN you've been seeing for several years?  Do you choose a midwife?  Do you pick someone based on the recommendation of a friend?  If you are hoping for a low intervention birth, who you choose to be your care provider is one of the most important factors in whether or not that happens. 

Providers have different styles.  Some are quick to use interventions.  With this style of provider, most mothers will be induced or augmented.  This type of provider probably has a high cesarean rate.  This type of provider may see birth as an accident waiting to happen and will do all sorts of things trying to control the process.

A different type of provider sees birth as a normal process.  This type of provider uses "watchful waiting-" keeping an eye out for potential problems, but not assuming problems will happen.  Interventions are used less often and only when the potential benefit outweighs the potential risks. 

If you want a low intervention birth and you choose a high intervention provider, chances are things aren't going to go the way you hope.  So how do you choose someone? 

First, ask around.  People are usually willing to share their impressions of who they go to.  Just remember what is important to them might not be what's important to you.  If a friend tells you she loves her OB because he loves to induce and she wanted an induction- that might not be the provider for you.  (That's still good information to know, though!)

Second, go to www.TheBirthSurvey.com to view feedback on doctors & midwives (and also hospitals and birth centers).  Soon, you will be able to read comments as well as ratings in different categories.

Third, plan on asking plenty of questions when choosing a provider.  Here is a good list of questions to ask a potential midwife or doctor.  These questions help you determine the midwife or doctor's practice style, and whether their style is a good fit with your philosophy of pregnancy and birth.  Here is another set of questions listed on Birth Sense.

It may seem like a lot of work, but it's worth it to take your time when choosing a provider.