How to assess a midwife

The Training & Research Centre for Natural Birth Inc.

The following list of questions will help you to decide if a midwife is the right person to attend your birth. It will help if you have a strong bond of mutual trust and a clear understanding of each other’s opinions on all aspects of pregnancy, birth and childcare.

What is her background?

•  Why did she choose to be a midwife?
•  Where was she trained?
•  What hospitals has she worked in?
• How long did she work in hospital?
• How did she feel about working in hospitals?
• Does she ensure you will be booked into a hospital, should you need to transfer?
•  Why does she attend homebirths?
•  What does she think mother and child gain from having a homebirth?
•  When does she feel her job is finished?
• How many homebirths has she attended?
• How many were hospital transfers?  Why?
• If a similar situation arose, would she think a hospital transfer necessary?
• How does she assess risk?
• Has she had any children?
•  What were her births like?
• Does she feel she was prepared for the births?
• Did she breastfeed?  How long for?
• Why did she stop?

What is her attitude towards birth?

• How long does she expect a normal labour to last?
• How long will she wait for labour to become established once the waters have broken?
•  When and for what reasons would she recommend labour to be induced?
•  What does she feel about induction?
• Has she ever experienced an induction?
• If so, what were the reasons for it?
• How long will she wait for a placenta to come out naturally?
•  What drugs would she use and in what circumstances?
• Does she have an understanding of complementary medicines i.e. herbs/homeopathy/acupressure?
• Does she use a sonicaid (for accurate listening to your baby’s heartbeat during labour) If not, how does she do this?
• Does she use latex gloves?
• Does she bring a resuscitation unit to the birth with her?
• What other instruments does she carry?  

Instrument usage?

• How many times has she had to use them?
• When would she call for a medical practitioner?
• What does she require of a medical practitioner?
• What discussion does she have with the medical practitioner?
• What is her experience with suturing (stitching)? Will you have to transfer if you tear?
• What records does she keep?
• Can she please explain her notes to you?
• Does she have a designated back-up midwife and will you meet with her?
• Does she have an apprentice?
• Does she have any other support who is likely to attend either the clinic or birth with her?

With thanks to The Training & Research Centre for Natural Birth Inc.