Choosing Your Health Care Provider

Choosing Your Health Care Provider

My latest post on Modern Mom in my new blog, Fit and Fearless Birth, is up today.  Choosing Your Health Care Provider.

Here’s a sneak peek:

How to Choose the Best Maternity Care: Your Right to a Respectful Birth

Every expectant mother wants the best start for her baby. But in the U.S., maternity care often involves unnecessary interventions, fear-based decision-making, and high maternal and infant mortality rates compared to other developed nations.

You Have the Right to Choose Your Provider

Many women don’t realize they can—and should—interview potential healthcare providers. The right provider respects birth as a natural process, explains medical terms clearly, and empowers you to make informed decisions. Midwives, who specialize in childbirth, may offer a more patient-centered approach than obstetricians, who are trained surgeons.

Questions to Ask Your Provider

1. What is your induction rate? Inductions have doubled in 15 years without better outcomes.
2. What is your C-section rate? The WHO recommends a max of 10%, yet the U.S. rate is 33%.
3. Do you require continuous fetal monitoring? It hasn’t been shown to improve outcomes but increases C-sections.
4. How do you determine if my baby is in distress? Avoid providers who rely solely on electronic monitoring.
5. Will you personally attend my birth? Large practices may assign whoever is on call.
6. What is the longest labor you’ve attended? Look for someone who supports natural labor timelines.

Making the Best Choice

Finding the right provider may require travel or extra research, but it’s worth it. Your birth experience matters, and you have the right to choose a provider who respects your wishes.

Read the full post here.