Photos by Lisa Pederson
Staring at those two pink lines on a pregnancy test can be overwhelming. Suddenly you are in charge of another human being! You are now a parent, and taking care of the baby starts in the womb.
One of the first things you need to do when you find out you are pregnant is to find a pregnancy care provider to give you the prenatal care and advice that you need. Here in Minnesota we are very fortunate to have a broad range of choices to choose from. We are free to choose an all-natural home birth with a midwife or a doctor-assisted, pain-free birth in a hospital.
Types of providers:
- Midwife who does homebirths
- Midwife in a birthing center/hospital
- Family practitioner
- OB/Gyn
- High risk pregnancy specialist
Early prenatal care has been proven to help women have healthier babies and less premature births. The reason it works isn't known, but it does. Getting good prenatal care early will help you learn how to stay healthy, find any possible problems with you or the baby so they can be corrected before they become dangerous and to find multiples early.
Determining what kind of a birth you want is important and you should discuss it with your spouse so that you are both comfortable with your choice. After you have decided if you want a midwife at home, in a birth center, or with a doctor in a hospital, you need to check with your insurance company to see what they will cover. Ask around to find recommendations for a doctor. If you like a doctor who spends time with you, ask around to see if someone uses a doctor with those attributes.
It is alright to shop around until you find a doctor that you feel comfortable having deliver your baby. Being comfortable with your caregiver is key to having a less stressful delivery. Make a list of questions before you interview the caregiver so you don't forget something that is important to your decision making.
Some questions to ask:
- How many babies do you deliver each month on average? (over 30 may cause long waits for you)
- How much time do you allow for prenatal visits?
- If you are not on call or are delivering another baby, who will deliver my baby?
- How do you handle patient questions between visits? (email, phone messages?)
- At which hospital will I be delivering my baby?
- Do you have specialized training or experience to manage any medical, obstetric or gynecologic conditions that I may have (such as diabetes, endometriosis, etc.)?
- Which prenatal tests do you recommend?
- How do you manage my concerns about a specific test?
- Will I be separated from my baby following delivery?
There are so many options here in Minnesota, be sure to do your research and find the best plan for your family. Many clinics want to see a patient when they are over 8 weeks, so don't delay in planning and making an appointment.
For more info:
Comments
Great article, well written
Beautiful article full of very usefull information. Great JOB!!
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