How many times does a new mom get asked this question: How was your birth experience? I'd venture to guess: not at all, or very rarely. Most people want to know the weight of the baby, what time of day the baby was born and other details mostly about *the baby.*

Thanks to a group called the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS), women in the greater Boston area can weigh in on their actual birth experiences.

The Birth Survey

This website features questions such as:

• On average, how long were you made to wait, both in the waiting room and in the exam room combined, to see your care provider during prenatal care appointments?
• Did you receive information about your care provider's statistical rates of medical procedures and birth practices: such as cesarean section, induction, epidurals, episiotomies, etc.?

As well as the option to rate the provider based on his or her communication skills, how you were treated and so forth.

Benefiting Future Moms

Why is The Birth Survey important? Think of all the times you've looked up a review on a restaurant or business before making a decision to spend your money there. Should medical care be any different?

Moms-to-be can go to The Birth Survey website, plug in their zip code or city and do a search for local birth locations - hospitals, birth centers; as well as searching nearby providers - midwives and Obstetricians. This may be very beneficial for the mother choosing a birth location and provider.

For example, she might find it very helpful to see which local hospitals have the highest and lowest ratings and which hospitals moms would recommend to a friend or family member.

Rate your birth

So, if you've had a baby in the last three years, go rate your birth at The Birth Survey, and tell your friends about it! Love your midwife? Rate her! Hated your hospital stay? Share it!

See also: CIMS: The Birth Survey by Amy Kreydin

(photo courtesy Benjamin Earwicker)