How to Choose a Provider Who is Right for You

When it comes to choosing a provider or healthcare professional for your prenatal, labor and birth and postpartum care, the choices before you may leave you feeling overwhelmed.

Whether you are considering  a midwife or an OBGYN, there are a few important factors to contemplate when choosing the provider that feels like the most aligned choice for you:

1. Are your appointments adequate enough in length for you to feel truly seen and heard?

When you have your appointments with your provider, it’s important that they are long enough in length for you to not feel rushed and for you to fully discuss any questions, concerns or points of interest you may have. One of the worst feelings ever is feeling hurried through a small window of time, only to realize after the fact that you didn’t even get to address something that may have been weighing on you.

2. Do you like the provider enough to believe there can be a therapeutic relationship between the two of you?

While you’re not necessarily trying to become friends with your provider, having a general sense that you like the person you’re working with will help foster a natural therapeutic relationship - something that will be crucial if you’re ever experiencing stress or concern.

3. Do you respect the person you’re in care of? And, more importantly, do they respect you?

This is a big one! Having a mutually respectful relationship is absolutely necessary when it comes to effective care. This is because it will foster trust from both parties. From the mother’s perspective, she should be able to respect the assessment and opinion of the provider as they provide informed consent. And from the provider’s perspective, they should honor the mother’s intuition, desires and choices.

4. Has the provider answered any questions you’ve had or addressed any concerns you’ve voiced in a manner that’s satisfactory to your needs?

One of the most overwhelming feelings may come if you find yourself with lots of questions regarding your care - and we encourage you to have these and ask! Please ensure that you get any of your questions answered with complete and specific information that is addressed with you and your care in mind. Don’t skimp on quality here! Anything you’d like to discuss is valid and should be addressed completely.

5. How do you feel before, during and immediately following your appointments together?

Perhaps the most important factor on our list is this one! We encourage you to pay attention to how you feel with EVERY interaction with your provider. Do you arrive to park at the clinic and start to get anxious? Do you feel stressed after your appointment is over? Or do you feel confident and ready to proceed with your birth plan? These are powerful guides and intuitive nods around whether or not your provider is the right fit for you, and we are here to remind you that if you ever realize your provider is NOT the right fit - please switch to someone you align with!

Aurora Midwifery would love to be considered when you make your choice for prenatal, birth and postpartum care. Reach out today to set up a free consultation! > https://www.aurorabhm.com/