What are good questions to ask an OB/GYN when TTC and ready to start a family?

[Anonymous]

I am about to start looking for an OB/GYN since my partner and I want a child. What questions should I ask when interviewing OB/GYNs?

[Anonymous]

Do they take your insurance?

Will you see the same provider every time, or will they rotate you among all their staff? (This is a personal preference, but most OB practices will try to rotate you. It’s rare to find solo providers anymore, and there is generally no guarantee that your OB will deliver you.)

Where do they have hospital privileges? Can you easily get to that hospital, even at rush hour? Is the hospital “baby friendly?” (Some people want “baby friendly,” but it can also be code for “mom unfriendly;” depends how hard-core they are about it.)

Do you have any concerns that may require special follow-up? For example, history of gynecological issues, family history of genetic disorders, advanced maternal age, anxiety/depression/other health concerns, etc. If so, ask if they have experience in those areas. Do they send special cases to an MFM? If so, which one?

Do you have a particular vision of what you want your birth or postpartum to look like? Like if you are determined to have an unmedicated birth, find an OB who supports that. Or if you want to breastfeed, maybe find someone who has experience helping with lactation. Or maybe you just want to stay open-minded and you want a OB who won’t judge or push you no matter what you decide.

[Anonymous]

Also, how far are they from your house? Do they have evening or weekend hours? You have to go to a lot of appointments when pregnant, so consider how convenient they are for appointments.