What to Look for in a Midwife

•Look for a midwife that teaches you. Always be wary of a midwife that gives you blanket answers or seems to brush off your questions. A good midwife will not keep knowledge for herself but will share what she knows with her clients to help empower them.

•Look for a midwife who has organization in her life and practice. I’m a firm believer that organization eliminates chaos. A good way to gauge this is to ask her how she sets up her equipment for a birth. Or better yet, ask to see her bag that she brings to births.

•Look for a midwife who has her emergency protocols well outlined. You hire a midwife to help you when things don’t go as smoothly as planned and you should be confident in her ability to manage complications smoothly and calmly. Ask her to give you examples of how she would manage complications like a hemorrhage or newborn resuscitation. Her answer should give you confidence that you would be in good hands. 

•Look for a midwife who is knowledgeable yet humble. Here is a little secret... health care providers do not know everything! There are so many variations in healthcare and each person is an individual who’s body is unique. Sometimes I run into situations or symptoms that are not textbook at all and I adapt and learn. I hope that never stops no matter how old I get or how many babies I help deliver.

•Look for a midwife who has the correct training and certification. Each state has laws about licensing midwives and some states do not even allow midwives to practice. Make sure that your midwife has gone through the correct training avenues and has the proper licensure and certification for the state you are in. 

•Look for a midwife that you connect well with. Remember that you should intuitively trust your midwife. Your intuition is a powerful tool you should be using to help guide your decisions, especially a decision as important as who to choose to help guide you through such an important time in your life. If you have a bad feeling then keep interviewing!