8 | Oh BABY! Questions for your Doctor... How many doctors are in the practice – will I have a primary and what are the chances that doctor will deliver my baby? What is the hospital affiliation? What is the cesarean rate? Does the doctor or the group practice perform episiotimies as a matter of course? What is the doctor’s attitude about patients having a birth plan with personal preferences? How does the doctor feel about pain medication during birth? If I happen to be a high-risk pregnancy – what is the doctor’s experience? How many babies do you deliver each year? to make sure that both the provider and the hospital are sup- portive of vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). The Doctor’s Outlook Find out the doctor’s attitude about issues that may be important to you, such as the routine use of interventions like IVs, continuous electronic fetal monitoring, and episiotomy. You can’t predict what your individual situation will require, but you can get an idea of the general approach your doctor has to your care…not to mention his or her practice patterns. You may also want to determine the doctor’s feelings about having a doula or other support person/people pres- ent at the birth besides (or in addition to) your partner. Is the doctor supportive of natural childbirth, if that is what you’re interested in? Is breastfeeding encouraged? Compatibility Pregnancy and childbirth are exciting, but they can also be stressful. So the best healthcare partner is one you feel comfortable with and whom you can communicate easily. The Anatomy of Prenatal Visits You will probably need to free up your schedule to allot ample time to clear your doubts and apprehensions during the initial stages of your pregnancy as well as what to expect over the next few months. If possible, it would also be advisable to invite your partner to the doctor’s consultation. During the first meeting, the doctor will be able to give you the expected delivery date of the baby. This estimation of the date is also important for careful evaluation of the monthly growth of the fetus. For women with irregular menstrual cycles, doctors usually recommend ultrasound scans to get a clearer picture of your delivery due date. Mothers-to-be will be asked to record their height, weight, and blood pressure to have a reliable assessment of health. In some cases, PAP tests may be required to screen for cervical cancer.