In Part 1, we introduced you to your pregnancy care team.
Bringing a little bouncing baby into the world might be one of the most exciting things you've ever done. It can also be one of the most confusing.
When you're pregnant, – whether it's your first time or your fifth time – having a baby can come with a laundry list of new questions. Here are the specialists who will be on your pregnancy care team, and questions they can answer for you.
Obstetrician/Gynecologist (OB/GYN)
Your OB/GYN is your point-person during pregnancy, checking on the health of you and your baby, and coordinating with specialists. OB/GYNs also are the ones to deliver babies.
What to Ask Your OB/GYN
The OB/GYN will give you the basics — how often you need to see them, what types of tests (e.g., blood tests, ultrasounds) you will need, which prenatal vitamins to take, etc. But beyond that, you may also want to consider asking:
- How will I need to change my diet and exercise habits during pregnancy?
- What classes do you recommend taking? (e.g., lamaze, infant CPR)
- What are signs that there might be something wrong? If I notice these signs, should I call you, or go to the emergency room?
- What are some of the optional tests I need to consider? (e.g., genetic testing, amniocentesis).
- Do you have a nurse line, or is there someone I can call after-hours if I have a question?
- How long past my due date will I go before you suggest inducing labor or doing a Cesarean section (C-section)?
- Why might I need a C-section rather than vaginal birth?
If you have already had a baby via C-section, make sure to ask them about vaginal birth after Cesarean (VBAC). While the school of thought used to be "Once a Cesarean, always a Cesarean," many OB/GYNs are now open to VBAC.
Perinatologists/Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician
Maternal-Fetal Medicine physicians are physicians who will work with you if you have a high risk for complications, or if you have complex medical or obstetric issues, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
What to Ask Your Maternal-Fetal Medicine Physician
- Are there any special tests I should consider? (e.g., amniocentesis) What are the risks of those tests?
- What is it about my condition, situation, or age that puts me at high risk for complications?
- What are some of the possible complications of the tests or treatments? Will they have long term effects on the health of my baby or me?
- What additional monitoring do I need? Should I get ultrasounds or other tests more frequently?
- What steps can I take to manage my condition to lower the risk of complications?
- If I'm having problems or have questions, should I contact you or my regular OB/GYN?
- How will my condition affect labor and delivery? Will I be able to receive pain medications? Am I more likely to need a C-section?
Anesthesiologist
Anesthesiologists deliver medications (epidurals) to reduce sensation in the lower half of your body. This makes labor less painful. They can also give you an epidural before a C-section so that you can be awake and alert when your baby is born, but won't feel as much pain from the surgery.
What to Ask Your Anesthesiologist
Unless you have a scheduled C-section, you might not meet the anesthesiologist until it's time to get the epidural — and once you're at the point where you need an epidural, you might not be thinking about questions to ask.
However, it's important to ask your anesthesiologist questions. If you don't get to meet them before your delivery, have your partner or labor coach ask the questions instead.
- For a planned C-section (or if your OB/GYN thinks you have a high likelihood of needing one), when will I get the epidural?
- For vaginal birth, when's the earliest I can get an epidural? When is it too late to get one?
- Are there any side effects?
- How will the epidural affect labor?
- There are a couple types of epidural drugs. Which one will I receive?
- What can I eat and drink once I've had an epidural?
Labor and Delivery Nurses
Labor and delivery nurses help you during the birthing process, and may provide special care if you have medical or obstetric issues, such as high blood pressure.
What to Ask Your Labor and Delivery Nurses
You might not get to meet the nursing team until you're ready to deliver, so it may be difficult to ask them a lot of questions ahead of time. However, at CCH, maternity unit tours are offered, which will give you the opportunity to ask questions such as:
- Can I eat or drink during labor?
- What should I pack for the hospital?
- If I have a birth plan, in which situations might we go off-script?
- What other forms of pain management can you provide besides an epidural (e.g., baths, repositioning, different medications)
- What happens directly after delivery? Will I be able to do skin-to-skin with the baby?
- What is the visitor policy right after birth?
During labor itself, you can ask them about how dilated you are, or if they can help you move positions or go to the bathroom.
Mother-Baby Nurses
Mother-baby nurses — also called postpartum nurses — take care of your physical needs, such as pain management, and educate you and your family on caring for a newborn.
What to Ask Your Mother-Baby Nurses
Mother-baby nurses keep you comfortable and healthy, and make sure that you're prepared to take your newborn home. When it comes to questions to ask them, it's about asking them for help.
For your personal care, you can ask them about:
- Pain management
- Preventing blood clots
- Help with bathing (especially if you're in a lot of pain), getting out of bed, and walking
- Managing vaginal bleeding
- Signs of postpartum depression
- Signs of complications, and what to do if you suspect any complications
- The recovery process for a C-section
For your baby's care, you can ask them about:
- Dressing your baby
- Swaddling them properly
- Giving them their first bath
- When to feed them
- How to prepare formula, if you're not breastfeeding
- How to put them in a car seat properly
- The right room temperature for a newborn
- How to monitor their vital signs, such as body temperature
- Signs that your baby needs medical attention
- Safe sleep positions
- What to do when the stump (tissue that remains after the umbilical cord is cut) falls off
Lactation Consultants
Lactation consultants provide breastfeeding support, including showing how to have your baby latch, helping you find the right position, and teaching you how to pump.
What to Ask Your Lactation Consultant
The lactation consultant will show you the basics — how to latch, pump, and store milk. You may also want to ask questions, such as:
- How often should I feed my baby?
- Which breastfeeding positions can we try?
- How can I tell if I'm making enough milk or if my baby is drinking enough?
- Should I wake my baby to feed?
- What can I eat and drink while breastfeeding? What is off limits?
- How will breastfeeding affect my menstrual cycle?
- What does it mean if breastfeeding hurts?
- What should I do if I'm having trouble producing milk? Is there a milk depot available?
- When should I stop breastfeeding?
- What can I do if my baby is having trouble latching?
- What can I do if I'm having trouble pumping?
- What can I do about leaking breasts?
Also, make sure to ask who you can call with questions. Many lactation consultants have warm lines, which you can call at any time for support.
*Call Chester County Hospital's warm line at 610-738-2582 if you have any questions or concerns about breastfeeding.
Case Managers and Social Workers
Case managers and social workers help take care of your emotional, mental health, or psychosocial needs. They can also help you manage aspects of having a baby that could be causing stress, such as finances.
What to Ask Your Case Manager or Social Worker
Case managers and social workers help with many different issues, and the questions you should ask depend on your reason for working with them.
For example, if finances are causing stress, you can ask them if there is financial assistance available through the hospital, if they know of outside organizations that provide financial support to new moms, or if they can help you with communicating with your insurance company.
Or, if you have an increased risk for postpartum depression (e.g., you have a personal or family history of depression, you have bipolar disorder), you may want to ask about signs to look out for and how to cope with symptoms of depression.
Regardless of why you're working with them, it's a good idea to ask your case manager or social worker questions like this:
- How can I reach you, especially if there's an emergency?
- Is there a cost for this specific service? If so, can you help me see if my insurance covers it?
- How long can I continue these services after giving birth? Will you eventually transfer me to a different provider or specialist?
Neonatologists
Neonatologists are physicians who handle high risk situations, such as premature births, or complex cases, such as a baby being born with an illness or birth defect. They are present during high-risk births and C-sections, and will care for infants who have special medical needs after delivery.
What to Ask Your Neonatologist
- Where will my baby be treated after birth? Is there a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)?
- What can I do during or after pregnancy to make sure the risks don't increase?
- Can I still receive an epidural or other pain medication?
- What is it about my condition or the baby's health that makes this pregnancy high-risk?
- How might premature birth affect my baby?
- How long will my baby need to stay in the hospital?
- What can I expect in the short-term and long-term in regards to mine or my baby's health?
- What type of provider will my baby or I need to see after discharge for follow-up or continued care?
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Nurses
These nurses treat infants with complex needs or medical conditions who are in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They also educate you and your family about the baby's condition.
What to Ask Your NICU Nurse
- If my baby is in the NICU or in an incubator, how can I make sure to still bond with them?
- What resources are available to me to learn more about my baby's condition?
- What is the visitor policy, especially for siblings?
- How can I get updates on my baby's condition while I'm recovering from delivery?
- How do I contact the NICU?
- Can I stay in the NICU with my baby?
- What items can I bring from home to personalize the space (e.g., baby blankets, pictures of the family to tape to the crib)?
- Is there anything I need to know about feeding, sleeping, car seats, bathing, or dressing, other than what I learned from the mother-baby nurses? Does the baby's condition affect any of these tasks?
No question is too small, and there's no such thing as a dumb question. Your providers are committed to helping you feel comfortable when you and your baby are in their care, and when you're ready to take your little one home.
Ready to see an OB/GYN? Call 610-738-2300 to find a provider near you.
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