Choosing Your Care Provider, with Robin Elise Weiss

Finding the care provider that’s right for you is the first step towards a great birth experience. So, how do you do that? What questions should you ask? And if you’re not happy with your current provider, is it too late to switch? Robin Elise Weiss is here to tell us more.

What we talked about:

• What does an early pregnancy class have to do with choosing a care provider?
• Types of care providers
• Why your gynecologist shouldn’t be your de-facto obstetrician
• First, take a tour!
• If birthing at a hospital, do they employ hospitalists?
• What other things does the hospital routinely do or not do?
• Get the business questions out of the way
• What requirements will your care provider have of you?
• How to ask the right questions, to avoid vague or misleading answers
• What about groups that have many practitioners?
• Is your care provider tolerant or supportive of your choices?
• The 6 healthy care practices for a healthy birth
• Read between the lines: it’s not what they’re saying but how they’re saying it!
• Is it ever too late to switch care providers?

Links to consider when choosing a care provider:

• Questions to Ask When Choosing Your Care Provider, by Lamaze.org
• Choosing a Caregiver, from ChildbirthConnection.org
• Choosing a Maternity Care Provider, from OurBodiesOurselves.org
• Lamaze’s 6 Healthy Birth Practices, from Lamaze.org
• Models of Maternity Care, from OurBodiesOurselves.org

And a selection of articles from Robin herself, at VeryWellFamily.com (she’s written tons more!):

• 10 Things to Ask Your Doctor or Midwife in Pregnancy
• What and Who to Bring to Your Prenatal Check-Up Appointments
• Reasons to Choose a Midwife for Your Pregnancy Care
• Is Your Provider VBAC-Friendly?
• Switching Your OB During Your Pregnancy

Related Birthful episodes:

• All About Midwives, with Melissa Cheyney
• Asking More of Your OB, with Dr. Stu Fischbein
• Place of Birth as Your #1 Cesarean Risk, with Dr. Neel Shah

Courtesy of Robin Elise Weiss

About Robin Elise Weiss

While many things have changed since Robin Elise Weiss Ph.D., MPH, CLC,  AdvCD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE began birth work in 1988, (including the invention of the internet), one thing has remained the same – Robin’s commitment to support and mentor new birth professionals has remained strong.

Guided by both her personal experience of raising eight children and her successful professional and academic experiences that include a Ph.D. in Public Health, Robin is uniquely qualified to support folks as they grow their businesses and gain the confidence and skills they need to be successful perinatal professionals through her work at 100% Doula Business Foundations and her podcast at The Birth Geeks.

Robin is also an author, an amazing and dynamic trainer of both doulas and educators, and a recognized leader in maternal-infant care. Robin has served and continues to serve in leadership roles in perinatal organizations locally and on the international level.

Robin brings over 30 years of relevant experience that is directly applicable to people new to the perinatal field.  Her friends describe her as smart, funny and the person to go to when a real, viable solution is needed because Robin makes things happen.

To learn more about Robin, please read her full bio on her RobinEliseWeiss.com

Title music: “Vibe Ace” by Kevin MacLeod, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).

Sponsorship music: “Air Hockey Saloon” by Chris Zabriskie, from the Free Music Archive / CC BY (edited for length).