Looking for a midwife for a homebirth or birth center birth?  Most midwives and birth centers offer a free interview to answer your questions and give you time to see if they are a good fit for this intimate and relationship-based care.  Because midwifery care is highly personalized and based in trust, it’s important to find a midwife who is a good fit for you.  We encourage you to interview several practices to find the best match.

Here are some examples of questions to ask based on a list from The Birth Hour (a birth story podcast):

Questions to ask when interviewing midwives

1. How long have you been practicing?  How many births have you attended? What is your education and training?  What are your credentials?
2. Are you available via phone/text? Specific days/hours you aren’t available?
3. What is your practice like—are you in practice solo or with other midwives? Are there additional staff like doulas?
4. Is your practice involved in the larger birthing community? Are there resources for me to connect with other pregnant people?
5. Do you work with specific OBs? Do you have a good rapport with OBs at the hospital?  How does the hospital view you and your practice?
6. How many planned births do you accept per month? If you are not available when I go into labor, who is your back-up?
7. What is your overall philosophy on pregnancy, delivery, and birth?
8. What do you feel your role is as a midwife?
9. Where do you attend deliveries? Birth center? Home? Hospital?
10. How do you feel about water births?
11. Have you ever lost a baby or mother?
12. What is your hospital transfer rate?
13. What are your fees? Do you offer payment plans? Accept insurance?

You can find a longer list of questions here from Carol Gray.

It is useful to know some basics about midwifery care, the types of midwives, and safety of home birth and birth center birth before contacting midwives.  Most importantly, put some thought into what you want in a midwife and write out your questions before starting your search.

Looking for a midwife in your area?

Find a midwife in our directory of OMC midwife members by region.

Central Oregon

Columbia Gorge

Eastern Oregon

Eugene

Willamette Valley

Oregon Coast

Portland

Southern Oregon

Looking specifically for a BIPOC Provider?

Here’s our list of midwives, doulas, lactation consultants and more!

Looking for a midwife who takes OHP (Oregon Health Plan/Medicaid)?

Here’s OMC’s directory of OHP midwives!