Did you recently find out you’re pregnant and are looking for a prenatal health care provider? Here’s how you can find one that the perfect fit for you.
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Finding a prenatal health care provider can be a tedious process. I remember when I got pregnant, I was on the phone for hours trying to find an OB-GYN that that actually did prenatal care. Not only that, but they were always fully booked for the next month. Thankfully I found one and I was able to breathe a sigh of relief.
When looking for a prenatal care provider, you want to make sure you do your due diligence to find a place that meets your needs. Most importantly, you want someone who makes you feel comfortable and confident that you’re getting the best care for yourself and your baby. Here are some useful tips on how to find a prenatal care provider that’s right for you.
This post is all about how to choose a prenatal health care provider.
Types of prenatal health care providers
There are a few different types of prenatal health care providers. They vary by degree of education but they’re all very qualified to care for you throughout your pregnancy.
Obstetrician-Gynecologist (OB-GYN) is a doctor that specializes in pregnancy care and reproductive health care for women. OB-GYNs are a very common choice among pregnant women because they are qualified to handle any type of pregnancy and they can perform surgeries (i.e. c-sections). They can also handle any complication that arises.
Family care physician is a good option if you would like to keep your provider consistent. A family care physician can also serve as your baby’s pediatrician when the time comes. They have training in maternal care but they can’t do surgeries so you will need an OB-GYN if you’re high-risk.
Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) is a health professional that has a graduate degree from a midwifery program. They are common choices for women who are looking to have a natural birth or who have low-risk pregnancies. They usually have OB-GYNs for back-up just in case.
Choosing a prenatal health care provider
Word of mouth
Word of mouth is one of the best ways to narrow down your search for a prenatal health care provider. You can always trust what your close friends or family members have to say about the providers they’ve been to. You can also ask them what they like about their current providers and about what providers to avoid.
If you end up picking a provider based off of a referral, make sure you call and confirm that they take your insurance.
Going through your insurance
Another great way to find a good prenatal health care provider is by asking your insurance company. Most major insurance companies are up-to-date on technology so you can easily message them over chat. If that option isn’t available you can try calling.
All you need to do is give them basic information including where you’re located. From there, they should be able to give you a list of OB-GYNs, family care physicians, or midwives, whatever your preference is. This should give you another batch to pick from.
If you don’t have insurance, there are many pregnancy centers that offer free and affordable prenatal care.
Read reviews
You can find reviews on almost anything these days and it’s so easy to find them. Once you have a list of the prenatal health care providers you’re interested in, just Google them. You can find reviews right there on Google, through Yelp, on their own websites, and more.
Pay close attention to how many reviews their are for each provider as well. Someone with a 4.5 star review and has over 50 reviews has more pull than someone with a 4.5 star review and 5 reviews.
Browse the provider’s website
One of the best ways to find information on a prenatal health care provider is by browsing their website. You should be able to see all the different types of care they provide and read short bios about members of the practice. You also want to make sure the site looks well organized and professional.
For my OB-GYN, they actually had an outline of the prenatal visit schedule, which was helpful for me to look at since it was my first time being pregnant. You may even be able to see reviews or testimonials, which can give you good insight into how they treat their patients.
Research the hospital or birthplace that the provider delivers at
Your prenatal visits will likely take place at a clinic that is affiliated with a hospital or birthing center. It’s important to browse the provider’s website or ask questions over the phone about which ones they’re affiliated with. From there, you can compare the different hospitals and birthing centers in your area and decide on one that’s the best fit.
Reading reviews is a great way to start. From there, you can look into where the hospitals or birthing centers are ranked in the state to gage the quality of care you’ll be getting. Many hospitals or birthing centers have plenty of information on their websites when it comes to delivery. You may even be able to take a tour, which will give you a more hands on experience where you can ask questions in person.
Important Things To Ask About
Availability
One thing you want to keep in mind is availability. You definitely want to be able to call your provider if something is wrong. You also want to be able to schedule an appointment that’s not a whole two weeks away. With the bigger practices, they tend to be booked more often but the smaller ones tend to have more availability.
On the topic of availability, it’s also important to ask whether the professional you’re seeing will be the one to deliver your baby. With larger practices, it’s common for you to see multiple healthcare professionals throughout your pregnancy. It’s also possible that the person you saw for all of your visits to not be available when you go into labor.
So it’s best to be aware of that and get comfortable with all the medical professionals at your practice just in case. If you don’t like the idea of that, it’s best to look for a smaller practice.
Your Specific Needs
We’re all different, so naturally we will have different needs when it comes to pregnancy and birth. Some women prefer more holistic approach and natural birth and other women prefer to go the medical route. Both are fine, but you want to make sure you ask about these things when deciding on a provider.
This post was all about how to choose a prenatal health care provider.
