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Interview Questions for Midwives to Ask Clients


Easy Steps to a Safer Pregnancy - View e-book or Download PDF - FREE!
An interactive resource for moms on easy steps they can take to reduce exposure to chemical toxins during pregnancy.

Other excellent resources about avoiding toxins during pregnancy

These are easy to read and understand and are beautifully presented.

The Journal of Nurse-Midwifery just put out an issue (vol 40 # 6) that is a Home Study Program on Home Birth. In an article by Saraswathi Vedam and Yelena Kolodji, it is suggested that the following issues be raised:

  1. Why is the client interested in homebirth? Does she have any personal experience with home birth? How does her partner or support person feel about home birth?
  2. What, if any, were her previous birth experiences?
  3. Does she have any specific fears or concerns around pregnancy or birth?
  4. What support systems does she have for the birth and immediate PP period?
  5. How does she and/or her partner feel about transferring to the hospital in case of medical necessity?
  6. Will she/they be able to accept responsibility for informed participation throughout the process (eg. eat well, come to all prenatal appts, read and educate themselves, etc)
  7. What is the physical setting for birth?
  8. Do they know of any contraindications to screening criteria?
  9. What are the client's expectations of your role, and what are her hopes for the birth?
Observations to make during the interview:
  1. What is the character of the primary relationship? (partner supportive, critical, wary? ease of communication between them, congruence of goals)
  2. What is the manner the client displays to you? (friendly, suspicious, reserved, naive, agitated, tense)
  3. How does she react both verbally and nonverbally to your presentation and to the statement that birth is a normal process?

    4. An additional question that I've working on, but haven't fully worded yet has to do with how the couple feels that they would deal with an adverse outcome at home, given the probable social reaction of "you should have been in a hospital."

    This Web page is referenced from another page containing related information about Getting Clients

     


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