I encourage my Calmbirth couples to start having conversations with their caregivers about their preferences for pregnancy, birth and postpartum as early as possible.

This allows the establishment of rapport, development of trust, and open dialogue. It allows you to become familiar with the preferences and policies of your caregiver/place of birth, they become aware of your wishes, and this hopefully means there are less unknowns in labour.

*And in the off-chance you discover your values around birth are completely misaligned, you have time to pivot and change your path.*

My top questions to start conversations around are:

• What is your policy around induction of labour for postdates?
• What is your policy around induction for pre-labour rupture of membranes?
• Do you require an admission CTG in labour if I am low risk?
• Do you routinely screen for GBS?
• Do you offer water birth or water immersion for pain relief?
• What is your policy on delayed cord clamping?
• How confident are you in supporting a physiological third stage in a low risk labour?
• What is your policy on skin to skin contact in theatre?
• For VBAC Mama’s: what is your policy on VBAC?
• What is your policy around advanced maternal age?
• What is your policy around increased BMI?

What else would you add?