10 Questions to Ask an OB/GYN

The relationship between a family-to-be and an obstetrician is a special one.

When it’s time to find an OB/GYN, a good place to start is recommendations from friends and family, or other doctors your family uses. The physician also should be certified in obstetrics by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (abog.org).

Then you’ll need to check whether the doctor is part of your current health insurance plan, research the doctor’s credentials and office hours and factor in convenience, such as how far the doctor’s office is from your home or whether the doctor practices in the hospital you prefer for delivery.

Here’s what to ask the doctor or office staff:

n How long have you been practicing obstetrics and how many births have you attended? How many do you typically attend in a month?

n How can I get in touch with you if I have a concern? Are some questions handled by email or a nurse practitioner? n If the doctor is in solo practice, who covers when the doctor is not available? If the doctor is in group practice, what percentage of his patients does he deliver each month? How often will my prenatal appointments be handled by other doctors in the practice? n What will be covered during prenatal visits and how much time do you allow for a visit? n What is your philosophy on pregnancy care, labor and birth? Which prenatal tests do you routinely recommend? Does your practice include midwives? n Will your practice make every effort to follow my written birth plan, unless there is an emergency? n Does your practice or hospital policy limit who can be in the room with me during labor and birth? n During labor, do you encourage natural child birth? What do your recommend for pain relief? n If an emergency C-section is needed, who will perform it? Is an anesthesiologist available if there is an emergency? What percentage of your patients have C-sections or complications during delivery that require surgery? n Will my baby be in the room with me throughout my hospital stay? atlanta baby

(And 5 to Ask Yourself)

After the visit, ask yourself:

n Was the office clean and professional? n Was the staff efficient and attentive? How long did you wait to see the doctor? n Does the doctor share your philosophy about prenatal care and childbirth?

n Did the doctor really listen to your concerns or did the interview feel hurried?

n Is there anything about the doctor or the medical practice that makes you uncomfortable?

Navigating life with a new baby can be a challenge! There are many apps that can make life a little bit easier. Here are the top apps for new moms, and they’re all free, so download an app – or three!

n Ink Cards

Available at: Apple Appstore; Google Play One thing you can always use more of as a new parent is time. How about downloading an app that lets you transform what you’re doing anyway (like taking lots of pictures of your baby) into something you know you really should be doing (like sending greeting cards to family and friends)? Ink Cards makes it easy to turn pictures of your baby into high-quality print greeting cards, whether you need to send out thank-you notes, holiday greetings or cards for any other occasion.

n Smiling Mind

Available at: Apple Appstore; Google Play As a new parent, one of the things you’ll crave the most is a few quiet moments to just relax, and Smiling Mind offers just that. This app has hundreds of guided meditations that help you tune everything out and focus on your breathing while visualizing calming images. The cool thing about this app is that it also has meditations for kids age 7 and up, as well as mediations that parents can do together with their kids. n Universal Baby Monitor

Available at: Google Play Peace of mind depends not only on your baby getting a good night’s sleep, but also on whether everything is ok when you’re not there in the nursery. Universal Baby Monitor lets you check on your baby while she’s sleeping, and it alerts you if your baby moves or wakes up.

n WebMD Baby

Available at: Apple Appstore; Google Play No app in the world can substitute for a real-life visit to your baby’s pediatrician, but between visits, you may want to consult WebMD Baby. The app has lots of physician-reviewed information for new parents. You can look up medical conditions and treatments, get information on vaccines, and find contact information for local hospitals, physicians and pharmacies. n Winnie

Available at: Apple Appstore; Google Play Sometimes what you crave more than anything else is to connect with other new parents and get their advice on what to do in certain situations. When you get that urge, download Winnie. Known as “Yelp for parents,” the app lets you interact with a large network of other parents to ask questions. It also has a large directory of baby-friendly restaurants, parks and shopping centers.

Read All About It by Emily Webb

These books will help you think through the aspects of parenting with pregnancy wisdom and tips after bringing baby home.

n The Gentle Sleep Book: Gentle,

No-Tears, Sleep Solutions for Parents of Newborns to Five-Year-Olds

by Sarah Ockwell-Smith This book offers gentle, effective prescriptions for addressing the common sleep challenges encountered by new parents. The first five years of a child’s life can be filled with concerns and challenges about sleep, and with suggestions for each developmental stage, readers will learn how to create a consistent bedtime routine, use comfort objects, assign naps and more. Available at amazon.com for $16.99.

n The Bottom Line for Baby: From Sleep Training to Screens, Thumb Sucking to Tummy Time – What the

Science Says by Tina Payne Bryson No need to Google! This book covers every baby- and toddler-care decision a parent might struggle with, including breastfeeding, food allergies, pacifier use and more for help during the first year of life. Using reliable research and sifting through old wives’ tales, Bryson has information and answers to more than 60 common concerns and dilemmas. If the information is inconclusive, she helps you think through how to apply it to fit your family. Available at penguinrandomhouse.com for $17. n Heading Home With

Your Newborn: From Birth

to Reality by Laura A. Jana and Jennifer Shu The fourth edition of this guide for new parents offers advice from two pediatricianmoms. With tips on feeding, dressing, diapering, bathing and more, you’ll be prepared to do the best by your baby. Serving as a reference guide for the first year, updated sections include postpartum depression, breastfeeding, insurance benefits, SIDS and car seats, along with the latest AAP guidelines. Available at publications.app.org for $16.95.

n Expecting Better: Why

the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong – and What You Really Need to Know

by Emily Oster Fully revised and updated for 2021, this book helps answer the questions pregnant moms have, such as why coffee is forbidden. Using data, Oster shows the reasons behind the accepted rules of pregnancy, as well as why some of them are wrong by debunking myths and explaining the available information. Available at penguinrandomhouse.com for $18.