Key Questions About Your Care During Pregnancy and Birth

Asking the following questions of your health care team will allow you to participate responsibly and with greater satisfaction in the decision being made.

When a test is suggested:

1. Why should I have the test? What problem are we looking for?
2. What will the test tell us? How accurate are the results?
3. What are the risks/side-effects of the test?
4. If the test detects a problem, what will happen next?
5. What is the cost of the test?

When a treatment or intervention is suggested:

1. What is the problem? Why is it a problem? 
2. How serious is it? How urgent is it that we begin treatment?
3. Describe the treatment: How is it done? How likely is it to detect or solve the problem>
4. If it doesn’t not succeed, what are the next steps?
5. What are the risks or side-effects to the treatment?
6. Are there any alternatives (including waiting or doing nothing?)
7. Ask questions 3, 4, and 5 about any alternatives.
8. What is the cost?