What to Discuss at 1st Prental meeting?

[KaliShanti]

I have my first 'official" prental meeting (all my other clients were friends and we just met randomly to discuss birth stuff) next Monday. Besides trying to come up with a birth plan, what should be said/done/taught in a 1st prental meeting to a couple who is new to all of this (hospital birth). Any good sheets/handouts that would be good? Is there a good handout that has all the different options for medication/procedure and the pros/cons?

[embracebirth]

When I first started doing prenatals it was total information overload. I felt like I had to cover EVERYTHING and gave them a LOT of information... most of which they never even looked at. I decided to stop killing trees.

Now, I focus at the first meeting on where they're at - hopes, dreams, fears, concerns, questions etc. I give them a fridge magnet with all my contact info on it, and an extra copy of my business card for their wallet/purse. I give them a sticker/decal from Best Starts Ontario which outlines the warning signs in pregnancy, so they know when they need to call their caregiver about symptoms they experience in pregnancy.

I have made up an interview-type form that I use at my first prenatal meeting (its attached). Its based on the information I have found useful & important to discuss. I don't always ask every question exactly as its laid out, but it is a good general guideline for me. If you have any q's about why things are/aren't on my form, feel free to ask.

I don't really do formal birth plans with my clients, as I've found that most of my clients want very similiar things. If what they want is outside the norm for their caregiver/birth location I encourage them to discuss it with their caregiver, because simply showing up with a pretty typed plan in labour doesn't usually get you very far.

I am an absolute info-junkie, and happily send my clients info on just about anything they ask for. But I am much more likely to send them email/web links than paper handouts, and I only send info they are actually looking for.

Hth!

[DoulaYvonne]

Have you searched through this forum yet? There is a ton of good information. Additionally, at the top of this forum is a "Sticky" with a thread about this topic precisely. Best of luck at the meeting!

[DoulaMegz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by embracebirth When I first started doing prenatals it was total information overload. I felt like I had to cover EVERYTHING and gave them a LOT of information... most of which they never even looked at. I decided to stop killing trees. Now, I focus at the first meeting on where they're at - hopes, dreams, fears, concerns, questions etc. I give them a fridge magnet with all my contact info on it, and an extra copy of my business card for their wallet/purse. I give them a sticker/decal from Best Starts Ontario which outlines the warning signs in pregnancy, so they know when they need to call their caregiver about symptoms they experience in pregnancy. I have made up an interview-type form that I use at my first prenatal meeting (its attached). Its based on the information I have found useful & important to discuss. I don't always ask every question exactly as its laid out, but it is a good general guideline for me. If you have any q's about why things are/aren't on my form, feel free to ask. I don't really do formal birth plans with my clients, as I've found that most of my clients want very similiar things. If what they want is outside the norm for their caregiver/birth location I encourage them to discuss it with their caregiver, because simply showing up with a pretty typed plan in labour doesn't usually get you very far. I am an absolute info-junkie, and happily send my clients info on just about anything they ask for. But I am much more likely to send them email/web links than paper handouts, and I only send info they are actually looking for. Hth!

I love your interview/question sheet! That's great!

[skyyogastudio]

I'm with you, the few 1st contacts I have had were chaotic because I tried to stuff too much information in.

[blessedbeginningdoula]

I use my first visit to allow the client to ask questions. Anything I can't answer off the top of my head I get back to them on. I also use that time to try and discern from them what they want from the doula. Some woman don't like to me touched, some don't like effleurage. Some woman don't like certain smells, ie. essential oils or perfumes or even tooth pastes. I would hate to show up for a birth and have a deodorant or perfume on that upset the client. Some woman have allergies and want to ensure that the hospital staff is very aware (fearful that her allergies may be manifest in the child ie. erythromycin used in the baby's eyes). I also give them a frig. magnet as well as a business card. They usually end up asking for a few more when I do my postpartum visit, they want to share them with all their pg friends... New business!

I have found that, much like "embracebirth", no one question fits universally across to board for all clients.

posted July 5, 2010