There are many things that you need to do in order to prepare for the arrival of your new baby, and one of the most important things is to choose your OBGYN. If this is not your first baby, you likely already have a doctor who you are familiar with and plan to use. But, if this is your first baby, you may have a lot of questions about how to choose the right OBGYN for your particular needs. Remember, not all pregnancies are the same, and not all OBGYN’s are the same. Let’s take a look at some great tips that will help you to choose your OBGYN.

Ask Your Friends

If you have friends who have recently had babies, ask them who they used for their OBGYN. You can read all kinds of great reviews about any doctor, but what you won’t be able to read are the personal feelings of those who have written the reviews. Your friends won’t hold back, and they will be more than willing to tell you everything that they liked and didn’t like about their doctors. Ask lots of questions so you can learn all that you need to know.

Look into Delivery Attendance

You can see a particular OBGYN all throughout your pregnancy, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are going to be in attendance when the baby is born. For instance, not all OBGYN’s attend deliveries in the middle of the night, or they have an on-call doctor ready to stand in for them. “If this is the case, you need to know about it, and meet the on-call doctor so you are familiar with them and how they work. Better yet, find an OBGYN who has an excellent delivery attendance record,” recommends Dr. Amir Marashi from Brooklyn GYN Place.

Learn about their Policies

It is important that you know all of your OBGYN’s policies, such as how they feel about emergency visits, phone calls, etc. You are likely going to have lots of questions, and they aren’t all going to come to you during regular working hours. You need to know that if you have a question on the weekend that you can reach your OBGYN. Remember, some doctors do keep shorter hours, and they can often be much more difficult to contact after hours, especially on weekends. Find someone who is going to be willing to accommodate your needs.

Know Your Own Needs

“One of your most important considerations when choosing an OBGYN should be your own personal needs,” says an expert from The Womens Choice. “This is not selfish. It is necessary. You need to know that you are going to be able to feel comfortable with your OBGYN, and that they are actually listening to you and working with you to make your pregnancy and delivery go as smoothly as possible.” If you have certain needs, look for a doctor who is going to be willing to meet those needs, and then some. It is definitely going to be worth the peace of mind to know that you have the best OBGYN for you.

Check Your Insurance

There are many things that your insurance will cover, but there are also many things that it will not cover. If you have any questions about your coverage, now is the time to ask, and not when you are headed into the delivery room. You need to thoroughly understand what your policy covers, and what you are going to have to pay for yourself, both for the duration of your pregnancy and for the delivery. Keep in mind that some tests, such as genetic testing, are not always covered by most insurance companies.