Finding Care in New York
Questions to Ask a New OB/GYN: What to Ask at Your First Visit
The most useful questions for a new OB/GYN cover three things: logistics (insurance, hospital, after-hours access), who will actually be taking care of you, and how the provider approaches decisions like pain relief, induction and cesarean birth. Write your questions down and bring them. How the provider answers tells you as much as what they say.
Everyone worries about asking too many questions. You won't. Clinicians generally prefer a patient with a list to one who goes home confused. Copy the ones that matter to you into your phone and skip the rest.
Before you book: questions for the front desk
Some of the most important answers come before you ever meet the provider. On the phone, ask:
- How soon is the first available new-patient appointment? Is there a cancellation list?
- How long do visits usually run?
- Can I fill out new-patient forms online ahead of time?
- Are you in network for my specific plan?
Insurance and costs
Billing surprises are stressful. Ask the office, then double-check with your insurer.
- Are you in network for my exact plan?
- Is the hospital where you deliver in network too?
- Do you take Medicaid or my Medicaid managed care plan?
- Are ultrasounds and lab tests done here, and are they billed separately?
- Is there a global fee for pregnancy care, and what does it include?
If you have NY Medicaid, the Essential Plan or no coverage, see our guide to NY Medicaid, Essential Plan and Child Health Plus for pregnancy and tips for finding an OB/GYN that takes Medicaid in NYC.
How the practice runs
- How many providers are here? Will I see all of them?
- Do you work with midwives or nurse practitioners?
- How do I reach someone after hours or on weekends?
- Do you use a patient portal? How fast are messages answered?
- Do you offer telehealth visits?
- What languages do you and your staff speak? How do you arrange an interpreter?
The delivery hospital
If you're pregnant or planning to be, the hospital comes with the provider.
- Which hospital do you deliver at? Anywhere else?
- What level of NICU does it have?
- If I develop a complication, would I stay there or be transferred?
- How many support people can be with me in labor?
- Is there lactation support and rooming-in?
In a city where people commute across boroughs, add one more: "If I go into labor fast and I'm far from your hospital, what should I do?"
Who will be at your birth
In many groups, whoever is on call delivers your baby, not necessarily the person you see most.
- What are the chances you'll be at my birth?
- Who covers when you're not on call?
- Can I meet the other providers during my pregnancy?
Their care philosophy
There aren't single right answers here. You're looking for an approach that fits yours, and someone who explains their reasoning.
- How do you feel about birth plans?
- What pain relief is available, including epidurals and non-drug options?
- When do you recommend induction?
- What's your approach to cesarean births? What's the cesarean rate for the practice or hospital?
- If I've had a cesarean, do you support a trial of labor after cesarean (TOLAC/VBAC)?
- What happens if I disagree with a recommendation?
Your health and this pregnancy
Bring your history and ask:
- Is my pregnancy considered high risk? Will I need a maternal-fetal medicine specialist?
- Which of my current medicines are safe to keep taking? (Don't stop a prescription on your own. Ask first.)
- Which prenatal vitamin do you recommend?
- What screening tests do you offer in the first trimester, including genetic screening? (Our NIPT guide explains one of the main ones.)
- Which vaccines are recommended during pregnancy?
- What foods, activities or work exposures should I avoid?
- How much weight gain is healthy for me?
For a gynecology visit
If you're seeing a new OB/GYN for gynecology rather than pregnancy:
- Am I due for a Pap or HPV test?
- Which birth control options fit my health and plans?
- Is my period pattern normal? Should anything be checked?
- Am I due for a mammogram or other screening?
- Should we talk about menopause symptoms or bone health?
After the birth
The weeks after birth are easy to forget when you're focused on pregnancy, but they matter. ACOG recommends contact with your provider within the first three weeks after birth and a full postpartum visit by 12 weeks. Ask:
- When will I be seen after the birth, and by whom?
- Who do I call about bleeding, pain, feeding or mood?
- Do you screen for postpartum depression and anxiety?
- What birth control can I start after delivery?
- Do you offer or refer to lactation support or pelvic floor physical therapy?
Getting real answers in a short visit
- Bring a support person if you can. A second pair of ears helps.
- Take notes, or ask if you can record.
- Ask "why?" A good provider will explain the reasoning behind a recommendation.
- Lead with your top three. If time runs out, ask how to follow up by portal or phone.
What to bring
- Insurance card and photo ID
- A list of medicines, vitamins and supplements
- The first day of your last menstrual period (it's the first thing they'll ask)
- Your medical, surgical and pregnancy history
- Family history, including genetic conditions
- Your written list of questions
How to tell if the fit is right
Afterward, ask yourself:
- Did they listen and let me finish?
- Did they explain things without jargon?
- Did I feel respected, including my preferences and background?
- Would I feel OK calling with a worry at 2 a.m.?
If the answer is no, keep looking. See switching OB/GYNs during pregnancy and how to choose an OB/GYN, then compare providers by specialty, county and gender in our search or on a county page like Staten Island.
When to call your provider
Don't save urgent concerns for your next visit. Call right away, or go to an emergency room or call 911, if you have:
- Vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, or severe belly pain
- A severe headache, vision changes, or sudden swelling of the face or hands
- Fewer baby movements later in pregnancy
- Chest pain or trouble breathing
- Fever of 100.4°F or higher
- After birth: heavy bleeding or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask an OB/GYN at my first prenatal visit?
Ask which hospital they deliver at, who covers when they're off, how to reach them after hours, how they approach labor and pain relief, and which tests they recommend in your first trimester.
Is it OK to interview an OB/GYN before choosing them?
Yes. Many patients use the first visit to decide whether a provider is a good fit. Some practices also offer short meet-and-greet visits or phone calls.
What should I bring to my first OB/GYN appointment?
Your insurance card, a photo ID, a list of medicines and supplements, your health and family history, the first day of your last period, and your written questions.
Sources
- ACOG — Prenatal Care (Patient FAQ)
- ACOG — Your First Gynecologic Visit (Patient FAQ)
- MedlinePlus — Prenatal care in your first trimester
- CDC — Hear Her campaign: urgent maternal warning signs
This article is for general education and is not medical advice. It does not replace an evaluation by a licensed clinician who knows your history. If you think you have a medical emergency, call 911.