If you already have begun care with a nurse-midwife, ask these questions anyway. The answers will give you a better picture of what lies ahead. In a solo practice this is not an issue. You can often request that nearly all your prenatal care be with the same nurse-midwife. If you feel strongly about having a nurse-midwife who knows you well at your delivery, you will be best off in a small practice.
Most large practices rotate the on-call in a birth or hospital.
Find out how accessible your midwife is and the best times to call. One woman found her work schedule made it impossible for her to call during the hours designated each week for telephone questions. The problem was compounded because her nurse-midwives were trying a new schedule of fewer prenatal visits during early pregnancy. The first-time mother felt stranded without guidance for weeks at a time. This is very unusual, but worth an inquiry.