Ask your Care Provider questions! Did the mom above ask her Care Provider “What percentage of your moms get episiotomies?” His answer would have been very telling.
Ask local doulas for recommendations.
Ask L&D nurses for recommendations!
I have heard they can’t often tell you much if you just ask for a recommendation. But if you ask a specific question. Like, “I want to birth in a squatting position. Do you know a care provider who encourages (or allows) this? This provides an opening for them to say, “Yes, Dr. B or Midwife Y, does!”
This story of a mom whose OB cut an episiotomy after he missed the birth of the baby, saying he needed to for the placenta demonstrates the importance of Choosing your Care Provider wisely!
How can you do this?