Midwives provide care for healthy women throughout pregnancy, labour, and birth, and provide care to both the mother and baby for the first 6 weeks postpartum. Midwives attend your birth at home or in the hospital; midwives will give you information to make decisions and choices that are right for you and your family. One of your midwives will always be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for urgent concerns. You will be cared for by well-trained, sensitive female caregivers that respect individual differences of women and their families. Cultural sensitivity is an important aspect of the care your midwives will provide.

Midwives are fully funded by the Ministry of Health and offer complete care for women and their newborn babies; you do not need to see a family doctor or an obstetrician in addition to your midwives. When complications arise, midwives make appropriate referrals to specialists such as obstetricians and pediatricians.

Midwifery Care Includes:

Prenatal Care
Prenatal visits include checking your blood pressure, baby’s growth, position, and heart rate, routine lab tests, and referrals for ultrasounds and genetic testing as necessary. Information regarding community programs and resources are also made available.

Visits occur once a month until 28 weeks, every two weeks from 28-36 weeks, and once a week from 36 weeks until your baby’s birth.

Prenatal appointments are 30-45 minutes to allow time for answering questions and providing information regarding the stage of pregnancy. Family members and support people are always welcome to accompany you to appointments.

Labour and Birth
One of our midwives will be with you throughout active labour. A second midwife will come towards the end of your labour and both will be there for the birth of your baby.

We monitor the progress of labour, assess you and your baby, and provide ongoing emotional and physical support. If you plan to go to the hospital, we relocate at the appropriate time and continue to provide care for you and your baby at the hospital.

Postpartum
After the birth your midwife will be with you for three hours. She will make sure you and your baby are both doing well, assist with breastfeeding, and do a complete physical exam of your baby.

She will visit you and your baby at home 3 times in the first week and regularly in the clinic after that, until your baby is 6 weeks old.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a doctor and a midwife?
You can have a doctor or a midwife. Midwives, obstetricians, and family physicians are all considered primary caregivers. A primary caregiver takes sole responsibility for your care. To have two caregivers is a duplication of health care services. However, if there are complications referrals will be made to a specialist.

Will I have to pay anything?
Midwifery care if fully funded through the Ministry of Health. There is also some funding for women without health cards.

When should I come to see a midwife?
You can call to make an initial appointment as soon as you know you are pregnant. If you decide to switch to midwifery care midway through your pregnancy your records will be requested from your caregiver and these will be sent to us.

Is there any reason why I can’t have a midwife?
Midwives are specialists in normal, health pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum care. If you have a previous or current health problem this will be discussed during your first visit and the midwife will determine whether you can remain in midwifery care or whether you need to see an obstetrician for care.