What is Midwifery?
Midwives are experts in healthy pregnancies and births.
Midwives provide government-funded primary care to pregnant people and their newborns. Under the midwifery scope of practice, your midwife provides care to support the health and safety of you and your baby from early pregnancy, through labour and birth, until six weeks postpartum.
As soon as you know you are pregnant, you can contact a midwifery practice through our wait pool as the first point of entry into perinatal health care. A referral from a physician is not required.
Putting you at the centre of our exceptional care.
Prenatal Care
Midwives offer complete care during pregnancy, including regular appointments, ultrasounds, routine blood work, and emotional support. With access to laboratories and diagnostic services, your midwife can order prenatal lab work and screenings and can prescribe certain pregnancy-related medications.
During scheduled visits, your midwife will provide physical examinations, assessments, support, and information that will inform and guide you through your pregnancy. On average, appointments last 30-45 minutes long, giving you the time you need to build a strong trusting relationship with your midwife. Prenatal visits are usually once a month for the first 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks, and then once a week until your baby is born. On average, you'll see your midwife approximately 12 times before your baby is born. ,
Under the care of a midwife, you will not see an obstetrician for pregnancy-related care unless there are concerns or complications. If complications arise, midwives collaborate and consult with other caregivers to provide families and their babies the best possible care.
Care During Birth
Midwives are the only perinatal care providers who offer choice of birth place; in most cases you can give birth wherever you feel most comfortable. If you are at increased risk for certain complications, giving birth in the hospital is recommended. You can also choose to deliver in a birth centre, at home, or another location. Midwives bring medical equipment and a variety of comfort and pain-relief options to all out of hospital births, similar to what is available at a hospital.
No matter your setting of choice, you and your baby will be closely monitored to make sure there are no complications developing. If necessary, midwives have access to emergency services and will collaborate with other health professionals during labour and birth. When you are close to giving birth, a second attendant will arrive to help care for you and your baby.
Postnatal Care
After birth, your midwives will monitor and assess you and your newborn to ensure that everyone is healthy and recovering well.
Your midwives will provide postpartum care to you and your baby, including:
A complete physical exam of your newborn
Routine newborn screening tests
Physical and mental health assessments
Parenting support and teaching
Chest/breastfeeding support
Once you are both considered healthy, your midwives will leave you to rest. This typically happens within four hours of giving birth. Before leaving, you will be briefed on what to expect within the next 24 hours. If you and/or your baby need closer observation or monitoring, your midwife will recommend moving to the hospital (if you aren’t already there) for extra support and care.
The day after the birth, your midwife will visit you for your first follow-up appointment. You and your newborn will continue to receive care until six weeks after birth.
If you have questions or concerns, a midwife will be available to you by phone or text at any time, day or night.