Care with a Midwife

Midwives are health care professionals and primary caregivers working in community-based practices. They provide government-funded, evidence-based, client-centered maternity and newborn care and are an established part of the BC health care system. Midwifery care considers pregnancy and birth as normal, healthy processes rather than illnesses, and that all clients are to be respected and supported in all stages of care.

Pregnancy

During pregnancy, midwife visits follow a standard pattern. Visits in the first part of pregnancy are scheduled every four to six weeks and last approximately 30 minutes. In the third trimester, visits are scheduled closer together, particularly during the last month of pregnancy. As much as possible, visit schedules are tailored to fit a client’s needs.

Longer visits allow for physical, emotional and social health assessments, while enabling the development of a trusting relationship between midwife and client.

Midwives offer a complete panel of prenatal laboratory tests, genetic screening and diagnosis options, ultrasound imaging and many other standard tests and procedures.

During pregnancy, every attempt is made for clients to meet all the midwives who share in their care so that familiarity is established prior to birth.

Your midwife or midwives will always be available 24/7.

Birth

Midwives respect the right of the client to choose their birth setting. They hold admitting and discharge privileges in hospitals, enabling them to provide care at home or in hospital.

When discussing home birth, midwives provide clients with research-based information. They address questions and concerns and assess whether the client is a good candidate for home birth.

Midwives work collaboratively with obstetricians, nurses, nurse practitioners, family physicians, pediatricians, anesthetists and lactation consultants, both in the hospital and in the community.

Regardless of where you give birth, you will receive excellent, safe care from your midwife.

After Delivery

After birth, a client will see the same midwife or midwives who provided care during the pregnancy. Early postnatal visits usually take place wherever the new family is: this may be in the hospital after a hospital birth, or at home after a home birth.

Midwives monitor the health of client and baby and provide breastfeeding support. They ensure that the client is recovering physically, and emotionally.

After the first week or so, visits usually happen in the clinic and continue to about six weeks after the birth, when care is transferred back to a family physician or nurse practitioner.

Between visits, midwives provide 24/7 call coverage for urgent care or concerns.

Some midwives accept referrals for postnatal care. If you are receiving pregnancy care from a physician, you can apply for midwifery postnatal care for you and your baby.

Questions? Read our FAQ or contact us for some answers.