What can you expect from midwifery care?

Midwives begin care in the first trimester of a woman's pregnancy and provide complete care to their client as the primary caregiver. Midwifery care includes visits with the client at the midwifery clinic, attendance at the labour and birth and post partum home visits. Throughout the client's care, a midwife or her practice back-up is available on a 24 hour basis. Midwives consult with physicians if necessary and may transfer care if required. A midwife may provide supportive care to her client if care is transferred.

Midwives are trained professionals who have the skills to attend births in hospital or a home setting. Midwives carry the required equipment to attend women during the delivery of their babies in a home setting. Midwives maintain current knowledge of

Emergency skills, including neonatal and cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Laboratory testing and diagnostics
Breastfeeding counselling
Homebirth

In Ontario, the practice of midwifery is based on the principles of:

Continuity of care with a small group of midwives
Informed choice for decision-making
Choice of birthplace (including home, hospital).

Midwives provide their clients with information in order to help them make appropriate choices for their care. All clients are provided with an informed choice agreement at the beginning of care and kept informed throughout their care in order to make choices when necessary.

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