What is Midwifery Care?
About Midwifery
Clients in midwifery care see midwives as their primary care providers for pregnancy care. Clients will continue to see their family physician for non-pregnancy related concerns. Midwives are a choice of maternity care provider, not an additional service to what you would receive from a physician.
Midwives provide prenatal care on the same schedule as a family doctor or obstetrician, monitor labours, conduct births, and provide 6 weeks of postpartum care to their clients and their newborns after birth. If a complication arises during your care, your midwife will make timely arrangements for you to be seen by a doctor or another care provider as appropriate.
You don’t need a referral from a doctor to have a midwife, and the healthcare system covers 100% of midwifery care for all residents of Canada, even if you don’t have OHIP. There is absolutely no cost to you.
Currently, there are over 1000 midwives in Ontario registered with the College of Midwives of Ontario. In 1994, Ontario became the first province in Canada to regulate midwifery. Ontario midwives practice in clinics in more than 250 communities across Ontario and approximately 18% of all births in the province are attended by midwives, with this number growing year after year!
The College of Midwives of Ontario (CMO) regulates midwifery in Ontario. They determine our scope of practice and our standards of care. All midwives in Ontario are registered with the College, and are required to provide maternity care which meets these high standards.
The Ontario model of midwifery is based on three principles:
Continuity of Care
Midwifery care is available to pregnant families throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth, and the first six weeks after birth. Midwives spend time developing relationships with clients and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Informed Choice
Clients are active decision-makers in the care they receive; midwives provide you with the information you need to help you make informed decisions.
Choice of Birthplace
Midwifery clients may choose to give birth at home or in hospital. Midwives maintain hospital privileges at many Ontario hospitals and work collaboratively with other health care practitioners.
All Families Welcome
