When having a baby, there are numerous pregnancy care choices available. Many women choose to make midwives their pregnancy care partners.
Having a baby is exciting. Whether welcoming your first child or a new sibling into the family, you want to have your pregnancy your way. Many women turn to midwives for their prenatal, labour and delivery, and postnatal care.
Midwives are professional, autonomous primary care providers who are skilled in all facets of childbirth. They work in partnership with other health care professionals such as obstetricians, family doctors, and nurses. Depending on your preference, midwives can attend births in hospitals, in birthing centres, or at home.
Accessible and fully funded care
Working with a midwife has many benefits, and you don’t need a referral from a doctor to seek out midwifery care. Throughout pregnancy, midwives provide essential services, such as prenatal visits, routine blood work, and diagnostic tests. Their care doesn’t end after the birth. Midwives continue to see you for at least six weeks postpartum to ensure that your physical, emotional, and psychological needs are met. Most importantly, midwives can give you plenty of time and space to allow for meaningful discussions, answering your questions, and helping you make the best decisions about the health and care of your baby — all at no cost to you. Midwife care is fully covered under provincial and territorial health care plans.
Working in tandem with the National Council of Indigenous Midwives (NCIM), the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) is dedicated to promoting the vital role of midwives in sexual, reproductive, and newborn health. Since 2001, CAM has been working across all levels of health care and government to drive legislation and funding and support for midwives directly with tools and learning opportunities.
CAM also provides comprehensive resources to families about pregnancy, childbirth, and choosing the best care. For people interested in working with a midwife, CAM provides information on how to find one in their province or territory.
To learn more about working with a midwife, visit havingababy.co.
