Question 1

What is a registered midwife?

Accepted Answer

A registered midwife is a trained medical professional. We provide primary care throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth. If everything in your pregnancy and birth is normal, your team of midwives will remain your main care providers from pregnancy through to postpartum.

Question 2

What kind of training do midwives have?

Accepted Answer

Midwives are university educated professionals who are trained in anatomy, physiology, pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum. We are well trained in infant feeding, newborn transition and navigating the postpartum.   Midwives have a four year undergraduate degree in Midwifery administered by the Faculty of Medicine. This includes three years of hands-on clinical work plus a supervised new registrant year. We receive specific training in managing emergencies outside of the home and home birth. We do rotations following other care providers such as obstetricians, maternal fetal medicine specialists, lactation consultants, pediatricians, pelvic floor physiotherapists, family physicians, and neonatologists.

Question 3

Is midwifery care safe?

Accepted Answer

Midwifery care is safe!   Midwives are well integrated into the healthcare system, and we collaborate with other medical professionals as needed. Midwives are independent practioners but work closely with our nursing, physician and EMS colleagues as needed.

Question 4

What if I want pain medications?

Accepted Answer

Then you get them. Simple as that. As with any other pregnancy care provider, a midwife can offer all available pain relief options. We also have a few special tricks up our sleeves when it comes to coping with labour and birth.

Question 5

How much does having a midwife cost?

Accepted Answer

Midwifery care is free if you have a BC Care Card. If not, we can explore other payment options. Get in contact with us!

Question 6

Does having a midwife mean I can’t have an epidural?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! If you want an epidural during your labour, we will consult the anesthesiologist (as would any other pregnancy care provider) who will then administer the epidural.

Question 7

How does your team work? How many midwives will I meet during my pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

You will meet all four of us throughout your pregnancy, and one of us will be at your delivery. We each rotate between clinic and call shifts.

Question 8

What if I want to give birth in the hospital?

Accepted Answer

We do the majority of our births in the hospital, and support the choice to have a hospital birth in the same way we support the choice to have a home birth.

Question 9

What if I need a c-section?

Accepted Answer

If you need a c-section your midwives remain an integral part of the team.   Some midwives have additional training to assist the obstetrician during your surgery, while others act as an advocate, liaison and support for yourself and you partner during the procedure.   Afterwards you can still expect full postpartum support from your midwives. The way you have your baby does not impact the care you will receive from your midwives.

Question 10

Can I have a doctor and a midwife?

Accepted Answer

For your main pregnancy care provider, you can have either a doctor or a midwife.   Family physicians can provide pregnancy and birth care. Obstetricians manage high-risk pregnancies. Midwives are experts in normal pregnancy and birth.   In the same way your family physician might consult an obstetrician, your midwife would consult an obstetrician if anything arises during your pregnancy and birth that requires additional expertise.

Question 11

What is the difference between a doula and a midwife?

Accepted Answer

Midwives - In BC midwives are primary health care providers for the childbearing period. Pregnant persons experiencing normal, low-risk pregnancies have a choice of care provider, all of which are covered by MSP. Depending on the community they live in, families can choose a midwife, family physician or obstetrician to care for them during their pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. Midwives specialize in low-risk pregnancies and offer choice of birthplace (hospital or home) and postpartum home visits in the first week. To practice as a midwife in Canada you must graduate from a 4 year Bachelor of Midwifery Program and be licensed in the province in which you practice.   For more information see: www.bcmidwives.com and www.bccnm.caDoulas - A doula is a trained professional who provides physical and emotional support to a pregnant person and their family during the last few weeks of the pregnancy, during labour and delivery, and post-partum for up to two weeks. A doula is not a medical professional and therefore does not offer any medical advice or perform medical procedures. Many doulas also have additional certifications and specialties such as massage, reflexology, sleep educators etc.  Doula certification programs in BC range from 2 day courses to 6 month courses. In BC you do not have to be licensed to work as a doula. Doulas are not covered by MSP and their fees range from $700 - $1500.    For more information see: www.bcdoulas.org

Midwives and doulas work as a team to support you on your journey into parenthood. While a midwife may also offer emotional and physical support during labour, this is not their primary role. As a primary care provider, the health and well-being of you and your baby is their primary role.  Evidence shows that families who have doula support are more likely to have a spontaneous vaginal birth, are less likely to need pain relief in labour, are less likely to have cesarean sections or need forceps/vacuum delivery and are more satisfied with their overall birth experience.

Question 12

How often do I come for appointments?

Accepted Answer

We will see you about once a month until you are 26-28 weeks, and then every two to three
weeks until you are 35-36 weeks. After 36 weeks we will see you weekly.   After you have your baby, we see you every day while you're in hospital (or within the first 24hrs at home), and then every 2 days at home. After the first week, we see you in clinic every two weeks.

**Please note that due to COVID-19, we have decreased the frequency of in-person
appointments to keep you, your families and our community safe. Additional appointments may be arranged as needed over the phone or via tele-health.

Question 13

How long are appointments?

Accepted Answer

Longer appointment are one of the benefits of midwifery care! Our appointments are 30-45
minutes long. We make longer appointments so we can take the time to get to know you, your family and your values.

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CONTACT US

Modern Midwifery

Tel: (604) 537-4210

Fax: (604) 398-8379

info@modernmidwife.ca

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