Midwives are health-care professionals who provide government-funded expert primary care to pregnant people and their newborns. Through pregnancy, labour, birth and the first six weeks after birth, you will be cared for by a small group of midwives. This continuity of care means that you are likely to know the midwife who delivers your baby.

You can call at any point during your pregnancy. Many factors influence availability, such as midwife holidays, and spots are filled on a first come first served basis. If we are unable to accommodate your due date, we will offer space on our wait list. If you are not immediately offered a spot with our clinic, one may become available later and we will contact you.

Occasionally vacancies are also available later in pregnancy. Do not hesitate to call regardless of your due date, or previous care provider.

No, you will not have to pay for a midwife. Midwifery funding is made possible through the Ministry of Health and Long Term care. People without OHIP may also receive midwifery care without charge. However, routine tests and screens or hospital births will not be covered for uninsured people.

Yes!

Midwives support a client’s choice of birthplace, be that home or hospital. Midwives have admitting privileges at hospitals, just as physicians do, and can provide complete childbirth care for you and your baby in the hospital setting.

Sometimes complications arise in pregnancy. When care falls outside of the scope of midwives, we will offer you a consultation with an obstetrician to receive recommendations about how your care should proceed. Rarely, clinical situations are no longer considered low risk and therefore your care falls outside the midwifery scope of practice. In these situations, your midwife will suggest a transfer of care to an obstetrician.

No, you cannot have a physician and midwife as your primary health care providers. Midwives, obstetricians and family physicians are all considered primary health care providers in Ontario. To have two primary health care providers is a duplication of health care services.

If your pregnancy requires guidance from a specialist, your midwife will arrange the consultation with the appropriate health care provider. In most cases, your midwife will remain as the primary health care provider. Occasionally, a transfer of care to another primary health care provider may be more appropriate.

A birth doula is a trained labour support person who provides emotional and physical support to a laboring person. While they are not medical professionals, they can offer a wide range of comfort measures. You would find and pay your doula yourself. Doula services are not covered by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. If you are considering having a doula at your birth, talk about it with your midwife.

Registered midwives complete a four-year undergraduate university degree through the Ontario Midwifery Education Program offered at Ryerson University or McMaster University.

If a midwife’s education and training is from outside of Canada, they will complete the International Midwifery Pre-Registration Program, offered through Ryerson University.

The College of Midwives of Ontario licenses midwives upon completion of their training. Newly registered midwives are required to complete a mentorship year with an experienced midwife

The Ontario Midwifery Education Program involves obtaining clinical learning experience in midwifery practices throughout Ontario.

As a teaching practice, midwifery students are part of our teams. They are closely supervised and mentored by a senior midwife.

You may decline to have a student in your care team if you prefer.

Yes. People with certain pre-existing medical conditions fall outside the midwifery scope of care and will need to be followed by an obstetrician, such as insulin dependent diabetes. Midwives will complete a full medical history at your booking visit and discuss whether midwifery care is an appropriate option for you.

Yes. Midwives offer the same standard of care that you would receive if you were under the care of a family doctor or an obstetrician. Midwives will discuss each test and ultrasound they offer so you are fully informed and can make a decision about the care that best suits you and your family. Midwives also adhere to the same schedule of appointments you would receive under the care of a family doctor or obstetrician.