According to the Ontario Midwifery Act, 1991, “the practice of midwifery is the assessment and monitoring of women during pregnancy, labour and the post-partum period and of their newborn babies, the provision of care during normal pregnancy, labour and post-partum period and the conducting of spontaneous normal vaginal deliveries.”
In other words, we take care of you and your growing baby, help you during labour and birth, “catch” your baby and we keep taking care of you and your baby until 6 weeks after the baby is born.
It is best to contact a midwife as soon as you find out you are pregnant. Community Midwives of Thunder Bay is able to care for women at stage of pregnancy, so you can call us anytime, even if you are far along in your pregnancy. In order to receive the most comprehensive prenatal care, we suggest you contact our office as soon as you are interested in midwifery services.
Our client will receive care from a small number of midwives who work in a team. Visits with your midwife occurs on a regular basis during which time your team will provide clinical examinations, counselling, and education. Appointments are approximately 30 – 45 minutes in duration, depending on the needs of the client. Prenatal visits are once a month for the first 28 weeks, every two weeks until 36 weeks and then once a week until your baby is born. Midwives are on call for births and urgent situations 24 hours a day.
Midwives qualify for registration either by graduating from the Ontario Midwifery Education Programme (MEP), which is a Bachelor of Health Science in Midwifery four-year university degree program, or by successfully completing the International Midwifery Pre-registration Program (IMPP), offered through the continuing education department at Ryerson University.
A doula is someone who provides non-medical support to women and their families during labour and childbirth, and also the postpartum period. While she is not a medical professional, she can offer a wide range of comfort measures during labour such as massage, aromatherapy, continuous reassurance and non-pharmacological coping techniques. We encourage everyone to research the benefits of a doula. We work harmoniously with doulas when they are present.
There are a wide range of tests that a midwife can order. For example, a midwife can arrange for appropriate ultrasound and genetic screening, as well as standard initial laboratory and diagnostic tests.
Midwives offer you the choice of giving birth at home or in a hospital setting. Whichever setting you choose, you and your baby will receive comprehensive and safe care.
Midwives are primary care givers for a person who is pregnant from conception to six weeks postpartum. It is not necessary to see another medical practitioner unless there is a medical concern with you or your baby during the course of your care with us.
Midwifery care in Ontario is free and accessible. Midwifery services, including prenatal, birth and postpartum care, is paid for by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Midwives provide care for mother and baby until six weeks postpartum (after the baby is born). The midwife will visit you at home (or in hospital) within 24 hours of the baby’s birth. They will also come for 1-3 (or more) additional visits within the first two weeks postpartum to support and assist you with infant feeding and newborn care, and to monitor your health and your baby’s health. Visits then continue at the clinic until the final visit at six weeks following birth.
Please complete our online ‘Request A Midwife’ form or call us directly at (807)-622-BABY.