What to Expect from Midwifery Care
Registered Midwives (RMs) provide primary care to clients during pregnancy, labour, and birth.
We continue to provide midwifery care during the first six weeks after the baby is born.
In Ontario, there is no direct cost to midwifery clients for care at home, clinic birth, or hospital birth—midwifery is covered by OHIP.
You do not need a referral from your family doctor for our services.
We encourage first-time midwifery clients to attend one of our Midwifery Information Nights, usually held about once a month. (currently not available due to COVID).
Your Informed Choice
Our Informed Choice Agreement outlines our philosophy, our role, protocols for practice, and client responsibilities. This agreement also refers to our Privacy Policy.
We ask that all our clients review and sign this agreement. Please feel free to discuss with us any questions you may have about this Agreement.
Here’s what to expect from our midwifery care during pregnancy, labour and birth, and after your baby is born:
Prenatal Visits
Where: Your prenatal visits will be held at our clinic in St. Jacobs. We also have a satellite clinic in New Hamburg.
First Visit: about 1 hour.
Subsequent Visits: about 30 minutes.
At each visit: We will…
- Record your blood pressure and weight.
- Check for swelling.
- Classify any risks.
- Palpate baby’s position.
- Listen to the fetal heart.
Any questions, problems or anxieties you have may be discussed at this time. Partners and siblings are welcome to attend as well. (During COVID, visits may be limited to clients/babies only; check with your midwife).
Home visit
Towards the end of your pregnancy, we may do a home visit so that we know how to find you when you begin labour, and to meet other members of your family. At this time, we can also discuss your birthing plans and accommodation.
Labour & Birth
Most of our clients begin their labour at home, whether they are planning a home birth or hospital birth.
You will be carefully monitored throughout labour and the birth to detect any complications that may occur, and we will discuss appropriate action with you.
If perineal trauma (tearing) occurs, midwives are trained to repair tears either at home or hospital.
Most clients and their babies are discharged from the hospital within a few hours of a normal birth.
Post-Partum
We encourage you to be at home and resting in this first week after the birth. For this reason, several post-partum visits are made to your home within the first week to check on your well-being.
We continue with visits at 2, 4 and 6 weeks at the office. You may be seen more often, if necessary.
Breastfeeding Support & Well Baby Care
Midwives provide breastfeeding support and well-baby care for the first 6 weeks after the birth. We provide all necessary forms for birth registration.
The midwives are available by pager 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
Pregnant and looking for care?
Please connect with us as soon as possible to check for availability.