COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT MIDWIFERY CARE

 IS MIDWIFERY REGULATED IN MY PROVINCE?

Yes, Midwifery is regulated by the College of Midwives of British Columbia. This means that we go through rigorous training to get our licenses and we are accountable for the information we give you and the care we deliver. We renew our emergency skills certifications yearly to ensure our skills remain current. We offer high-quality, evidence-based care and review scientific literature to stay current with our practice.

DO I NEED A REFERRAL OR DO I NEED TO SEE A PHYSICIAN IN ORDER TO GET A MIDWIFE? CAN I HAVE BOTH?

Not at all. There is an intake form on the Book an Appointment tab, or you can book a meet & greet to see if midwifery is the right fit for you.

Since Midwives and Physicians are both primary care providers, you only see one for your regular prenatal care. However if your pregnancy requires, you will be referred to a GP or an OB for specific needs, or shared care can be done for higher risk pregnancies. Otherwise, the care that Midwives and Physicians deliver is the same with respect to routine prenatal care.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF MIDWIFERY CARE AND WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MIDWIFERY CARE AND GP CARE?

Midwives spend a lot of time with families both prenatally and during the postpartum time. We focus on building a relationship of mutual trust and respect which fosters conversations and choices that direct your care in a personalized way. We know that every pregnancy is different and everyone will have different needs, preferences, concerns and support. See the section on Choices in Birth to learn more about the specifics of what midwives uniquely offer.

Midwives do home visits for all of our postpartum visits (except for some geographical exceptions), so for most if not all 6 weeks of your postpartum time, you can stay at home and the Midwife will arrange visits with you. The amount and frequency of visits varies depending on each individual situation. See the section on Home Visits for more information.

DO I HAVE ACCESS TO THE SAME TESTS AND PRESCRIPTIONS THAT PHYSICIANS OFFER?

Yes. Anything within the scope of normal pregnancy/birth/postpartum, Midwives can order. If it is not something pregnancy related, or is out of Midwife/GP scope, we can refer you to someone who can order or prescribe what you need.

DO YOU ONLY DO HOME BIRTHS?

No. In fact Midwives do most births in hospitals. Here on the Sunshine Coast both midwives have privileges to do maternity care at Sechelt Hospital. Of course there are people who come to us because they want home births, but you can choose where you want to have your baby with Midwives, and you can always change your mind about it - we deliver wherever you want. There are some resource limitations for offering home births here on the coast which we can discuss with you. We help many families every year so they have lovely births in the comfort of their home. See the Choice of Birth Place section for more information.

DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR A MIDWIFE?

No. The cost is covered as long as you have a BC Medical Care Card number.

ARE MIDWIVES THE SAME AS DOULAS?

No. Midwives are medically trained primary care providers. Doulas are an incredible part of the birth team but they are not medically trained and cannot do any assessments or give you medical advice. They offer valuable emotional/physical support in labour and postpartum, and some are qualified to give you lactation support. There are several wonderful doulas here on the coast, ask your midwife about them. The support that a well-trained and knowledgeable doula can be instrumental in making your birth experience even better.