Midwife
Home Up Search

 

 

A Midwife is a specialist in normal pregnancy and birth. Midwives view birth as a safe and normal passage in a woman's life. They instill pride and confidence in women and consequently you are less likely to experience interventions during your pregnancy and birth. A midwife provides "continuity of caregiver" which means she supplies all your care from early pregnancy, through the birth and into the postpartum. Usually your primary midwife works with a back-up midwife who comes later in labour to join your midwife for the birth. Currently midwives attend births in the home, or a birthing center if one is available in your area, and in some provinces midwives have hospital privileging.

You should feel free to ask any potential caregiver any questions you may think are relevant to your care, such as:

bullet

What is your training and how many births have you attended?

bullet

How do I contact you between visits if I have any concerns?

bullet

How do I contact you when I am in labour?

bullet

How much time do you normally spend with a labouring woman?

bullet

If a woman is in labour and you are not there, who provides her care?

bullet

Do you have a working relationship with another doctor/midwife if needed? Who and where? What happens in the event that you are unavailable?

bullet

Do you do prenatal checkups? How often? Do you do postpartum checkups?

bullet

Do you offer prenatal classes? Where are they held?

bullet

How will you assist me in preparing for labour?

bullet

What percentage of women receive episiotomies in your practice? How do you prevent the need for episiotomies?

bullet

What percentage of women receive cesarean sections in your practice?

bullet

What do you do in emergency situations?

bullet

Do you encourage family-centered maternity care? How do you see this working in practical terms?

bullet

Are medications available?

bullet

How do your services differ from that of other birth attendants?

bullet

Do you offer water births?

bullet

What is your policy on informed decision making by the parents?

 
Copyright © 1997-2007 Mother Care. All photos © Mother Care & Terri McKinney Photography. All rights reserved.