What Is Midwifery Care?
Midwifery
The Midwifery Services of Lambton-Kent provides midwifery care in pregnancy, in labour and delivery, and for six weeks in the postpartum period. Our midwives serve the needs of the Lambton-Kent area community from Walpole Island to Grand Bend, to Watford, to Dresden!
Midwives view pregnancy and childbirth as a profound time in a person’s life, with a variety of personal and cultural meanings. Midwives see themselves as partners in their clients’ care and recognize their clients as the primary decision-makers.
Midwifery Philosophy
Midwifery care perceives people as inherently healthy. Pregnancy is a state of health and childbirth is a normal, physiologic event that is a profound event in a person’s life. Midwifery is holistic by nature, combining an understanding of the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical aspects experienced by people during the childbearing cycle. Derived from both the arts and sciences, midwifery integrates knowledge that is based on research and experience. Midwifery promotes wellness in clients, babies and families both autonomously and in collaboration with other health professions. Fundamental to midwifery care is the understanding that a client’s caregivers respect and support them so that they may give birth safely with power and dignity.
Midwifery Care is covered by OHIP
Fill out an intake form or call our office as soon as you know you are pregnant. There is no cost to you! Non-OHIP clients are also covered under midwifery care.
Ontario’s midwifery model of care is based on three principles or tenets of care:
Continuity of Care
Midwives provide care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth, and the first six weeks following birth (midwives even see clients at home on day 1, 3, 5). A team of two or three midwives will be responsible for your care throughout pregnancy. In group-based midwifery, we ensure that you have appointments with each midwife on your team throughout your pregnancy so that you can build a relationship with your whole team. Two midwives will typically attend your birth – your primary on-call midwife and a backup midwife. Birth is a life-changing event. Our goal is to help you feel honoured throughout the process.
Clients can contact their midwives 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with urgent concerns.
Informed Choice
Midwives support clients to make informed decisions about their care. Great importance is placed on the relationship with the pregnant client who is recognized as the primary decision maker and shared decision-making is promoted between the client, their family (as defined by the client) and the client’s caregivers. Midwives give up–to-date information and review guidelines of recommendations in pregnancy so clients can make the best choice care options for them and their baby. For example, when discussing the option of having genetic screening, ultrasound or other routine tests, your midwife will talk with you about what the test looks for, how it is performed, possible advantages and disadvantages, and any risks involved. The practice of midwifery enables clients to develop the understanding, skills and motivation necessary to take responsibility for and control of their own health.
Choice of Birthplace
Choosing where to give birth is one of the decisions that your midwife will support you to make. Midwifery clients may decide to give birth safely at home and in hospital. Midwives are the only health-care professionals who are specifically trained to attend out-of-hospital births. Midwives also attend births in hospitals. Midwives in Lambton-Kent have privileges at Bluewater Health Hospital. We are able to admit and discharge clients and access hospital resources needed by clients, including a consultation from a physician if there is a concern or complication. Clients have options for natural birth, to have medicated birth, or support through a c-section. Midwives understand that every client is different and respected as the person who makes informed choices about their care. Together with your midwife you choose where to have your baby.
Midwives practice as autonomous health care practitioners. This means that we can provide comprehensive maternity care to low-risk clients and babies. Midwifery care is well integrated into the healthcare system in Ontario. Midwives work along side physicians, obstetricians, pediatricians, psychiatrists, dieticians, and many others to provide the best care for pregnant clients and babies.
Midwives are experts in normal birth.
Midwives receive extensive training as primary health care providers. Midwives are proficient in Neonatal Resuscitation, Emergency Skills and CPR.
Our scope of care gives us the flexibility to ensure that your clinical needs are thoroughly met. Client appointments are approximately 30 minutes long.
We hold onto preserving normal birth respectfully and through educating the public.
The College of Midwives of Ontario - The primary responsibility of the CMO is for the protection of the public, specifically the childbearing clients and their infants to whom its members provide care.
Information on Midwifery Education Programs
McMaster University (Hamilton, ON)
Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto, ON)
"Working towards diversity, equity and inclusion is an ongoing endeavor, requiring continual self-reflection, learning and humility. We recognize the dignity and worth of every person and we are committed to creating an environment that is safe, accessible, inclusive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive and respectful of all clients, staff and the public."