Midwifery Care
Registered Midwives provide maternity care to pregnant women and life-givers and to their babies from early pregnancy, through labour and birth, up to six weeks postpartum.
Family Matters
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Midwives working in the BC health care system
- Midwives are primary care providers who work in the maternity health care system. People in BC can choose between a midwife or a family doctor for their pregnancy, birth, and six weeks postpartum care.
- Midwives order all routine tests in pregnancy including ultrasounds, blood tests and genetic screening. They prescribe pregnancy-related medications; and they arrange consultations with specialists as needed.
- Midwives take time to discuss tests and procedures providing evidence based information, standards of care and recommendations so that families understand both risks and benefits when making choices and so they feel empowered in their decision making.
- Midwives guide women through their labours and help them deliver their babies. They offer the choice of birthplace to clients-either home or hospital. This choice is guided by clients’ preferences and screening criteria used to identify those who are lower- or higher-risk.
- After delivery, midwives provide home visits for the first week to support new parents and their babies as they rest and recover, and then continue clinic follow-up until six weeks postpartum, after which they transfer you back to your family doctor.
- Midwifery care is completely covered by the BC Care card. If you do not have a BC Care card, you can pay for your care privately - please call our clinic to discuss this.
Midwifery & Safety
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Research shows that women and babies receiving midwifery care in BC have equally safe outcomes compared to physician-led care, with increased client satisfaction and decreased interventions such as cesarean birth.
Midwives deliver more than 60% of the babies born in Duncan, BC. Midwives are regulated by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives whose role is to ensure that midwives provide safe care. Midwives offer home birth options to low risk, healthy women and babies. They follow a set criteria to determine who is appropriate for birthing at home. |
Midwives have to graduate from four year Bachelor of Science in Midwifery in order to practice Midwifery in BC.
Midwives undergo training and certification every year to be able to manage any medical complications mother or baby might experience. Midwives have guidelines about when to consult with or transfer care to specialists (e.g. obstetricians) if complications arise. In Duncan, midwives work collaboratively with specialists; the relationship is very respectful and supportive with the shared vision of providing excellent care to every client and their family. |
We're here to help moms and babies out.
The choice of having a midwife during your pregnancy is up to you.
You don’t need a referral from your doctor to receive midwifery care.
If you are interested in receiving your care with us, please call our
clinic to make an appointment, we would be happy to discuss your care options.
You don’t need a referral from your doctor to receive midwifery care.
If you are interested in receiving your care with us, please call our
clinic to make an appointment, we would be happy to discuss your care options.
