WHY CHOOSE A MIDWIFE?
Midwives as primary care providers are skilled specialists and appropriate care providers for women anticipating normal, low risk pregnancy and birth. Midwives are experts at screening women and newborns for risks and complications. We make referrals or transfer care where applicable.
Midwifery care is an integral part of the primary health care system. As midwives we work within our own scope of practice and collaborate with other health care providers to provide women and their babies access to a full range of health care services.
MIDWIFERY SERVICES ARE FUNDED BY
THE ONTARIO MIISTRY OF HEALTH.
Midwives provide 24 hour continuity of care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Women are seen by a small team of midwives who are known to them. Midwives encourage women to actively participate in their care, and promote decision making as a shared responsibility, through the use of Informed choice. We recognize the woman as a primary decision maker.
Informed Choice
Midwifery Care is based on the use of Informed Choice in decision making. This philosophy relies on a full exchange of information in a relaxed, non-authoritarian and co-operative manner. We encourage women to actively participate in their care. We promote decision making as a shared responsibility, but recognize the woman as the primary decision-maker. Pregnancy and birth can involve many sorts of decisions, some of which can be very difficult to make. Your midwives can provide information to help you make informed choices about such things as birthplace, prenatal testing, and use of technology, breast-feeding and baby care.
Choice of Birthplace
Midwifery clients may choose to give birth at home or in hospital. We maintain medical staff privileges at St. Joseph's Health Centre,
30 The Queensway, Toronto, Ontario and work collaboratively with other health care practitioners.
Continuity of Care
Midwives provide continuity of care during pregnancy, birth and for six weeks after the birth (the postpartum). The midwives at Midwife Alliance provide 24 hour support for all of the clients of the practice.
Postpartum Home Visits
A midwife will visit the woman and her new baby within 24 hours and on at least 2 other occasions in the 2 weeks after the birth at either your home or in the hospital. Midwives monitor both the mother and baby's progress, ensure that breast-feeding is well established and provide valuable emotional support for new parents.
We have provided care to hundreds of women in the Greater Toronto Community. We view midwifery as a profession dedicated to safe, competent, client responsive care. We support the principles of continuity of care, choice of birthplace, informed choice, and appropriate use of technology.
