No Direct Cost. Our tax dollars fully fund midwifery services for Ontario women Pregnancy: Complete prenatal care is provided. This includes the monitoring of blood pressure, urinalysis, weight, and baby’s heart rate, position and growth. Lab work and ultrasounds are arranged as needed. Appointments generally last 30-40 minutes. This allows time to discuss many topics, including nutrition, exercise, physical and emotional changes in pregnancy, diagnostic and medical procedures, preparation for labour and birth, complications, infant care and breastfeeding. Prenatal visits are scheduled once a month for the first 28 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until the birth. Partners, other family members and support persons are always welcome. Care includes screening for risks and consulting with other health care practitioners as needed. A midwife is always available by pager for urgent situations. Labour and Birth: One midwife will provide you with continuous care during active labour and the birth. A second midwife will join you toward the end of your labour to assist at the birth of your baby. We monitor your progress in labour, assess the well being of you and your baby, and provide you with emotional support and comfort measures. After Birth: The midwife stays until she is confident that mother and baby are well, approximately 3 hours. The comprehensive nature of our care after the birth allows women to be discharged home from hospital births as early as three hours after the birth, if they choose. There will be a minimum of 3 visits at home or in hospital in the first week and 3 more visits in the clinic before care ends when your baby is six-weeks old. Care after the birth includes monitoring of your baby’s growth and development, your well being and adjustment to parenthood as well as breastfeeding support. We welcome phone calls during your baby’s first month to make your change to parenthood as smooth as possible. TOP Visiting from a Search Engine? Please click here to reset Site