Q: Do I have to have my baby at home if I choose a midwife? A:We encourage you to consider both home and hospital options to choose what feels best to you. For hospital births we currently use the Queensway Carleton Hospital’s new Childbirth Centre. Q: How much will it cost to have a midwife? A: If you have an Ontario Health Card, there is no cost to you to use midwifery services. Without a health card you are entitled to midwifery care at no cost, but must make arrangements for additional costs such as lab work, ultrasounds and hospital stay. Q: Can I still see my family doctor, or an obstetrician as well as a midwife? A: Midwives are primary caregivers. This means that women must choose to see a midwife or an obstetrician or a family physician. If any complications or concerns arise, an appointment will be made for you with one of these other caregivers. Q: Do I have to have "natural” childbirth if I choose a midwife? A: All pain relief options available where you choose to give birth are available to clients of midwives. However, midwives support women in making informed decisions regarding their pain relief needs. Midwives do ask that their clients share their philosophy that the least amount of intervention possible, in each unique situation, is desirable. This lowers the risks of complications, and increases good experiences. Q: What if there are concerns about myself or my baby? A: We will arrange a consultation for you or your baby with another health care provider. This is commonly a family physician, an obstetrician or a pediatrician. Complications arising during labour and delivery would lead to a consultation with the obstetrician "on-call". Q: What kind of training do midwives receive? A: The Ontario Midwifery Education Program is a four year university degree in Midwifery. Some Ontario midwives may have been trained elsewhere and have proven to our college that they meet Ontario’s registration standards. Q: Do I have to go home from hospital early? A: With the care offered by midwives after your baby’s birth, it is often possible for you and your baby to go home from the hospital as early as three hours after the birth. However, midwives support a women's choice in regards to how long she may wish to remain in the hopsital, up to the 60 hour maximum. Q: What if I’m interested in midwifery care, but not sure it’s for me? A: Please contact us for an initial appointment, just to meet with us. We can then review your health care needs, as well as answer your questions about midwifery care in Ontario and provide information about our practice. Top Search Engine Visit? Please click here to reset Page