Common Questions about Midwives

Midwives provide care with a focus on promoting normal labour and birth, and client-centered care. When you work with a midwife during your pregnancy, you have the option of giving birth in or out of hospital, receive early postpartum care in your home, and have access to on-call care and support when you need it. By caring for you in your home in the first few weeks of your baby's life, midwives can support you in getting more rest and adjusting to parenting. This model of care also allows midwives to support the breastfeeding relationship if you choose to breastfeed your child.

Midwifery care is structured so that you become familiar with the care providers who will be with you during labour by allowing for longer appointment times and keeping your midwifery team small. In labour, you will receive care from a midwife who you know and trust, as well as from a second midwife toward the end of labour who you may have met during pregnancy. We call this continuity of care. Longer appointment times, plus the trusting relationships that midwives often develop with our clients, mean that you get more time to learn about your options, allowing you to make truly informed choices.

We view pregnancy and birth as significant events in your life, and so your social, emotional, and cultural needs are accorded importance alongside your needs for physical care.

What kind of training do midwives have? Midwives are trained in many different settings and models around the world. In Ontario, many midwives are trained in the Ontario Midwifery Education Programme (MEP), a four-year degree program that is run out of Laurentian University, Ryerson University, and McMaster University.  Midwives who are qualified to work in other Canadian provinces can apply for reciprocal status and work in Ontario. Midwives who were educated outside of Canada must pass the International Midwifery Pre-Registration Programme, a one-year equivalency program.

We also continue to learn through ongoing educational opportunities at conferences, in peer review, and at interdisciplinary rounds in hospitals, as well as in our roles as preceptors and educators for students in the Midwifery Education Program.

No! Midwifery in Ontario is funded through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. You can access midwifery care even if you don’t have coverage through OHIP, although you may be billed for lab tests and other health care services.

You can start seeing a midwife at any point in your pregnancy. If you’ve already seen a doctor, your doctor can transfer your prenatal records to your midwife with your permission.

Midwives take a limited number of clients in order to provide the standard of care for which we strive.  So, there is a chance that you will not be able to access midwifery care if you call us later in your pregnancy.  But it never hurts to ask!  Sometimes we have space even for someone very late in pregnancy.

In many cases, women who think they are high risk have complications that a midwife would consider within her ability to manage.  For instance, midwives routinely take care of women over the age of 35 and women who have had previous cesarean or forceps/vacuum deliveries.

Although there are some cases in which a midwife will be unable to provide primary care to you throughout your pregnancy, midwives often work in consultation with doctors to provide you with excellent care. If health concerns come up during your prenatal care, your midwife can arrange referrals to doctors and can usually continue to be part of your care team.

Midwives adhere to regulations set out by the College of Midwives in deciding when to consult, and when a doctor must provide your prenatal care. There are certain chronic conditions that necessitate specialist care; feel free to call the clinic to discuss your concerns if you have a health condition and are interested in midwifery care.

Midwives are primary care providers, and are able to manage your prenatal, labour and birth, and postpartum care independently. If you are healthy and everything is going well during your pregnancy, you can only see one prenatal care provider.   So, most women work with either a doctor or a midwife. If you choose to see a midwife, she will arrange consultations with a doctor if and when you need them.

You do not need a doctor’s referral. You can call us directly.  It is best to contact a midwife as soon as you find out you’re pregnant. Not only is demand for midwives high, but also it is beneficial to access prenatal care at the beginning of your pregnancy. We do sometimes have openings for clients later in pregnancy and encourage you to call anytime.

Yes. Midwives can administer many pain medications, including nitrous oxide (gas), epidurals and narcotics and your midwives will support you in any pain relief choices that you make. As well, midwives are skilled and knowledgeable in many natural pain relief options, and will often suggest position changes, massage, breathing for relaxation, and hydrotherapy (taking a shower or a bath) to help manage your pain if you want to avoid using drugs.

Yes! Midwives are trained to provide safe care in hospital as well as in out-of-hospital settings. We are privileged at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital and many of our clients choose to give birth there.  We want you to have you baby where you want to!

Midwives work in small teams; with up to four midwives being involved as your primary care providers. In Orillia, there are four midwives who work together to provide care to clients. You will meet at least two midwives during your care (and sometimes all four of us).  Our goal is to have at least one of the two midwives you met most often at your birth.

You can call us as soon as you find out that you’re pregnant! Your first appointment can be scheduled for your first trimester, depending on when you learn that you’re pregnant and when you call.

Click here for our contact us page or complete our "Become a Client" Intake form.

Yes. Orillia Midwives serves a catchment area that includes many communities. The borders of the catchment area are defined by the following:

• City of Orillia
• Township of Ramara (Simcoe County)
• The parts of Oro-Medonte Township (Simcoe County) north and east of Line 11 and Warminster Road
• The parts of Severn Township (Simcoe County) east of the corner of Warminster Road and Town Line (imagine a line running north-south between these points). This includes the communities of Washago and Cumberland Beach (West Shores)

The communities that we serve include Orillia, Ramara, Rama, Mnjikaning First Nations, Washago, Marchmont, Cumberland Beach, Severn, Warminster, Hawkestone, Brechin, Sebright, Udney, Atherley, Lagoon City, Gamebridge, Uptergrove, Coopers falls, and Longford Mills.

For the first 28 weeks of your pregnancy, you will usually see your midwife every four to six weeks. From 28 to 36 weeks, your appointments will be every two to three weeks. After 36 weeks, you will see your midwife every week until you give birth. In the postpartum period, your midwife will see you either in the hospital or at home a number of times, often on days 1, 3, 5, 7, and as needed after that time. Your midwife will continue to follow you in clinic until you and your baby are discharged to other care providers at six weeks postpartum.

Prenatal appointments with a midwife usually last from 30 to 60 minutes.

Unfortunately during the pandemic we ask you to come alone to your appointments.

A doula is a person with training and experience in providing emotional and physical support during labour and birth, and sometimes in the postpartum period. Midwives also provide labour support, but we are regulated health care professionals with training in prenatal care, labour and birth, and postpartum care for both your and your baby. Doulas and midwives often work together, and you can have a doula at your birth along with your midwife. Because your midwife will be thinking about your clinical care during labour, you and your partner or other support person might find it very helpful to have support from a doula in addition to your midwife.

Doula services are not covered by public health care coverage, and most doulas charge a fee for their work.

Midwives have extensive training in managing common emergencies that happen during labour and birth, and can manage these emergencies in both home and hospital settings. If you’re choosing to have a home birth, your midwife will bring medications and supplies to your home that will allow her to manage an emergency if it comes up. Midwives maintain professional relationships with emergency medical services that allow them to transfer in to hospital quickly and easily when needed.
If you have a cesarean section, an obstetrician will deliver your baby. Your midwife will continue to be part of your care team, and will provide postpartum care to you as usual.