Supporting families of Northern Alberta through pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.
What is Midwifery?
The word midwife means ‘with woman’. It means midwives come along side a childbearing family to navigate through pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. The very nature of midwifery care is grounded in holistic health and informed choice. All aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, newborn care, and breastfeeding are essentially natural and normal. We take time to provide individualized care, which can promote and support a positive birth experience for each family.
Three governing principles essential in our midwifery care is: continuity of care, informed choice and choice of birth place, including hospital or home births.
Midwives are registered health care practitioners. We are professionals who provide primary care to clients and their babies during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. Midwives provide the full course of care for low-risk clients. This includes physical examinations, screening, diagnostic tests, the assessment of abnormal conditions, and the conduct of normal vaginal deliveries , as well as postpartum care for the birthing parent and baby.
Midwives keep up to date on research and believe that it is our responsibility to provide comprehensive, holistic information so that clients can make informed choices at all stages of care.
During labour and birth, a midwife stays with a client and their family. Midwives are trained in the management of maternal and newborn emergency situations. We work in collaboration with other health care professionals and will consult or refer as appropriate.
If you would like more information, please visit Alberta Association of Midwives website: https://www.alberta-midwives.ca/what-is-a-midwife
Our Philosophy
Three principles build the unique foundation of midwifery that help to set us apart from other primary health care providers. These pillars include choice of birthplace, informed choice and continuity of care
Choice of birthplace
Midwives can perform deliveries in a hospital or out-of-hospital setting. All necessary equipment for childbirth and emergencies are carried by the midwife to each birth. A second attendant also comes to the birth closer to delivery. The unique option that midwifery also has is a combination of laboring at home and delivering at the hospital. Please ask your midwife about your choice in birthplace.
Informed Choice
Midwives value the transition to parenthood. Each journey is unique and requires compassionate care and guidance. The basis of informed choice is receiving evidence-based, accurate information to aid in finding the best option of care for you. The role of the midwife is to provide this information, encourage self-research and ultimately to support the client in their decision. It is so important to recognize the client at the primary decision maker, who is therefore responsible for their's and their baby's health.
Continuity of Care
Midwives care for women and families during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and postpartum/newborn care. We are privileged to be a part of this amazing journey with its ups and downs. Midwives can perform all tasks pertaining to normal pregnancy and birth, including ordering labs, ultrasounds, physical examinations, consultations and vaginal deliveries. Even if a transfer of care is warranted there is an option of the midwife stepping into a supportive role until full care can be resumed.