During your pregnancy, we will see you for regularly scheduled prenatal visits – about every 4 weeks until 30 weeks, every 2-3 weeks till you are 36 weeks and then every week until you have your baby.   We see you approximately the same number of times a family doctor would, but our visits are longer.  We not only want to inform you about screening and diagnostic tests, prescribe and recommend therapies that would make a difference to you and answer any questions you may have, we also want to make sure we get to know you and for you to get to know us prior to your birthing day.  We make ourselves available as much as possible to address your concerns.  You can ask us questions at your visit, leave a non-urgent voice message at our office, and even page us at anytime for urgent concerns.  You don’t need a referral to receive midwifery care.  Contact us to see if it is right for you. 

When you begin labour you can directly contact a midwife who you have already developed a trusted relationship with. We can support and guide you through the early stages of labour and be with you throughout your entire active labour, birth and initial stages postpartum.  We have admitting privileges at the Cowichan District Hospital and attend births both there as well as offer the option of home delivery to low risk mothers.  As we are fully integrated into the health care system, you have access to all lab, diagnostic, medications and procedures related to pregnancy.  The advantage is that midwives explain the risk and benefits of all these options so you can be the primary decision maker for your birth.   If your pregnancy becomes complicated, just like a family doctor, we consult and work with the necessary specialist, like an obstetrician or pediatrician, to ensure you and your baby’s safety.

After the birth, we continue to provide comprehensive care for you and your baby as we remain your primary care provider for approximately 6 weeks.  You continue to have 24-hour urgent access to your midwife as well as the benefit of our frequent postpartum visits.  When we know mother and baby are well, the final visits at approximately 3 and 6 weeks are completed at the clinic.   We ensure you are healing and adjusting to your new role monitoring your physical and mental well-being.  We also monitor your baby’s well-being and growth supporting mother’s in feeding their baby the best way possible.  During this time families benefit from the continuity of care with their trusted care provider as well Fiddleheads, the postpartum group for mothers 2-8 weeks postpartum.