Frequently Asked Questions

Midwives are primary care providers and follow a practice model that sets them apart from other maternity care providers. There are four main components that make midwifery care different, and they are the reasons so many families choose midwifery care. 

1. Continuity of care: Your care during pregnancy through to six weeks postpartum is provided by a single midwife or a small group of midwives. This means that you are able to get to know your midwife/midwives well facilitating a relationship of trust and familiarity. Your midwife is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by pager or email for urgent concerns.
   
2. Informed choice: Midwives recognize that every pregnant person and every family is unique. They offer informed choice, working in partnership with families to provide all the necessary information so that families can make decisions about their care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum.
   
3. Choice of birth place: Midwives are qualified to facilitate births at home, in birth suites/centres and hospitals. Your midwife will help you determine the best place for your birth reviewing safety considerations, risk factors and personal preferences.
   
4. Evidence-informed practice: Midwifery practice is informed by research, evidence-based guidelines, clinical experience, and the individual desires and needs of the families in their care.

Yes. There are high quality Canadian research studies that support midwifery care as a safe choice for low-risk healthy individuals, and more current evidence that shows midwifery care results in good outcomes even for higher risk pregnancies. These studies show that midwifery clients experience lower rates of forceps and vacuum assisted births, caesarean sections, episiotomies, infections, babies born requiring resuscitation and more. 

Midwifery care safe for moderate- and high-risk pregnancies - UBC Faculty of Medicine

Perinatal outcomes of midwife-led care, stratified by medical risk: a retrospective cohort study from British Columbia (2008–2018) | CMAJ

Yes. Midwifery care has been regulated in Alberta since 1988 through the College of Midwives of Alberta. The term “Midwife” is protected in Alberta and can only be used by a Registered Midwife. For a complete listing of active Alberta Midwives refer to the College of Midwives of Alberta website.

No. Midwifery care services have been fully funded by Alberta Health Services since April 1, 2009 so Alberta residents do not need to pay out of pocket for care. 

No. Midwives are primary care providers and specialize in healthy pregnancy, normal labour and births, and well babies. They can order all necessary blood work and ultrasounds, and prescribe medications for pregnancy, labour, and postpartum. They care for you from the first trimester through to six weeks postpartum. At that time, care for you and your baby is transferred back to your family physician. Midwives will consult with family physicians, obstetricians, pediatricians, or other specialists should the need arise. A physician would continue to be seen for any non-pregnancy related concerns.

Midwives have excellent collaborative relationships with obstetricians. They will consult with obstetricians during pregnancy, labour and birth, or postpartum should a situation arise where a consultation is indicated. Sometimes the midwife and the obstetrician will work together and sometimes a transfer of care to the obstetrician is appropriate. Consultations with obstetricians and transfer of care are discussed with you as part of the fundamental principle of informed choice care.

All Registered Midwives in Alberta are registered with the College of Midwives of Alberta and have a minimum of/or equivalent of a four-year Bachelor’s Degree in Midwifery. They have extensive education and skills specializing in low-risk pregnancy, labour and birth, postpartum and well baby. As part of their ongoing training requirements, Midwives regularly recertify CPR, Neonatal Resuscitation and Obstetrical Emergency Skills.

Education — Alberta Association of Midwives (alberta-midwives.ca)

Yes. Midwives support women’s right to choose the place of birth and offer women home, birth centre or hospital births. All Registered Midwives maintain hospital privileges so they can provide comprehensive care in all settings. 

Birthplace Options — Alberta Association of Midwives (alberta-midwives.ca)

Choice of birthplace.pdf (ontariomidwives.ca)

Yes. Midwives are primary care providers and can order blood work and ultrasounds and prescribe medications for pregnancy, labour, and postpartum.

Yes, although epidurals are only available in a hospital setting as they require an anaesthesiologist. Midwives are qualified to manage labour and birth with epidurals. However, Midwives also support natural pain management options such as water (including waterbirth), position changes, and continuous labour support - actions that support normal, physiologic birth. This approach is supported by research and is based on the belief that birth often works the best with minimal medical inference. At times, epidural and other medical technologies are used, but these are regarded as tools used for individual circumstances and not as routine practice. 

Midwives usually see you for an initial visit between 8 and 12 weeks gestation and provide care for you and your baby through six weeks postpartum. During the first and second trimesters visits are usually every four weeks. Around 28-30 weeks gestation, visits increase to every two weeks, and from 36 weeks gestation until birth, visits are weekly. Visits are typically 30 to 45 minutes long, allowing midwives time to assess your physical, emotional and psychological health, to discuss any questions or concerns you may have, and to have informed choice discussions for your individual situation. 

During labour, your midwife will usually come to your home to assess your progress. Once you are in active labour, your midwife will stay with you to monitor the well being of both you and your baby. If you are planning a community birth, a second midwife or trained second attendant (ie. Labour and delivery nurse or paramedic) will be called to attend the birth. After the birth, the midwives will stay with you for approximately 2-3 hours to ensure the family is well and stable and that breastfeeding is established (if desired). If there are any concerns, the midwives will delay discharge, or in the case of a community birth, admit you and/or your baby to hospital until concerns have stabilized. 

There are usually 2-3 home visits in the first week following birth and then 2-3 more visits at the midwife's clinic until 6 weeks postpartum. After 6 weeks, midwifery care is completed and you are transferred back to your family physician for ongoing care.

No. Doulas and midwives are very different and have distinct and separate roles during your labour and birth. A doula is a non-medical person who provides continuous emotional and physical support throughout labour, and is a positive addition to the birth team for those individuals or couples who desire extra support. A midwife is a primary medical care provider, responsible for the health and safety of you and your baby during pregnancy, labour and birth, and postpartum.