What is a Midwife?
A midwife is a registered health care professional who provides primary care to low-risk women throughout their pregnancy, labour and birth and provides care to both mother and baby during the first six weeks following the birth.
Midwives work together in group practices. A woman receives care from a small number of midwives. During regularly scheduled visits to the midwifery practice, midwives provide clinical examinations, counseling and education.
Women in midwifery care normally do not see a physician during their pregnancy, labour or the first six weeks after the birth unless complications arise.
Currently in Ontario, there are approximately 390 registered midwives in the province. Ontario was the first province in Canada to regulate and legislate midwifery in 1994. The profession is now regulated in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Quebec and Nova Scotia.
Midwifery services are completely funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Midwives qualify for registration either by graduating from the Ontario Midwifery Education Programme (a four-year university degree program) or the International Midwifery Pre-registration Program, offered through Ryerson University’s continuing education division. Each year approximately 40 new midwives are registered which will make midwifery care available to more women throughout Ontario.
The Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM) collaborates with the College of Midwives of Ontario, the Midwifery Education Programme and the Ontario Midwifery Program to continue the development of an outstanding midwifery care system for women and their families in Ontario.
(Source: Ontario Midwifes Association Website www.aom.on.ca)