The Maternity Experiences Survey (MES) is a national survey of Canadian women’s experiences, perceptions, knowledge and practices before conception and during pregnancy, birth and the early months of parenthood. The MES is a project of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System, which monitors and reports on determinants and outcomes of maternal, fetal and infant health in Canada. The MES was developed and implemented by the Public Health Agency of Canada in collaboration with Statistics Canada.
“The Canadian Journal of Midwifery Research and Practice (CJMRP) is Canada’s national, peer-reviewed midwifery journal. This professional Journal provides a venue for the publication of research relevant to midwives and midwifery practice. It is the official journal of the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) and is supported by midwives from all regions of Canada.”
For nearly half a decade it’s been illegal for midwives to perform home births, but they’re still being done. A special report from the home-front lines of baby delivery.
The Ontario model of midwifery is based on three principles: Continuity of Care, Informed Choice and Choice of Birthplace.
Continuity of Care
Midwifery care is available to women throughout their pregnancy, labour,birth, and the first six weeks after birth. Midwives spend time developing relationships with women and are available 24 hours a day, seven days aweek.
Informed Choice
Women are active decision-makers in the care they receive; midwives give information to help women make informed decisions.
Choice of Birthplace
Midwifery clients may choose to give birth at home or in hospital. Midwives maintain hospital privileges at many Ontario hospitals and work collaboratively with other health care practitioners.
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)
Article by Christy Swift.
Certified Nurse-Midwives, Certified Midwives and Lay Midwives: It is helpful to understand the different types of midwives practicing in the U.S. in order to choose one who best fits your needs.
Article by Christy Swift.
In Canada, a midwife provides professional prenatal care to low risk women, attends labour and birth, and cares for the mother and baby for six weeks postpartum.
Article by Christy Swift.
The midwifery philosophy treats pregnancy and childbirth as normal, natural events in a woman’s life and addresses both her physical and emotional concerns.
Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America by Kenneth C Johnson, senior epidemiologist, Betty-Anne Daviss, project manager, published in BMJ 2005;330:1416 (18 June).
The objective: To evaluate the safety of home births in North America involving direct entry midwives, in jurisdictions where the practice is not well integrated into the healthcare system.
