Registered Midwives offer the following services:

Pregnancy care:

• Free pregnancy testing
• Primary care through all three trimesters. NOTE: Unless indicated by the presence of health challenges or complications, most women see only the midwives throughout pregnancy, the birth and the first 6 weeks postpartum.
• Prenatal visits: 45- 60 minutes long, once every four weeks until the 28th - 30th week, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly 30 minutes visits follow until the birth.
• Diet & lifestyle counseling.
• Comprehensive information and education on testing & treatment options available through all stages of care.
• Routine prenatal blood and urine testing, ultrasound, genetic counseling, PAP and microbiology (swabs) for pelvic exams and other testing as outlined by the regulations governing midwifery practice www.cmbc.bc.ca
• Order and administer appropriate drug therapies limited to pregnancy and the newborn as outlined by the regulations governing midwifery practice www.cmbc.bc.ca
• Arrange appropriate referral to other health care providers when indicated.

Labour & Birth:

• Continuous labour support through active labour, the birth and the first hours after the birth.
• At home labour assessment and support.
• Choice of birthplace including home, MSA or Chilliwack Hospitals.
• Assess wellbeing of woman and baby during labour.
• Use interventions only when necessary and provide appropriate assistance.
• Assist the woman with the birth.
• Repair perineal lacerations if needed.
• Manage obstetrical emergencies in both home and hospital & arrange transport (if at home), consultations or transfers of care to specialists in obstetrics and pediatrics when indicated. These referrals are available to midwifery clients at all times and we have an excellent relationship with the specialists in our community.
• Can arrange for inhalation gas (nitrous oxide) narcotic or epidural analgesia for pain management when indicated.
• Early discharge from hospital (3 hours) when desired.
• Midwives attend caesarian births when needed.

Past Partum Care:

• Responsible for newborn care.
• Support and encourage early and frequent breastfeeding.
• Home visits in the first week to support breastfeeding, check baby’s growth, woman’s recovery and offer new parents support and encouragement.
• Follow up clinic visits are arranged at 2,4 & 6 weeks.
• Birth control / fertility counseling.
• PAP testing.
• Post Partum Depression assessment.
• Care is transferred back to the family doctor after 6 weeks.
  

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