Resources

Midwifery Model of Care

In BC, midwives practice as autonomous health care practitioners (like a family doctor or nurse practitioner). This means that we can provide comprehensive maternity care to low-risk people and babies. Your midwife may be your first point of entry into maternity health care once you find out you are pregnant or you can self-transfer from your physician at any time during your pregnancy if you decide that you want midwifery care. However, the best time to start your care with a midwife is as early as possible.

Midwives are community-based. We feel privileged to support families in our neighbourhood and from all walks of life. Midwives integrate the philosophy of midwifery care, such as continuity of care, informed choice, choice of birth setting (home or hospital), evidence-based practice and collaborative care. We work alongside other maternity health care providers, such as obstetricians, physicians, pediatricians, nurses, nutritionists, and many others.

Informed decision-making is an integral part of your care with midwives. We support a shared-care model where we work together to create decisions based on sharing information and understanding values in a respectful environment. We believe it is our job to provide you with all the current information about important health care decisions so that you can make a decision that is right for you and your family.