What to expect from midwifery care at Westside Midwives
In British Columbia, Midwives are primary care providers specializing in pregnancy, birth, and the first 6 weeks postpartum for both you and baby. While your primary care provider, GP or NP, will continue to provide care for any non-pregnancy concerns, the midwives take care of everything pregnancy related; this includes all ultrasounds and lab work. In some cases obstetric or other specialist consultation may be appropriate, in which case the midwives will coordinate this care.
Please note: BC Medical Services Plan (MSP) will only fund one primary care provider, meaning that a pregnant person must choose either a midwife, a family doctor or an obstetrician to provide their routine pregnancy care.
Westside Midwives offers a continuity of care model, as such we have 2 teams: the Green team has 6 midwives and the Blue team has 5; you will be placed with one of the teams. Throughout your pregnancy, you will have appointments with each midwife on your team to give you the opportunity to meet everyone. When it is time for you to have your baby, the midwife on call for your team will attend your birth.
This is different than the typical medical model of care, where a pregnant person may see one or two doctors throughout their pregnancy but a large groups of doctors share the call for birthing, often leading to an unknown care provider for delivery. So with midwives, while you meet more providers during your pregnancy, you should see a familiar face at your birth!
Appointments with midwives are 30-45 minutes each time; much longer than a traditional medical appointment. This gives lots of opportunity for questions and building rapport with each midwife.
After the baby has arrived, the midwives will provide care at your home during the first few weeks, saving you the need to come to the clinic. Typically we book families back at the clinic at three and then again at six weeks postpartum, when travel with a baby is more straightforward. You are generally discharged from our care at six weeks postpartum.
If this is the model of care you are looking for, please fill out our request for care form.