what exactly does a midwife do?

[Lady_Ashka]

Hi,

I was wondering, since midwives in Ontario are free (to temporary residents without medical coverage too?) and assist throughout the pregnancy, I was wondering what it is that they do exactly. Do they provide mostly just guidance about the pregnancy/delivery, or is it also more practical - do they, by any chance, perform some of the tests that need to be taken during the pregnancy (blood, urine?)

Thanks!

 

[Rob_TO]

Hi,

I was wondering, since midwives in Ontario are free (to temporary residents without medical coverage too?) and assist throughout the pregnancy, I was wondering what it is that they do exactly. Do they provide mostly just guidance about the pregnancy/delivery, or is it also more practical - do they, by any chance, perform some of the tests that need to be taken during the pregnancy (blood, urine?)

Thanks!

They do all your prenatal care, perform the actual delivery, and do the early check-ups and blood work on your newborn after delivery. If your pregnancy goes well and there are no serious complications, you will never need to see or talk to a doctor at any time until 2 months after you give birth (for first vaccinations with pediatrician). For the late prenatal appointments and checkups on newborn, they will do home visits.

If at any time during pregnancy, delivery or after delivery any serious complications arise with you or baby, the midwife will immediately refer you to an appropriate doctor and may be unable to continue with your care.

A midwife can do basic urine tests, and can write prescriptions if you need them. They can create a requisition for blood work, but I believe all the blood tests need to be done at an outside lab so you will most likely have to pay for that. Same with the ultrasounds.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, thanks! Does this mean that throughout the pregnancy I go to see her somewhere (I assume she has some kind of a facility/lab available?) and then during the last trimester she might do a home visit? that does sound reasonable, dunno why I assumed she comes to me every time, which was why I couldn't imagine what kind of check-ups she could do

 

[Rob_TO]

Ok, thanks! Does this mean that throughout the pregnancy I go to see her somewhere (I assume she has some kind of a facility/lab available?) and then during the last trimester she might do a home visit? that does sound reasonable, dunno why I assumed she comes to me every time, which was why I couldn't imagine what kind of check-ups she could do

Midwives have offices, which are pretty much the same as doctors offices. You'll need to find the nearest midwife offices in your area for the most convenient one to you. You go to your regular scheduled appointments during pregnancy just like you would if you had an OB/GYN doctor. It's only very late in pregnancy, and after the birth, that they can do home visits for the appointments.
http://www.ontariomidwives.ca/

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Great,thanks for the clarification! Just one more thing then, the ultrasounds and blood tests, can they be done in any lab, or are there restrictions? (or do i have to have them done in a hospital?)

 

[Rob_TO]

Great,thanks for the clarification! Just one more thing then, the ultrasounds and blood tests, can they be done in any lab, or are there restrictions? (or do i have to have them done in a hospital?)

They are usually done in labs.

We did bloodwork at Lifelabs. http://www.lifelabs.com/

Ultrasounds there is a list of labs here: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ihf/docs/ihf_assessment_report.pdf

I have no idea on the cost as we did them through OHIP, so you'll need to call and ask.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok, I guess I'll have to call them to check out their prices.

Thanks!

And tell me, please, do I get to choose a hospital I want to give birth in, or is it conditioned by the choice of the midwife? (I go to her office/clinic for the checkups and then she tells me which hospital to go to for delivery?). Also, could you explain whether the care the midwife provides to women with OIHP differs from the one she provides to non-insured women? And, the midwife's care, is it only around the appointments, or is it, so to speak, 24/7 meaning I can call her if there is a problem anytime?

 

[Rob_TO]

Ok, I guess I'll have to call them to check out their prices.

Thanks!

And tell me, please, do I get to choose a hospital I want to give birth in, or is it conditioned by the choice of the midwife? (I go to her office/clinic for the checkups and then she tells me which hospital to go to for delivery?). Also, could you explain whether the care the midwife provides to women with OIHP differs from the one she provides to non-insured women? And, the midwife's care, is it only around the appointments, or is it, so to speak, 24/7 meaning I can call her if there is a problem anytime?

Specific midwife offices usually only have access to 1 specific hospital, based on location. So if there's a specific hospital you wanted to deliver at, you would need to get a midwife from an office that uses that hospital.

I assume care and services given to patients are identical with or without OHIP, but you really would need to ask the midwife office this.

You can contact your midwife 24/7 if you get any serious symptoms. You are usually given a primary midwife and then 1 or 2 secondary ones, so there would always be someone to help.