About Midwifery
The principles which guide midwifery care include
- Birth as a normal, yet profound, event.
- Informed choice - woman as the primary decision maker.
- Time spent with women to provide information, counseling and educational resources.
- Continuity of care - the midwife attending the birth has provided prenatal care and is known to the woman.
- Choice of birth place - home or hospital.
- Appropriate use of technology only when needed
Midwives are the primary care providers for women during pregnancy around the world. Midwifery is based on a strong belief in the alliance between pregnant women and their midwives, who together follow the conviction of informed choice and a respect for birth as a normal life event. Every woman has the right to make informed decisions about where, how and with whom she will give birth.
Midwives are trained health care professionals who provide comprehensive and supportive care during pregnancy, labour, birth and for six weeks postpartum to healthy women and their newborns. Registered Midwives in British Columbia work within the standards and guidelines of the College of Midwives of British Columbia (CMBC). Midwives honour the birth process as a unique, yet normal physiological event, requiring physical, emotional and social adaptation on the part of the woman and her family. Occasionally issues arise that fall outside the midwifery scope of practice, the midwife is skilled in careful monitoring to detect abnormalities in pregnancy and birth and consults/refers to specialists as necessary. If transfer to specialist care is necessary, the midwife can remain in a supportive role.
"It's thanks to you that I have the confidence to do what is right for my baby, myself, my family. We can not thank you enough for your care and support, your responding to a dozen major crisis and, of course, bringing our beautiful daughter out into the world!" Madeleine and Kelly