About Kensington Midwives
What Is a Midwife?
A midwife is a specialist in normal pregnancy and childbirth. A midwife is a registered health care professional who provides primary care to women during pregnancy, labour and birth, including conducting normal vaginal births and providing care to mothers and babies during the first 6 weeks. As midwives, we are dedicated to supporting women and their families through the childbearing year. Midwifery care is founded on respect for pregnancy and birth as a normal, healthy process and a profound social, emotional and cultural event in a woman's life. Midwives
provide safe, personalized, research-based care. We attend births in hospital or home according to the woman's choice and professional protocols and are on-call and available to our clients 24 hours a day during the course of care. Midwives are trained professionals who have the skills and equipment to attend births in a hospital or a home setting. In Ontario, the practice of midwifery is based on the principles of continuity of care with a small group of midwives, informed choice for decision-making, choice of birthplace (home or hospital).
What can you expect from midwifery care?
Midwives begin care as early as the first trimester of a woman's pregnancy. Midwifery care includes visits with the client at the midwifery clinic, attendance at the labour and birth and postpartum home visits.
Professional Status
Midwives have been fully funded and regulated as part of the Ontario health care system since 1994. The College of Midwives of Ontario (CMO) licenses midwives and ensures the ongoing quality and safety of midwifery care. Midwifery practice is governed by legislation that sets out the provisions for many health professionals in Ontario. All Midwives must be registered with the CMO to practice in Ontario. Midwives consult with physicians if necessary and may transfer care as required by the standards set by our governing body, the College of Midwives of Ontario. A midwife may provide supportive care to her client if care is transferred. You do not see a physician during pregnancy, unless the midwife sends you for a consultation. Of course, you go to see your family doctor, or walk-in clinic, if you have an illness not related to your pregnancy(such as a sore throat). All aspects of midwifery care are publicly funded health care services under the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Hospital
The midwives at Kensington Midwives have privileges at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Should you or your baby need to see an Obstetrician or Pediatrician, we will usually consult with the staff at St. Joseph’s.
Shared Care
Most of our midwives work in teams of two, and share call between them. This means that one of them will be on call for your birth. Two midwives are required to be at your birth, should it not require a transfer of care to the medical staff. Your second (or backup) midwife will also likely be one midwife from a team of two. You will have most of your pre and postnatal appointments with your primary midwives, but you will also have the chance to meet your second midwives, because in the event that one of your primary midwives is not available for your birth, you will be attended by your second (or back-up) midwife.
Prenatal Care
During our first visits we get to know you, your plans and concerns and your health history. During the next visits we do a general physical assessment and do blood tests, urine tests, etc. as needed. We monitor such things as blood pressure, weight gain, fetal growth, fetal heart rate and fetal position. We expect to see pregnant women once a month until the 28th week, every second week until the 36th week, and weekly from then until your baby is born. Midwives provide care to women who have healthy, normal pregnancies. If you start having abnormal pregnancy problems or have a medical condition, you and your midwife will make a plan for your care that may involve other healthcare providers.
Labour and Birth
We ask that you pre-register at the hospital and tour the labour and delivery floor at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, whether planning a home or a hospital birth. If you are planning a home birth, you will be given a list of supplies to have on hand. During early labour a midwife will be in contact with you over the phone and will attend you once active labour is established. One midwife is with you during active labour and a second midwife will be called as your labour moves along. If everything goes normally, no other medical personnel are involved with your birth. Where possible, emotional support should be provided by family, partner or friends.
Postnatal Care
After your birth, whether at home or in a hospital, we will monitor the condition of both mother and baby. We will help establish breastfeeding and provide information and guidance for your care during the early days after birth. If you give birth in the hospital and all is well with both mother and baby, you will probably go home after 2-3 hours. We will visit you during the early postpartum period to check on you and your baby, answer questions and help with breastfeeding. We are responsible for the care of the mother and newborn for the first six weeks postpartum. You will bring your baby to the clinic to be weighed and examined for the last month of care. You do not need to see a Pediatrician or Family Doctor unless we recommend a consult, until 8 weeks.
Student Involvement in Your Care
We are a teaching practice affiliated with the Ryerson, McMaster and Laurentian Midwifery Education Programmes. Students will accompany midwives to all aspects of client care.
Parents’ Role and Responsibilities
We recognise the childbearing woman to be the primary decision maker with respect to her care. We encourage families to be active participants. In order for us to be effective caregivers, it is important that you keep us informed of situations that may affect your care and that you attend prenatal visits with us.
Client Records and Confidentiality
You may access your midwifery records at any time. If you go out of town we can give you a copy of your records. At your final postpartum visit, you may request a copy of your records to keep. We will retain the original in our files. We respect each client’s right to complete confidentiality. We do share information about our clients between all midwives at Kensington Midwives, as there is a possibility that any midwife at Kensington Midwives could be involved in your care.
Off-Call and Vacation Time
Midwives are off-call for safety reasons if they have been working for more than 24 hours, for family time and planned vacations. Your second (back-up) midwives will be responsible for your care when your primary midwives are off-call.
Appointments
Please ask your midwife if you need to call and confirm if your clinic appointment is on as scheduled, as some midwives are on-call during their scheduled clinic days. If you need to confirm or change an appointment please call the clinic administrator at (416)928-9777.
A midwife is a specialist in normal pregnancy and childbirth. A midwife is a registered health care professional who provides primary care to women during pregnancy, labour and birth, including conducting normal vaginal births and providing care to mothers and babies during the first 6 weeks. As midwives, we are dedicated to supporting women and their families through the childbearing year. Midwifery care is founded on respect for pregnancy and birth as a normal, healthy process and a profound social, emotional and cultural event in a woman's life. Midwives
provide safe, personalized, research-based care. We attend births in hospital or home according to the woman's choice and professional protocols and are on-call and available to our clients 24 hours a day during the course of care. Midwives are trained professionals who have the skills and equipment to attend births in a hospital or a home setting. In Ontario, the practice of midwifery is based on the principles of continuity of care with a small group of midwives, informed choice for decision-making, choice of birthplace (home or hospital).
What can you expect from midwifery care?
Midwives begin care as early as the first trimester of a woman's pregnancy. Midwifery care includes visits with the client at the midwifery clinic, attendance at the labour and birth and postpartum home visits.
Professional Status
Midwives have been fully funded and regulated as part of the Ontario health care system since 1994. The College of Midwives of Ontario (CMO) licenses midwives and ensures the ongoing quality and safety of midwifery care. Midwifery practice is governed by legislation that sets out the provisions for many health professionals in Ontario. All Midwives must be registered with the CMO to practice in Ontario. Midwives consult with physicians if necessary and may transfer care as required by the standards set by our governing body, the College of Midwives of Ontario. A midwife may provide supportive care to her client if care is transferred. You do not see a physician during pregnancy, unless the midwife sends you for a consultation. Of course, you go to see your family doctor, or walk-in clinic, if you have an illness not related to your pregnancy(such as a sore throat). All aspects of midwifery care are publicly funded health care services under the Ontario Ministry of Health.
Hospital
The midwives at Kensington Midwives have privileges at St. Joseph’s Health Centre. Should you or your baby need to see an Obstetrician or Pediatrician, we will usually consult with the staff at St. Joseph’s.
Shared Care
Most of our midwives work in teams of two, and share call between them. This means that one of them will be on call for your birth. Two midwives are required to be at your birth, should it not require a transfer of care to the medical staff. Your second (or backup) midwife will also likely be one midwife from a team of two. You will have most of your pre and postnatal appointments with your primary midwives, but you will also have the chance to meet your second midwives, because in the event that one of your primary midwives is not available for your birth, you will be attended by your second (or back-up) midwife.
Prenatal Care
During our first visits we get to know you, your plans and concerns and your health history. During the next visits we do a general physical assessment and do blood tests, urine tests, etc. as needed. We monitor such things as blood pressure, weight gain, fetal growth, fetal heart rate and fetal position. We expect to see pregnant women once a month until the 28th week, every second week until the 36th week, and weekly from then until your baby is born. Midwives provide care to women who have healthy, normal pregnancies. If you start having abnormal pregnancy problems or have a medical condition, you and your midwife will make a plan for your care that may involve other healthcare providers.
Labour and Birth
We ask that you pre-register at the hospital and tour the labour and delivery floor at St. Joseph’s Health Centre, whether planning a home or a hospital birth. If you are planning a home birth, you will be given a list of supplies to have on hand. During early labour a midwife will be in contact with you over the phone and will attend you once active labour is established. One midwife is with you during active labour and a second midwife will be called as your labour moves along. If everything goes normally, no other medical personnel are involved with your birth. Where possible, emotional support should be provided by family, partner or friends.
Postnatal Care
After your birth, whether at home or in a hospital, we will monitor the condition of both mother and baby. We will help establish breastfeeding and provide information and guidance for your care during the early days after birth. If you give birth in the hospital and all is well with both mother and baby, you will probably go home after 2-3 hours. We will visit you during the early postpartum period to check on you and your baby, answer questions and help with breastfeeding. We are responsible for the care of the mother and newborn for the first six weeks postpartum. You will bring your baby to the clinic to be weighed and examined for the last month of care. You do not need to see a Pediatrician or Family Doctor unless we recommend a consult, until 8 weeks.
Student Involvement in Your Care
We are a teaching practice affiliated with the Ryerson, McMaster and Laurentian Midwifery Education Programmes. Students will accompany midwives to all aspects of client care.
Parents’ Role and Responsibilities
We recognise the childbearing woman to be the primary decision maker with respect to her care. We encourage families to be active participants. In order for us to be effective caregivers, it is important that you keep us informed of situations that may affect your care and that you attend prenatal visits with us.
Client Records and Confidentiality
You may access your midwifery records at any time. If you go out of town we can give you a copy of your records. At your final postpartum visit, you may request a copy of your records to keep. We will retain the original in our files. We respect each client’s right to complete confidentiality. We do share information about our clients between all midwives at Kensington Midwives, as there is a possibility that any midwife at Kensington Midwives could be involved in your care.
Off-Call and Vacation Time
Midwives are off-call for safety reasons if they have been working for more than 24 hours, for family time and planned vacations. Your second (back-up) midwives will be responsible for your care when your primary midwives are off-call.
Appointments
Please ask your midwife if you need to call and confirm if your clinic appointment is on as scheduled, as some midwives are on-call during their scheduled clinic days. If you need to confirm or change an appointment please call the clinic administrator at (416)928-9777.
