Midwifery Philosophy in Metrotown midwifery

Midwifery care perceives women as inherently healthy. Pregnancy is a state of health, and childbirth is a normal, physiologic event that is a profound event in a woman’s life. Midwifery is holistic by nature, combining an understanding of the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological, and physical aspects experienced by women during the childbearing cycle. Derived from both the arts and sciences, midwifery integrates knowledge that is based on research and experience. Midwifery promotes wellness in women, babies, and families both autonomously and in collaboration with other health professions.

Midwifery care takes place in partnership with women and is provided in a manner that is flexible, empowering, and supportive. Great importance is placed on the relationship with the pregnant woman who is recognized as the primary decision-maker and shared decision making is promoted between the woman, her family (as defined by the woman), and her caregivers. In order to strengthen this process and to provide opportunities for informed choice, midwifery practice includes continuity of care.

Midwifery actively encourages informed choice throughout the childbearing cycle by providing complete, relevant, objective information to facilitate decision-making. The practice of midwifery enables women to develop the understanding, skills, and motivation necessary to take responsibility for and control of their own health.

Midwives respect the woman’s right to choose both her caregiver and place of birth in accordance with the Standards of Practice of the College of Midwives. All women, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances, have a right to accessible, comprehensive midwifery care.

Fundamental to midwifery care is the understanding that a woman’s caregivers respect and support her so that she may give birth safely with power and dignity.

Midwifery Model of Care

In BC, midwives practice as autonomous health care practitioners (like family doctors). This means we can provide comprehensive maternity care to low-risk women 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 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 neighborhood. 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 healthcare providers, such as obstetricians, physicians, pediatricians, nurses, nutritionists, etc.

Informed decision-making is an integral part of your care with midwives. We support a shared-care model where midwives and women collaborate 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 healthcare decisions so that you can make the right decision for you and your family. We also use our expertise to support your decision-making process.

For more detailed information, please visit the College of Midwives of BC Website: http://cmbc.bc.ca/pdf.shtml?Registrants-Handbook-11-05-Midwifery-Model-of-Practice

Continuity of Care

Continuity of Care

As midwives, we recognize that building a relationship with women in our care is an important part of supporting their health and well-being.

At Metrotown Midwifery Care, has solo midwives and midwife call groups of up to four midwives.

In group-based midwifery, we ensure that you have appointments with each midwife on your team throughout your pregnancy so that you can build a relationship with your whole team. One of your midwives will be with you during your birth – and possibly more if your labor extends past a designated call-change time. Your postpartum home visits and clinic visits will be alternatives for the whole team.

In solo care, you have one midwife throughout your pregnancy and postpartum. She works with another solo midwife for supportive back-up (i.e., for the occasional weekend off-call); you will also get to meet her for one prenatal visit.

No matter the size of your team, one of your midwives is on-call for you 24/7 should you have any urgent concerns that cannot wait until your next clinic visit, and of course for when you are in labor.

Informed Choice

Informed Choice

Informed decision-making is an integral part of your care with midwives. We support a shared-care model where midwives and women collaborate to create decisions based on sharing information and understanding values in a respectful environment. We believe it is our job to provide you with current research information and our individual and collective healthcare experience about essential healthcare decisions so that you can make a decision that is right for you and your family.

This is one of the main reasons we have longer visits than the average healthcare provider. We book our visits to be 30-45 minutes  – so that we can learn about you and your family and ensure your and your baby’s health.

The decisions you will make throughout your maternity care include choices around screening tests, conventional procedures, and birth settings. We will inform you what the larger medical community standards of care are, what your chosen hospital policies are (if you plan a hospital birth), as well what our midwifery scope of care is (as defined by our College of Midwives of BC); at the same time, we recognize that people come from all walks of life, and the best care for their situation may vary. We offer you resources and dialogue to help you make decisions about your care in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. We believe, and the research shows us, that when you make decisions based on valid information in a supportive environment, ultimately, you make better decisions and feel more satisfied.