Midwifery Services When a woman becomes a client, she will be given a pager number to reach the midwives for urgent concerns. Midwives are available to clients 24 hours every day.
Prenatal Care Women are seen by a small group of midwives throughout pregnancy. Midwives will check the mother’s blood pressure, urine, and weight as well as the baby’s heartrate, position and growth. Appointments are 30 to 45 minutes long to explain normal changes in pregnancy, tests and results and to answer any questions. The usual schedule is as follows: · Every 4 weeks until 28 weeks · Every 2 weeks from 28-36 weeks · Every week from 36 weeks until the birth
Midwives offer all the same routine prenatal tests as doctors do. Women can bring anyone they want to appointments. Most lab tests can be done in our clinic. Ultrasounds are done at separate labs. Midwives are expert healthcare providers for normal, low risk pregnancies. If a client becomes higher risk, her midwife will consult with a physician -- usually an obstetrician. In some cases, care may have to be transferred to the doctor.
Labour and Birth When a client is in labour, the midwife will meet her at home or in hospital and stay with her until the baby is born. The midwife will monitor the baby’s heart rate as well as the woman’s labour pattern, progress, and well-being. She will help the woman cope with contractions, explain what is happening, and answer any questions. As the labour progresses, the midwife will call in a second midwife to help. Both will stay until the baby is born and both mother and baby are doing well. Midwives are expert healthcare providers for normal, low risk deliveries. If a labour or birth becomes higher risk, the midwife will consult with a physician -- usually an obstetrician. In some cases, care may have to be transferred to the doctor. Immediate Post-partum Care After the baby is born, the midwife will do a baby exam, give routine medications, perform any necessary tests, help with breastfeeding and make sure the mother is recovering well. At a home birth, the midwife will stay for 2-4 hours. After an uncomplicated hospital birth, mother and baby can go home 2-4 hours later. If there are any concerns in the first few hours, both can stay in hospital for 24 hours and will be taken care of by hospital nursing staff. The midwife remains on call for questions or concerns, and visits again, at home or in hospital, within 24 hours. Midwives are expert healthcare providers for healthy women and their babies. If a problem occurs after the baby is born, the midwife will consult with a physician -- an obstetrician for the woman or a pediatrician for the baby. In some cases, care may have to be transferred to the doctor. Ongoing Post-partum Care During the first two weeks after the baby is born, the midwife will do check-ups in the home every few days, or more often if needed. Mum and baby usually visit the clinic again when the baby is 4 weeks and 6 weeks old. Care for mum and baby then returns to the East Mississauga Community Health Centre or to the family’s regular healthcare provider.
East Mississauga Midwives (formerly The Midwife Clinic) 2555 Dixie Road, Unit 8 Mississauga, Ontario, L4Y 4C4 Phone: (905)232-5455 Fax: 1-866-474-3720 E-mail: info@themidwifeclinic.ca
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