Choosing a Midwife: What you Need to Know!

Are you thinking of getting a midwife for your pregnancy?In North America most babies enter the world at the hand of a doctor, but midwives are growing in popularity over the years. We're here to help start the process of choosing your midwife.

What is a midwife?

A midwife is someone who provides primary care throughout your pregnancy, birth and post partum care. Midwives may also offer primary care for women – helping with reproductive health, gynecological exams, family planning and menopausal care.  

Where can I find a midwife?

Find the perfect midwife for your needs can be difficult. Ask your friends or physician for some recommendations. They might know someone or where to find someone. If you still haven’t found any luck – check out the colleges in your area that teach midwifery. They should be able to give you valuable information on midwives in the area. Organizations like Healthy Mothers are also a valuable source of info.

When Should I Contact A Midwife?

You should look for a midwife as soon as you find out your pregnant. Choosing one takes time and patience and may require more than one interview. In some cases there may be waiting lists, so finding one sooner rather than later in your pregnancy is very much recommended.

How do I interview a midwife?

Interviewing your midwife shouldn’t be stressful. Take some time before the interview to come up with a list of questions for the midwife that pertain to your lifestyle. Think about what you want your midwife’s role to be during your pregnancy. Create questions revolving around these expectations and their experience.

Some sample questions could be:

1. Are you licensed and accredited?
2. How many births have you attended to?
3. Do you work in collaboration with a doctor?
4. I see your role as x,y,x in my pregnancy – can you accommodate this?
5. Do you have hospital privileges?
6. What are your fees? Do you accept insurance?
7. What are your goals for prenatal care? Post partum care?
8. How do you monitor the baby during pregnancy?
9. What if there are complications?
10. Do you have any recommendations for pain management during my pregnancy?

Would you hire a midwife? Have you used one before? Tell us about it in the comments below!