As an alternative to traditional medical care or in collaboration with physicians, many women use midwives throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. Traditional medical care during pregnancy can feel sterile and unwelcoming. Ontario Midwives offer extra support to women who desire patient-centered, personal, more natural birth experiences.
How Do Midwives Help Me Through Pregnancy?
As a professional in uncomplicated OBGYN care, midwives act as healthcare providers trained to give prenatal and obstetric care. Midwives are highly trained professionals who provide support during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and beyond. Midwives value holistic healthcare, natural approaches to pregnancy and childbirth, and minimal-intervention births. Women often choose a midwife if they want an unmedicated or home delivery.
Ontario midwives work collaboratively with physicians to ensure patients get the best possible care. Midwives are recommended for low-risk pregnancies where specialty care is not needed.
During pregnancy, midwives perform services such as:
Conducting routine prenatal appointments and pregnancy monitoring
Ultrasounds and order prenatal blood work
Supporting the mother during labor
Assisting with newborn care
Educating women on pregnancy nutrition and lactation
Conduct Pap smears and breast exams
Assisting women in hospitals, clinics, birth centers, and patients’ homes
Midwives can reduce the chance of induction or assisted delivery, a cesarean birth, epidurals or pain medication, perineal tears, and give patients more control during labor and delivery.
Who Are Some Great Midwives in Ontario?
Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo, Ontario Midwives
Providing care for families since 2013, Born Midwives is a team of Ontario midwives who care for families in the Cambridge area and offer support through every step of a patient’s pregnancy and postpartum journey.
Cambridge Midwives provide care for women through pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the first six weeks postpartum. Operating since 2000, Cambridge Midwives have assisted over 8,000 families with home births and hospital births.
The team of 5 Ontario midwives at Genesis Midwives is committed to helping every woman in their journey to motherhood.
Blue Heron Midwives is a team of midwives dedicated to providing compassionate care, especially for women who are new to the area or have no family doctor.
St. Jacobs Midwives is one of the longest-established practices in Ontario, allowing women to work with a team of 2-3 midwives throughout their pregnancy and postpartum.
This eight-person Ontario midwifery team helps women with prenatal, labor, postpartum, and newborn care.
Guelph Midwives
Open since 1996, Guelph Midwives is a nine-person team that offers personalized, professional, evidence-based care.
The Ontario midwifery team at Family Midwifery Care values informative, educational, and friendly care for families so they can have the best possible pregnancy and birth experience.
Mississauga Midwives
Midwives of Mississauga offers clinic and in-home care to support and normalize the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience.
This practice specializes in care for those in difficult life situations, such as immigrants, refugees, victims of abuse, teens, and other challenging situations.
Milton Midwives
With years of experience, the Ontario midwives at Hawthorne Midwives aim to make quality care accessible to women of all backgrounds in a culturally-sensitive environment.
This midwifery group offers clinic and in-home care, supporting women through the prenatal, delivery, and postpartum periods.
Toronto Midwives
Operating since 1983, the Midwives Collective of Toronto attends home births, the Toronto Birth Center, and childbirth at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
These Ontario midwives offer a welcoming, cozy clinic where patients can access safe, personalized, research-based care.
This midwifery clinic strives to be a place of healing where the culture of the land its patients come from is respected.
Ontario Midwives
Using a midwife during pregnancy and postpartum offers women and families an excellent alternative to traditional care. Ontario midwives like the ones above come alongside women throughout pregnancy, labor and delivery, and beyond to offer an exceptional level of support that will make the birthing experience powerful and successful.
For more Ontario motherhood content, click on the blog links below! While you’re here, check out more of my Cambridge maternity and newborn photography portfolio, and let’s chat about capturing your motherhood journey.