Midwifery is an ancient art that encompasses well woman care during the childbearing year. A midwife’s goal is to empower clients by promoting choice throughout pregnancy, and by encouraging women to discover their own natural ways to give birth. A friendship is built that allows the midwife to draw on the woman’s individual strengths during labour. Midwives deliver babies both in the home or in the hospital depending on the client’s preference. The new mother-to-be is supported throughout labour and is therefore less likely to require medical interventions. Yet the benefits of modern medicine and technology are close at hand should the need arise for these advancements. During the postpartum period, midwives will come to your home or the hospital to ensure the new mom and babe are recovering well after the birth. The midwife will also help to establish successful breastfeeding practices and assist new families with newborn care. For up to six weeks the midwives continue to support this transition to parenthood, and assess the newborn for appropriate growth and development.
WHAT IS MIDWIFERY CARE?
Midwifery offers continuity of care. The same midwife/midwives will provide care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum period. They recognize birth to be a significant, yet normal, part of a woman’s life.
For me working with women during childbirth has felt like a calling — it’s where my heart lies. I truly support informed choice decisions. And, as a midwife, my goal is to help women feel empowered by their pregnancy and birth.
The following article provides basic guidelines for normal postpartum care of both mother and baby.
BELLIES TO BABIES CARES FOR EXPECTING MOTHERS ALL OVER VANCOUVER ISLAND, IN NORTH NANAIMO, PARKSVILLE, ERRINGTON, QUALICUM, AND PORT ALBERNI.
Hospital privileges at: Nanaimo Regional General | Hospital West Coast General Hospital
Birth Stories
Melissa’s Story, Hospital Birth
My husband and I came back home to Nanaimo from Winnipeg, MB about 2 months before my due date at the beginning of 2005. It was then that I found out that my old family doctor no longer did deliveries and I had to find…
When I became pregnant with our first child (in Ontario) we decided to go with midwifery care. I was immediately impressed with the quality of our prenatal visits – our visits were often at least 45 minutes long! I was wary…
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Bellies To Babies Midwifery Service #5A 1009 Allsbrook Road Parksville BC V0R1V0