Registered midwives are health professionals who provide primary care to women and their babies during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Midwives are fully responsible for clinical decisions and the management of care within their scope of practice. You do not need a referral to seek the services of a midwife.

Midwives provide the complete course of care for low-risk women, including physical examinations, screening and diagnostic tests, the assessment of risk and abnormal conditions, and the conduct of normal vaginal deliveries. Midwives work in collaboration with other health professionals and consult with or refer to medical specialists if necessary.

The midwifery model of care promotes normal birth, enables women to make informed choices, and provides continuity of care and support throughout the childbearing experience. Midwives respect the woman's choice of birthplace and can attend births in homes, birth centres, hospitals, or other appropriate locations.

Midwives base their approach on a respect for pregnancy and childbirth as normal physiological processes. They promote wellness in women, babies, and families, taking into consideration the social, emotional, cultural, and physical aspects of a woman's reproductive experience.

For more information, visit the Canadian Midwifery Regulators' Consortium What is a Canadian Registered Midwife?

A midwife attains a four-year university degree in midwifery before she can become registered and only persons who meet this qualification may use the title 'midwife'. Once registered, new midwives receive mentorship from experienced midwives and all midwives are required to remain current in emergency skills and must participate in continuing education opportunities. You can read about the experience of our midwives here.

There is a large body of evidence that supports midwifery care as a safe choice for healthy women. Data gathered from New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Holland, the US and Canada shows that midwives provide safe, high quality care. Midwifery clients express high degrees of satisfaction with their care and they experience lower rates of forceps application, vacuum extractions, cesarean section births, episiotomies, infections and babies born requiring resuscitation.

Continuity of care is where one person is the lead professional starting from the initial booking appointment, up to and including the early days of parenting. Generally, only midwives offer continuity of care and these midwives will also involve other care-providers if necessay. Midwife-led continuity of care increases women's chances of having a spontaneous vaginal birth. Importantly, this model of care also decreases risk of preterm birth, reduces use of epidural, and results in fewer episiotomies and instrumental deliveries.

Informed choice is a voluntary, well-considered decision that an individual makes on the basis of options, information, and understanding. The decision-making process should result in a voluntary and informed decision by the individual about whether she wishes to obtain certain health services and from whom she wishes to receive them.

Informed consent results from communication between a client and provider confirming that the client has made an informed and voluntary choice. Informed consent can only be obtained after the client has been given full information about the nature of the medical procedure, its associated risks and benefits, and other alternatives. True informed consent cannot be obtained by means of inducement, force, deceit, duress, bias, or other forms of coercion or misrepresentation. Informed client choice is a foundational tenet at JoySpring.

Expectant mothers may choose only one primary health care provider for the course of their pregnancy and birth. Midwives offer access to the same services a physician does, including laboratory and genetic testing, ultrasounds, referrals to specialists if necessary, and pain management suggestions for labour. If a medical referral becomes necessary during your pregnancy, labour, or birth, or if your baby requires care from a physician, your midwife will facilitate a consultation and/or transfer of care.

Midwives can order all standard pregnancy tests or routine investigations and can prescribe certain medications for mother or baby.

Midwives respect the woman's choice of birthplace and can attend births in homes, hospitals, birth centres, or other appropriate locations. Your midwife will help you decide which option is best for you.

A birth doula is a non-medical support person who offers education and guidance to women during the prenatal, birth, and immediate postpartum period. Some doulas offer extended care during the postpartum period, assisting with breastfeeding and the transition to parenthood. Whether you receive assistance from a trusted family member or from a doula, research has shown that the presence of a knowledgeable support person results in a more positive birth experience, aiding in overall success for those women seeking a natural birthing process.

We welcome you to visit our resources section for more information and answers.

JoySpring's distinct values and approach to care are the heartbeat of the clinic. Read about our distinctives here.

Take a look at our What to Expect page to get an outline of the basic course of care.

If concerns arise or complications develop during the course of care, an obstetrical or specialist referral with be arranged for you. Depending on the severity of the complication, a woman may be able to continue under the care of her midwife, or responsibility for care might be transferred. If transfer of care occurs, the midwife assumes a supportive and advocacy role.

Midwives respect the woman's choice of birthplace and can attend births in homes, hospitals, birth centres, or other appropriate locations. Your midwife will help you decide which option is best for you.

One important reason women choose midwifery care is because they believe in the normal process of birth, want to avoid unnecessary interventions, and wish to achieve as natural a birth as possible. Pain medications are significant interventions and their use must be considered very carefully. Midwives have broad knowledge about non-pharmaceutical pain relief methods and can also help in your decision-making process if pharmaceutical pain relief becomes advisable.

Midwives provide postpartum care to both mother and baby for six weeks after the birth. Clients will have about six midwifery appointments during the six weeks, starting with a visit within the first 24 hours after birth.

During postpartum visits, midwives monitor the health of mother and baby, provide breastfeeding support, and ensure the client is adjusting nicely in her transition to motherhood. The baby is monitored for weight gain and overall wellness. Postpartum care concludes at about 6 weeks, at which time mothers and babies are referred to their family physician or pediatrician.

Midwifery is covered under Alberta Health Services, but funding is limited and AHS restricts access to midwifery care. Midwives often have to turn families away due to these policies.

Government funding is not available for women who do not have an active Alberta Provincial Health Number (PHN). In this case, JoySpring offers privately paid midwifery services. Please contact our office for information on fees.

Alberta Health Services strictly limits public funding for midwifery care. Many women choose privately paid midwifery services as a valuable investment in their well-being, safety, and satisfaction. If you are interested in paying privately for midwifery care at JoySpring, please contact our office to discuss payment arrangements.

Research shows that midwifery-led continuity of care is key to achieving the best physical and emotional outcomes for mothers and babies. Engaging a midwife is the ideal way to receive continuity of care from a known and trusted care provider.

We made it super easy! Click here for a walk-through of how to apply through the Alberta Association of Midwives and JoySpring's clinic intake form.

On the Provincial Waitlist, you are encouraged to list up to two preferred midwifery clinics.

Whenever possible, we book women with their preferred midwife. When your preferred midwife does not have openings for your due date, our office staff will assign you to one of our other midwives unless you wish to seek care elsewhere. Sometimes our bookings are entirely full and we will not be able to accept you into care. In this case, you will be placed on a waiting list and notified if openings arise.

Some of our midwives offer pre-pregnancy consultations, but you will not be booked into care at this time and such an appointment does not guarantee a placement once you are pregnant. We encourage you to become informed on childbearing options prior to conception and once you confirm your pregnancy, please contact us as soon as possible if you know this model and approach are right for you and your baby.