ABOUT MIDWIFERY
PHILOSOPHY OF CARE
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Midwifery care is based on the understanding that childbearing is a healthy progression through the life cycle. Midwives uphold pregnancy and childbirth as a state of health that is a normal physiological process, and a profound event in a person’s life.
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The key philosophies of midwifery are continuity of care, informed choice, choice of birth setting and collaboration with other health professionals.
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Continuity of care is a philosophy and a process that enables midwives to develop a relationship with clients and provide safe, personalized care.
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Midwives recognize pregnant women as the primary decision maker, while promoting shared responsibility between their family and other professionals involved in their care.
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Midwives encourage informed choice by providing complete, relevant and objective information throughout the childbearing cycle in a supportive manner. This enables clients to develop understanding, responsibility and control over their own health and that of their newborn.
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Midwives’ competency and willingness to attend a person in their choice of birthplace is essential to midwifery care. All people, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances, have a right to accessible, comprehensive midwifery care.
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Fundamental to midwifery care is the respect and support provided to each individual so that they may give birth safely with power and dignity.
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MODEL OF CARE
In British Columbia, midwifery is a publicly funded service. Anyone with a valid Carecard or BC Services Card can receive midwifery care at no personal cost.
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The midwifery model of practice as developed in BC is autonomous, community-based primary care, incorporating the principles of continuity of care, client informed choice, choice of birth setting, collaborative care, accountability and evidence-based practice.
COMMUNITY-BASED PRIMARY CARE
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A primary caregiver functions under their own responsibility, and is usually the first point of entry to health services.
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As community-based health professionals, midwives offer services in clinics, offices or client’s homes. They most often work in small groups which enables them to share call while providing 24-hour availability to their clients throughout the childbearing cycle.
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CONTINUITY OF CARE
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Continuity of care is both a philosophy and a process. It allows a relationship to develop over time between clients and their midwife or midwives, with the purpose of providing safe, individualized care.
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Achieving continuity of care in group practices is coordinated through clearly documented protocols, ensuring that current information on each client is available to the on-call midwife. These protocols are guided by the College of Midwives of BC, the regulatory body that standardizes the BC midwifery model of practice.
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INFORMED CHOICE
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Midwives respect the right of their clients to make informed choices by providing objective information in a supportive manner.
By allowing adequate time for discussion during pregnancy, midwives can facilitate the ongoing exchange of current, evidence-based knowledge that is relevant to a client’s unique needs.
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CHOICE OF BIRTH SETTING
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The right of a person to make an informed choice about the setting for birth is a principle deeply respected by midwives.
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Whether at home or in hospital, every birth will be attended by a minimum of two qualified caregivers. All registered midwives hold hospital privileges in order to admit and discharge their clients as needed.
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COLLABORATIVE CARE
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To ensure the best possible care for clients, midwives co-operate and consult with other health professionals in the provision of care. As a primary caregiver, midwives provide education, counselling and advocacy to support their clients’ individual needs.
More information on the Midwifery Model of Practice can be found on the CMBC website.
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(Excerpted from the Midwives' Association of British Columbia)
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More questions? Click to read some Frequently Asked Questions.
