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Midwifery
With the establishment of a demonstration site for midwifery in Fredericton, New Brunswick families will now have access to another option for maternity care. As essential members of the healthcare team, midwives will work within various inter-professional teams to provide the best care possible.
Access to service
I would like to have midwifery services during my
pregnancy; how do I contact a midwife?
To reach the Midwifery office, please call (506) 452-5896.
How do I obtain midwifery care?
Most clients will self-refer to the midwifery program by
contacting the midwifery office directly. Physicians and nurse
practitioners can refer their patients to a
midwife.
When should I contact a midwife?
You can contact a midwife as soon as you know you are
pregnant.
When will I have my first prenatal visit?
Most midwives will want to see you for your first visit as soon as
you find out you are pregnant. The midwife will likely book long
introductory appointments to allow you a chance to learn about the
midwifery practice and decide if midwifery care is right for
you.
Where in New Brunswick will midwifery services be
available?
Midwifery services are currently available in Fredericton.
Learn more about midwives
What is a midwife?
In Canada, midwives are autonomous primary care providers who provide high quality prenatal, intrapartum, postpartum, and newborn care. A midwife can order routine tests and lab work and can prescribe certain medications. A midwife's scope of care includes guidelines on when to consult, when to do shared care or when to do a transfer of care to another health care provider.
From the World Health Organization: Midwifery encompasses care of women during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, as well as care of the newborn. It includes measures aimed at preventing health problems in pregnancy, the detection of abnormal conditions, the procurement of medical assistance when necessary, and the execution of emergency measures in the absence of medical help.
What qualifications does a midwife require?
A midwife has a four-year Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery degree. The program includes class components and clinical placements. Class subjects include sciences, pharmacology, normal childbirth, emergencies, and clinical skills. Placements are done with different midwifery practices, as well as with obstetricians, labour and delivery nurses and others healthcare practitioners.
Following graduation, the midwife writes the Canadian Midwifery Registration Exam. The first year of practice is known as the new registrant year and needs to be done in an established midwifery practice. Midwives have to remain up to date with current research and evidence. They need to regularly recertify in CPR-HCP, NRP and emergency skills courses, such as ALARM or ESW.
Home birth vs Hospital birth
Can midwives perform homebirths?
The choice of where the baby is born is a fundamental philosophy of midwifery care. In the Fredericton area, the options will be homebirth or a hospital birth at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital.
For a low-risk pregnancy, with a registered midwife who is part of the healthcare system, studies have shown that a planned homebirth is as safe as a planned hospital birth for both mothers and babies. At any birth, whether in a hospital or homebirth setting, it is the standard to have two trained care providers present.
Talk to your midwife about the best option for you.
Contact information
Fredericton Midwifery Centre
528 MacLaren Ave
Fredericton, NB E3A 3K7
Phone number: (506) 452-5896
Hours: Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.