Victoria Midwifery Care - Deanna Wildeman, Registered Midwife

What is a Midwife?

Definition of a Midwife:

"A midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational programme duly recognized in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practise midwifery.

The midwife must be able to give the necessary supervision, care and advice to women prior to and during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, to conduct deliveries on her own responsibility and to care for the newborn infant.

This care includes preventative measures, the detection of complications in the mother and child, the procurement of medical assistance when necessary and the execution of emergency measures in the absence of medical help. She has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the patients but also within the family and the community. The work should involve pre-conceptual and antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and extends to certain areas of gynaecology, family planning and child care. She may practise in hospitals, clinics, health units, domiciliary conditions or in any other service."

This International definition is supported by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO), and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Midwives are trained health care professionals who provide comprehensive and supportive care during pregnancy, labour, birth and for six weeks postpartum to healthy women and their newborns. Registered Midwives in British Columbia work within the standards and guidelines of the College of Midwives of British Columbia (CMBC). Midwifery has been regulated in British Columbia since 1998.

Midwives honour the birth process as a unique, yet normal physiological event, requiring physical, emotional and social adaptation on the part of the woman and her family. Although midwives provide care to low risk women, occasionally issues arise that fall outside the midwifery scope of practice. The midwife is skilled in careful monitoring to detect abnormalities in pregnancy and birth and consults/refers to specialists as necessary. If transfer to specialist care is necessary, the midwife can remain in a supportive role.

Healthy women can choose midwifery or physician care for their pregnancy and birth. Registered midwives can order routine laboratory tests (e.g. blood work and ultrasound scans).

Registered midwives attend birth in a variety of settings (hospital and home) and are funded by the BC Ministry of Health. If you have BC Health Care, there is no cost to you for midwifery services.

The principles which guide midwifery care include:

Birth as a normal, yet profound, event
Informed choice - woman as the primary decision maker
Time spent with women to provide information, counselling and educational resources
Continuity of care - the midwife attending the birth has provided prenatal care and is known to the woman
Choice of birth site - home or hospital
Appropriate use of technology

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