Cambridge Midwives

Complete Pregnancy and Birth Care

About Us

We opened our doors in  January of 2000. Prior to this time Cambridge women who desired midwifery care were required to travel to Kitchener or Guelph. Our catchment area encompasses a radius of approximately a one hour drive from the city of Cambridge. Pre and Postpartum visits at home are provided within the entire catchment area. The following is intended to provide you with information on our practice and the services we provide.

 

Model of Care

The Midwifery Model of care is a practice group of at least 2-4 midwives.  Two Midwives attend each birth.  This model of two midwives at births is unique in Ontario.  It is based on the principle of one midwife to care for the mother (The Primary Midwife) and one for the baby (The Second Midwife).  In this practice we use the shared care model in which one coordinating Midwife is assigned to each client alone with two backup Midwives.  The client will also meet the other Midwives during her course of care.

 

Midwifery Students

We are a teaching practice incorporating a midwifery student from the Midwifery Education Programme during periods of three months. The student is involved in all aspects of midwifery care - prenatal, intrapartum and postpartum. We enjoy very much the presence of a student with fresh points of view, enthusiasm, energy, eagerness to learn and dedication to contributing to our client's experiences.
We hope that you will consider yourselves very vital in the teaching of a student. Your willingness to open your care and experiences creates opportunities for the future as we train the next midwives to serve Ontario women. You are contributing in a very real way to the possibility of other women having the chance to experience midwifery care for their pregnancies as well.

 

Client Records

We keep all your original records in a secure manner for 28 years following your baby’s birth as required by law. These are available to you at any time.  You will be given a copy of your records at your discharge visit.  These records are confidential and are seen only by your Midwives and students involved in your care.  We are required to maintain statistics of our practice.  They are collected for research purposes but do not reveal your identity.  In the hospital, standard record forms are kept in the medical records department.

 

Privacy Policy

We have a strong commitment to privacy.  Protecting your privacy and the confidentiality of your personal information has always been an important aspect of the Cambridge Midwives operations.  As a provider of midwifery services, the collection and use of clients’ personal information is fundamental to our day-to-day operations.  In fact, it might even be said that any midwifery Practice Group’s most important asset is its information.
We strive to provide you with the best midwifery service.  To us, that includes treating your personal information fairly and with respect.  Each employee and representative must abide by our commitment to privacy in the handling of personal information.  This Practice Group is also concerned about the personal information of its employees and representatives.  Please read on for the full Privacy Policy.

 

Prenatal Visits

Visits should begin as early as possible in pregnancy. We will see you on a regular basis, every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then weekly until labour begins. We also plan one home visit late in your pregnancy. During your visits, besides the physical monitoring of your pregnancy, we will have plenty of time for discussions about emotional adjustments, education on many issues, and getting to know and trust each other.
Your partner, children, friends and family members are welcome at any time you wish to include them in your care. Between visits, we are on call to you 24 hours a day for emergencies. Any medical care you require beyond the scope of our practice will be provided by your family physician. We normally send a letter to her/him when you come into midwifery care and follow-up with another after your discharge visit, usually six weeks following the birth.

 

Prenatal and Breastfeeding Classes

Information on prenatal classes can be found at Mother Me Well, Connestoga College, and Tummies to Toes

 

For breastfeeding classes, please call Cambridge Memorial Hospital at (519) 621-2330 Ext 4355 to book. These classes will be held on Tuesdays at 7pm at Two Rivers Health Centre. The class is free, and parking is also free.

There is also the La Leche League Canada breastfeeding support group.

 

Labour and Birth

Midwifery care includes monitoring the clinical progress of labour, supporting the well-being of both mother and baby in the birth and third stage, screening for problems and addressing them, discussing options with your suturing the perineum if necessary, performing the newborn exam and taking emergency action should that be necessary. Our role is to provide care in normal circumstances, to recognize developments outside the norm and to take appropriate measures. In emergencies, which are rare, we depend on the basis of trust we have developed over time to allow us to work together quickly, where lengthy informed choice discussions might be impossible and inappropriate

 

Birth Setting

Cambridge Midwives attend births in home and hospital and have admitting privileges at Cambridge Memorial Hospital. 

At Home:  It is well recognized that for healthy women with low risk pregnancies home can be a safe place for birth. Cambridge Midwives will bring equipment to your home to respond to unexpected emergencies. This includes oxygen for mother and baby, resuscitation equipment for the newborn, intravenous supplies and medications for the treatment of hemorrhage. The fetal heart rate is monitored frequently in active labour with a portable hand-held doptone. In the event a home birth has been planned, and complications arise, transport to a hospital takes place in a straightforward manner. The midwife will stay at your home for 3-4 hours postpartum to ensure mother and baby are stable, and will return later that day to check on you both.

At the Hospital:  If you choose to have a hospital birth, we can attend and monitor you and monitor you at your home and move to the hospital when labour is well established. All birthing rooms at Cambridge Memorial Hospital have showers and 2 of the rooms also include a Jacuzzi, tubs for labouring in (not for delivery). Women who deliver in hospital can choose to return home after 3 hours postpartum, or to stay in hospital for up to 60 hours (2 ½ days).
Click here for the Cambridge Memorial Hospital web site.

 

Postpartum Visits

We will be with you in the immediate postpartum time for 3 hours until we are assured that all is well with you and your baby. You will then continue to be visited on the first day before 24 hours, 3rd day, 5th day thereafter, then at 2 weeks and 4 weeks in clinic, and for the six week check-up and well baby exam. We continue to be on call to you 24 hours a day and extra visits are provided as needed.

 

 

 

To contact us:

Phone: 519-624-9708

Fax: 519-624-1493

E-mail: cmidwives@bellnet.ca