About Midwifery Care

Midwifery is safe
Midwifery has been shown to provide safe care for uncomplicated births. Midwives provide informed choices in pregnancy and birth including a choice of birth-place.
Midwifery provides comprehensive primary health care services
Midwives offer community-based care throughout pregnancy, labour and birth and for six weeks following birth. This includes well-women gynaecological and maternity care; pre- and post-natal education and counselling; parenting and breastfeeding education and care of the newborn.
Midwives are specialists in the care of healthy women and normal childbirth
"As experts in normal pregnancy and birth, midwives offer an expertise that doctors, whose medical training is disease orientated, do not."
- Dr. Murray Enkin
Retired obstetrician and professor
McMaster University
Midwives practice as part of a health care team
As primary health care providers, midwives practice collaboratively and consult with other health care professionals when necessary to ensure the best possible care for their clients.
Midwifery is cost effective
By improving birth outcomes, reducing the number of premature and low birth-weight babies and reducing the number of medical interventions in childbirth, midwifery is cost effective in both the long and short term.
Midwifery care is flexible
Midwifery services can be provided in a variety of settings, including hospitals, birth centres and homes.
Midwives offer ongoing support to mothers, babies and families
Midwives provide continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth and the post-natal period.
Midwives work in rural and remote communities
Although currently all midwives are health region employees, in the future we expect to have midwives providing services in rural Saskatchewan. Independent midwives will bill women for services provided.
Midwifery is family centred
Midwives welcome the participation of family members in the child-bearing process. Midwifery care respects cultural diversity.
More families would like the opportunity to choose midwifery care
Across Canada the demand for midwifery care exceeds the number of midwives available to practice.