Reprinted with permission from the Midwives of Muskoka - Please note: We are NOT the Midwives of Muskoka!
Birth Setting
Ontario midwives attend women in their choice of birthplace. It is important that women receive accurate information about the risks and benefits of birthplace for low-risk pregnancy and labour in order to make an informed choice about place of birth.
It is well documented in the scientific literature that for healthy women with low-risk pregnancies, home can be a safe place to birth. If you choose home birth, Midwives of Muskoka will bring all the necessary equipment to your home to respond to any unexpected emergencies, including oxygen for mother and baby, resuscitation equipment for the newborn and intravenous supplies and medications for treatment of hemorrhage. The fetal heart rate is monitored frequently in active labour with a portable hand-held Doppler. In the event of complications arising, transport to hospital takes place in a straightforward manner as all planned homebirths are pre-registered with the local ambulance service. After the birth of your baby, your midwife will stay at your home for approximately 3 to 4 hours postpartum to ensure you and your baby are stable, and she will return within 24 hours of the birth to check on you and your baby. She will also, as always, be on-call for you should you need her sooner.
Midwives can attend births at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. For women choosing hospital birth, they can still elect to be initially assessed at home in early labour, and spend time at home with their midwife in attendance until labour is firmly established and more advanced. After delivering in the hospital, midwifery clients have the option of being discharged home as early as 3 hours postpartum, or staying in the hospital’s postpartum ward for up to 60 hours after the birth.
It is well documented in the scientific literature that for healthy women with low-risk pregnancies, home can be a safe place to birth. If you choose home birth, Midwives of Muskoka will bring all the necessary equipment to your home to respond to any unexpected emergencies, including oxygen for mother and baby, resuscitation equipment for the newborn and intravenous supplies and medications for treatment of hemorrhage. The fetal heart rate is monitored frequently in active labour with a portable hand-held Doppler. In the event of complications arising, transport to hospital takes place in a straightforward manner as all planned homebirths are pre-registered with the local ambulance service. After the birth of your baby, your midwife will stay at your home for approximately 3 to 4 hours postpartum to ensure you and your baby are stable, and she will return within 24 hours of the birth to check on you and your baby. She will also, as always, be on-call for you should you need her sooner.
Midwives can attend births at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital. For women choosing hospital birth, they can still elect to be initially assessed at home in early labour, and spend time at home with their midwife in attendance until labour is firmly established and more advanced. After delivering in the hospital, midwifery clients have the option of being discharged home as early as 3 hours postpartum, or staying in the hospital’s postpartum ward for up to 60 hours after the birth.
