During pregnancy, a qualified midwife will:
- Ask the client about their health history, family health history and any previous pregnancies, and discuss whether any special care is needed during this pregnancy.
- Review the client’s prenatal records, which commonly include routine prenatal lab work (blood type & Rh factor, hemoglobin/hematocrit, rubella status and infectious disease screening), pelvic exam, gynecological cultures, and urinalysis, and determine with the client whether any special care is needed based on these records.
- Discuss the client’s wishes for care and provide individualized care according to the client’s needs and desires.
- Provide education on nutrition, fetal development, exercise and healthy lifestyle choices.
- Provide a regular schedule of prenatal visits, which includes monitoring blood pressure, urinalysis, and growth and position of baby, to ensure that the pregnancy is healthy and normal.
- Provide information about additional testing available during pregnancy, such as quadruple screen, ultrasound scan, glucose tolerance testing & group B streptococcus cultures, and assist the client in obtaining these tests if needed or desired.
- Refer the client for advanced medical care if signs of complications develop.
During labor and birth, a qualified midwife will:
- Monitor the health of the birthing person and baby during labor.
- Monitor and facilitate labor progress.
- Refer for medical care if signs of a complication develop and remain with the client for support.
- Provide stabilizing care including neonatal resuscitation if necessary in an emergency while awaiting advanced medical care.
After the birth, a qualified midwife will:
- Monitor the birthing person’s recovery during the first six weeks after birth.
- Monitor the baby’s growth and development until well-baby care has been established or until six weeks after birth.
- Provide information and support about lactation and infant care.
- Refer for advanced medical care if signs of complications develop during the post-birth or newborn period.
