Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Where does the term midwife come from?

  2. What is the scope of practice of a midwife?

  3. How will midwives fit into the current system?

  4. Who registers midwives?

  5. What happens when a midwife client develops complications?

  6. What evidence is there that midwifery practice is safe? Where would I get more information about midwifery?

  7. What can we as health professionals do to help with the integration of Registered Midwives into practice in the Northwest Territories?

  8. Will women still be able to deliver their babies with a doctor?

  9. Do midwives provide choice of birthplace, including home births?

  10. Is midwifery service funded?

  11. How many clients can a midwife care for?

  12. How many births are there per year in the NWT?

  13. How many registered midwives will work in the NWT?

  14. Will registered midwives replace doctors?

  1. Where does the term midwife come from?  

    The term midwife comes from the Old English and means “with woman”. It has historically been used to describe a woman who helps other women in childbirth. It was first recorded in 1300. However, the earliest biblical accounts confirm the role of midwives in the birthing process, as do oral traditions in aboriginal societies.

  1. What is the scope of practice of a midwife?

    The Midwives Model of Care is based on the premise that pregnancy and birth are normal processes. The Scope of Practice, based on this model, includes: 

    • Monitoring the physical, psychological, and social well-being of the mother through the childbearing cycle.

    • Providing the mother with individualized education, counselling and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum care and support.

    • Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention.

    • Examining and caring for newborn infants in the immediate postpartum, which is up to 6 weeks of age.

    • Taking emergency measures as needed.

    • Performing, ordering, receiving the results of, and interpreting screening and diagnostic tests according to the Midwifery Act. This includes ordering obstetrical ultrasounds.

    • Performing surgical and invasive procedures as described in the midwifery practice framework – including episiotomies, repair of episiotomies and tears not involving the anal sphincter, amniotomies, application of fetal scalp electrodes. 

    • Prescribing and administering drugs in accordance with the Regulations in the Pharmacy Act and Midwifery Profession Act including access to contraception.

  1. How will midwives fit into the current system?

    Midwives are primary care providers within a multidisciplinary team. In a normal pregnancy, a midwife can provide all of the care the woman and baby need. In pregnancies with complications, midwives will work with doctors and other professionals to provide care. 

  1. Who registers midwives?

    Midwives are registered the same way as physicians and dentists; there is a licensing authority through the GNWT.

  1. What happens when a midwife client develops complications?

    The midwife would consult with the physician, and a decision would be made as to the appropriate management of the condition. It may result in a transfer of care of the client to the appropriate caregiver on the maternal care team. As is the case throughout the NWT, the emergent situation may dictate medevacing the client to a secondary or tertiary care facility. 

  1. What evidence is there that midwifery practice is safe? Where would I get more information about midwifery?

    Websites: 

  1. What can we as health professionals do to help with the integration of Registered Midwives into practice in the Northwest Territories?

    You can actively participate in presentations and in-services that address the integration of Registered Midwives into the health care system and into the maternal care teams. You can support the new members of the team by collaborating your together.

  1. Will women still be able to deliver their babies with a doctor?

    Yes. Women have options. Women can still choose to have their babies with a physician in settings where this service is provided. In this situation, the physician can provide all the of the prenatal care and assist the woman to deliver her baby. When a woman chooses a registered midwife as her primary caregiver, the registered midwife provides all the prenatal care and postnatal care and is the primary attendant present at the birth.

  1. Do midwives provide choice of birthplace, including home births?

    The woman will choose what is most appropriate and safe for her own situation, in consultation with her midwife and other members of the maternity care team. Some women will continue to travel to nearby communities to have their babies.

  1. Is midwifery service funded?

    Yes. Registered midwives will be employees of the Health and Social Services Authorities.

  1. How many clients can a midwife care for?

    Registered midwives may provide between 30 and 40 full courses of care annually. Their workload may also involve additional health promotion and health education activities. Particularly in rural and remote settings, the caseload has many other considerations in addition to birth numbers.

  1. How many births are there per year in the NWT?

    Between 1996 and 2000, there were an average of 709 births every year. 

  1. How many registered midwives will work in the NWT?

    Initially the number of registered midwives will be small. The number of registered midwives employed would depend on many factors. It would depend on the number of clients who wish to use a midwifery service. The number of positions for registered midwives has not yet been determined by the HSS Authorities.

  1. Will registered midwives replace doctors?

    No. Registered midwives will provide increased access to quality health care in the communities.

 

Last Updated: April 04, 2008

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