Congratulations on your Pregnancy!
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We are dedicated and experienced family physicians who are passionate about providing high-quality maternity care. You can be referred to us at any time in your pregnancy. We attend births at LHSC-Victoria Campus hospital.
In addition to providing quality prenatal care (including blood tests, prenatal screening, ultrasounds, regularly scheduled visits, and coordinating care with specialists if needed), we will strive to answer all of your questions and to help you make important decisions about your pregnancy care and the birth of your child. We provide personalized, compassionate, and professional prenatal care throughout your pregnancy, birth, and in the 6-week post-partum period. After this, we will make sure everything is in place for you to have ongoing care with your regular family physician. Your prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum care are paid for by your OHIP coverage. A physician will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for patients in labour and for any urgent obstetrical problems. We look forward to caring for you during this exciting and important time in your life! |
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Please ask your family doctor or a walk-in clinic for a referral to us. Click here to download our referral form If you are having trouble getting a referral, please call us. Your first appointment will usually be within 4 weeks. Please note that we only accept new patients for maternity care. We care for patients with low-risk pregnancies. If you've already had two or more C-sections, or if you're expecting twins (or more!), then please ask your family doctor for a referral to an obstetrician. |
Choosing a Care Provider: Midwife, Obstetrician, or Family Doctor?
In Ontario, there are three types of maternity care providers: obstetricians, family physicians, and midwives. All are funded under OHIP. So, which one is right for you?
Obstetricians
Obstetricians are trained medical doctors whose training includes a 3- or 4-year undergraduate degree, a 3- or 4-year medical degree, a 5-year obstetrics residency, and often a 1-2 year postgraduate fellowship in an area of subspecialty. They are fully trained to provide obstetrical care to both low- and high-risk pregnant women in their clinics and in the hospital setting. They can perform C-sections. They attend births at the hospital only. They will provide clinic-based post-partum care up to 6 weeks after birth. They usually do not provide care to the baby in the hospital or in the community (instead, this is often done by the family physician or pediatrician). Obstetricians are highly skilled specialists and are the most appropriate choice of care provider for women with high-risk pregnancies.
Midwives
A midwife's training involves a four-year undergraduate university training program, which they can begin after graduation from high school. A midwife is able to provide care to low-risk pregnant women at home, the hospital, and in clinic. They will also attend to the newborn for the first 6 weeks after birth. They are able to order some diagnostic tests and medications that fall within their scope of practice. They are able to collaborate with family physicians, obstetricians, anesthesiologists, and pediatricians to discuss or transfer care when issues arise that are beyond their scope of practice. Midwives are the only obstetrical care providers who are insured to attend home births.
Family Doctors
Family doctors fall somewhere in between midwives and obstetricians. Like obstetricians, family doctors have completed an undergraduate degree, a medical degree, a residency, and often further fellowship training in obstetrics. Like midwives, we attend to low-risk deliveries but have a broader scope of practice, meaning that there are situations where a midwife would have to consult an obstetrician, where a family doctor would not. Family physicians are also able to collaborate and consult with anesthesiologists, obstetricians, and pediatricians as needed. We are able to order a full range of medications and diagnostic tests.
Family doctors have the expertise to provide more than just pregnancy care. Because we treat the woman both in and outside of pregnancy, we have a strong understanding of the family, social, environmental, emotional, and medical environment our patients come from. Our scope of practice involves a general understanding of all aspects of health, in all the body’s systems, so if other complications arise in pregnancy related to another part of the body, we are often able to manage it and assess how it could affect the pregnancy.
Even before the pregnancy begins, a family physician may have already established the trusting relationship that many women find important. Family doctors are able to provide prenatal care as soon as you find out you are pregnant! Family physicians are also able to provide continuity of care beyond the 6-week postpartum period, to both mom and baby, through all ages and stages of their lives. Many of us are even lucky enough to deliver multiple generations of babies from families in our practice. With every new arrival, we take great joy in getting to know the new family member and watch them grow.
A family physician should take the time to build a trusting relationship, address your concerns, and answer your questions every step of the way. We want you to take an active role in your pregnancy care. Studies have shown that pregnant women under the care of family physicians have low rates of interventions (forceps, C-section, episiotomy) during labour and delivery.
Not all family physicians practice in obstetrics, but for those of us who do, it is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work!
Family doctors have the expertise to provide more than just pregnancy care. Because we treat the woman both in and outside of pregnancy, we have a strong understanding of the family, social, environmental, emotional, and medical environment our patients come from. Our scope of practice involves a general understanding of all aspects of health, in all the body’s systems, so if other complications arise in pregnancy related to another part of the body, we are often able to manage it and assess how it could affect the pregnancy.
Even before the pregnancy begins, a family physician may have already established the trusting relationship that many women find important. Family doctors are able to provide prenatal care as soon as you find out you are pregnant! Family physicians are also able to provide continuity of care beyond the 6-week postpartum period, to both mom and baby, through all ages and stages of their lives. Many of us are even lucky enough to deliver multiple generations of babies from families in our practice. With every new arrival, we take great joy in getting to know the new family member and watch them grow.
A family physician should take the time to build a trusting relationship, address your concerns, and answer your questions every step of the way. We want you to take an active role in your pregnancy care. Studies have shown that pregnant women under the care of family physicians have low rates of interventions (forceps, C-section, episiotomy) during labour and delivery.
Not all family physicians practice in obstetrics, but for those of us who do, it is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work!
It's Your Choice
Take the time early on in your pregnancy to learn about and decide upon which type of maternity care provider will best suit your needs. This can help you to have a safe and satisfying birth experience! If you want to meet with one of us to discuss your options, just call to arrange an appointment.
