The midwifery philosophy is based on three main principles. Each one is described below:
Informed Choice
Midwives in Ontario recognize clients as primary decision-makers in their care. We believe that clients have the right to make choices about all areas of their care. Midwives will support clients in their decisions while providing all necessary relevant information in order for clients to make the right choice for them.
Continuity of Care
Midwives provide care from early pregnancy to six week postpartum. During this time, our clients will meet a team of 2-3 midwives alternatively during their prenatal visits in order to develop a relationship with every midwife assigned to their care. Since midwives are on-call 24h a day, this call schedule ensures that clients are very likely to know the midwife who will be at their birth and who will follow them for 6 weeks postpartum.
Choice of Birthplace
Midwives in Ontario are trained in both home and hospital births and will provide care for women during labor and birth in both settings. Gentle Beginnings offers home births within their catchment area as well as hospital births at the Cornwall Community Hospital and the Winchester District Memorial Hospital.
Research has shown that home births in Ontario with a well screened population of women are as safe as hospital births as long as they are attended by professionally trained midwives carrying emergency equipment.
Midwives support the use of non-medical pain relief at both home and hospital births (i.e. water immersion, position changes). We also offer medical pain relief in a hospital setting (narcotics, epidurals).