International Day of the Midwife

International Day of the Midwife is celebrated each year on May 5th. This is an opportunity for midwives, clients, colleagues and the public at large to celebrate the midwifery profession and to acknowledge the significant contributions that midwives make to the health of childbearing people and their newborns. Midwives provide comprehensive care during pregnancy, childbirth and the postpartum period, offering support, education, and clinical expertise to their clients. 

Did you know that at QCH we have a team of twelve skilled midwives who hold privileges with the Childbirth Program? Ottawa Valley Midwives has been a part of QCH since the birth unit opened in 1999! They have two clinic locations with teams working out of Bells Corners and Carleton Place. Both teams work closely together to offer services at Queensway Carleton and Almonte General Hospitals, as well as in clients’ homes from Manotick to Carp and Lanark County to Renfrew!

As an integral part of the QCH team, midwives are privileged to their full scope of practice, which means management of low-risk birth including the use of epidurals and oxytocin. They have a special focus on normal childbearing, but are also skilled in clinical assessment, managing complications, and responding to emergencies. Recent expansion to the midwifery drug list has resulted in fewer consultations and greater cost savings to the health care system. Every midwife-attended birth at our hospital supports the Childbirth Program and connects QCH to the community! 

Thank you for supporting our hard-working midwives!