True or false?
Midwifery care is paid for by parents
FALSE ! Midwifery care is part of the public health network. Its cost is fully covered by the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) plan, just as medical care would be
I cannot have an epidural if I give birth with a midwife
TRUE… AND FALSE! Midwives personalize birth preparations by taking into account the needs of their clients who are planning a natural birth. Midwives share their expertise and suggest ways to cope with labour pain. During the birth, if an epidural becomes necessary, it is possible to transfer care to a doctor. Respect for the experience, needs and rights of women is central to midwifery care
Doulas are midwives
FALSE ! Doulas prepare, equip and support couples at various stages of the childbearing year but cannot provide medical care
Midwives are highly trained and university educated
TRUE ! A 4.5-year university program is offered at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR). It involves over 2,300 hours of clinical placements in Birth Centres, hospitals, and the community.
Internationally trained midwives who wish to practice in Quebec may do so after completing a specialized certifi cate, which is also offered at UQTR
After a Caesarean birth, midwifery care is not possible for future pregnancies
FALSE ! A vaginal birth after Caesarean (VBAC) is possible under the care of midwives since it is part of their scope of practice. Midwives discuss a client’s needs and options and what factors promote a successful VBAC
Homebirth is risky
FALSE ! Research has widely established that planned home birth is as safe as hospital birth for healthy women with normal pregnancies. Midwives have both the necessary medical equipment and the skills to ensure safety during and immediately after the birth. They are trained to respond to emergencies or to circumstances that warrant a transfer to the hospital
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