Care and Services: Postpartum


We will be present during your active labour and birth, and stay until 2 to 4 hours postpartum. Due to the continuity and additional follow-up we provide, some women choose to leave the hospital as early as three hours after the birth. This is a reasonable choice for women who have midwifery care, as the midwife will visit within 12-24 hours after the birth and is available 24 hours a day by pager. This ensures that women can safely return to the comfort of their own homes. Other women choose to stay in the hospital overnight or to a maximum of 60 hours.

At a minimum we do 5 postpartum visits, with more visits occurring if needed. These visits occur on day 1, day 3, day 5-7, and between days 10-14. The final visit is at approximately 6 weeks and is a follow-up visit for well woman/well baby care. Care after the birth includes monitoring of your baby's growth and development, your well being and adjustment to parenthood as well as breastfeeding support.