space is limited and fills quickly, please fill out a care request form online
About
Our
Practice
ACCEPTING CLIENTS FOR FULL MIDWIFERY CARE AND POSTPARTUM-ONLY CARE
Welcome!
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The Terra Nova Midwifery team recognize that our clinic is located on the unceded territory of the Musqueam peoples, and we service the territories of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language group. We recognize that we are uninvited guests working on stolen land. We hope that the recognition of these facts may serve as a first act of reconciliation, and seek to move forward in a good way. Particularly, by honouring the life-givers of our hosts and supporting the return of birth back to the community and back to the land.
Terra Nova Midwifery accepts clients living in Richmond and South Delta, BC. We offer both hospital and home birth. We hold hospital privileges at Richmond Hospital.
We work in teams of midwives (Team Quince, Team Willow, Team Hemlock & Team Larch) caring for pregnant people and their babies from early pregnancy, through labour and birth, up until 6 weeks after birth. We enjoy the opportunity to really get to know each and every family in our care. As our patient you benefit from seamless continuity of care and having a known care-provider with you at your birth.
Our teams work cooperatively with the nurses and physicians in our community. We are able to consult and refer to specialists in pregnancy, or during labour should concerns or emergencies arise.
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We offer longer prenatal appointments to allow time to address your individual concerns and questions. We strongly believe in providing you with up-to-date, evidence-based information and supporting your informed choices for your maternity care.
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After birth we provide comprehensive care for both birthers and babies. We have extensive knowledge and experience supporting breast/chestfeeding, monitoring newborn and maternal health, teaching newborn care and promoting a healthy postpartum adjustment. Post-natal care is offered at your home during the first week, then appointments back in our clinic at 2, 4 and 6 weeks postpartum.
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We look forward to getting to know you and your family!
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Please note that space in our clinic fills quickly. To avoid disappointment, we recommend getting in touch as soon as possible once you find out you're pregnant. If we are full for your estimated date of delivery, you can be added to the waitlist. Fill out our Care Request Form here.
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Meet the midwives and learn more about our team here.
"Whenever and however you intend to give birth, your experience will impact your emotions, your mind, your body and your spirit for the rest of your life."
-Ina May Gaskin
Midwifery
Care in BC
In British Columbia, midwives are primary caregivers working in community-based practices. They provide evidence-based, client-centered maternity and newborn care and are an established part of the BC health care system. Midwifery emphasizes the natural ability to experience birth with minimum intervention, and the principle that all clients are to be respected and supported in all stages of care.
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PREGNANCY
During pregnancy, midwife visits happen about as often as visits with physicians. Most visits in the first part of pregnancy are scheduled every three to six weeks and last between 30-60 minutes. In the third trimester, visits are scheduled weekly during the last month of pregnancy. Longer visits allow for physical, emotional and social health assessments, while enabling the development of a trusting relationship between midwife and client.
Midwives offer a complete panel of prenatal laboratory tests, genetic screening and diagnosis options, ultrasound imaging and many other tests and procedures. During pregnancy, clients will meet all the midwives who share in their care so that familiarity is established prior to birth. Your midwife or midwives will always be available 24/7.
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BIRTH
Midwives respect the right of the client to choose the birth setting. They hold admitting and discharge privileges in hospitals, enabling them to provide care at home or in hospital.
When discussing home birth, midwives provide clients with research-based information. They address questions and concerns, and assess whether the client is a good candidate for home birth.
Midwives work collaboratively with obstetricians, nurses, family physicians, pediatricians, anesthetists and lactation consultants, both in the hospital setting and in the community. Where you decide to have your baby is your choice. Regardless of where you choose to give birth, you will receive excellent, safe care from your midwife.
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AFTER DELIVERY
After birth, a client will see the same midwife or midwives who provided care during their pregnancy. Visits usually take place wherever the new family resides. This may initially be in the hospital after a hospital birth, or at home after a home birth or soon after a new family returns from the hospital. Midwives monitor the health of client and baby and provide breastfeeding support. They ensure the client is recovering physically, and emotionally.After the first week or two, visits usually happen back in the clinic and continue to about six weeks postpartum when care is transferred back to the family physician. Between visits, midwives provide 24/7 call coverage for urgent care or concerns.
COMMUNITY-BASED PRIMARY CARE
A primary caregiver functions under their own responsibility and is usually the first point of entry to health services. As community-based health professionals, midwives offer services in clinics, offices or client’s homes. They most often work in small groups which enables them to share call while providing 24-hour availability to their clients throughout the childbearing cycle.
INFORMED CHOICE
Midwives respect the right of their clients to make informed choices by providing objective information in a supportive manner. By allowing adequate time for discussion during pregnancy, midwives can facilitate the ongoing exchange of current, evidence-based knowledge that is relevant to a client’s unique needs.
CONTINUITY OF CARE
COLLABORATIVE CARE
Continuity of care is both a philosophy and a process. It allows a relationship to develop over time between clients and their midwife or midwives, with the purpose of providing safe, individualized care. Achieving continuity of care in group practices is coordinated through clearly documented protocols, ensuring that current information on each client is available to the on-call midwife. These protocols are guided by the College of Midwives of BC, the regulatory body that standardizes the BC midwifery model of practice.
To ensure the best possible care for clients, midwives co-operate and consult with other health professionals in the provision of care. As a primary caregiver, midwives provide education, counseling and advocacy to support their clients’ individual needs.
CHOICE OF BIRTH SETTING
The right of a person to make an informed choice about the setting for birth is a principle deeply respected by midwives. Whether at home or in hospital, every birth will be attended by a minimum of two qualified caregivers. All registered midwives hold hospital privileges in order to admit and discharge their clients as needed.
In British Columbia, midwifery is a publicly funded service. Anyone with a valid Carecard or BC Services Card can receive midwifery care at no personal cost.
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The midwifery model of practice as developed in BC is autonomous, community-based primary care, incorporating the principles of continuity of care, client-informed choice, choice of birth setting, collaborative care, accountability, and evidence-based practice.
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Did you know, there are 122 ways to become a parent*? The midwifery model of practice in British Columbia supports the needs of all expectant families, no matter which route to parenthood they take.
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Midwives care for all families during the childbearing year, supporting them through pregnancy, birth and the first 6 to 8 weeks postpartum. This includes families created through pregnancy and birth, adoption, surrogacy, multi-partner relationships, choice, blending and circumstance. Midwives provide primary care while honouring the diversity of their clients and communities and providing respectful and affirming care.
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Midwifery is founded on the principles of informed choice decision making, trust building through continuity of care, and choice of birth place. In practice, BC midwives are well suited to care for queer, transgender, and gender diverse clients, taking the time needed to get to know each family and their individual needs throughout their pregnancy and birth care.
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Source & learn more: www.BCmidwives.com
Get in
Touch
#120 12051 Second Avenue
Richmond, BC
Tel: 604 - 285 - 8719
Fax: 604 - 227 - 2119
Please note that we are located in the Steveston Village.