Stratford Midwives

Serving families in Stratford and area since 1994.

Did you know.....?

Midwifery Care is fully funded through the Ministry of Health. There is no direct cost to clients who access midwifery care. Midwives are also funded to care for those who do not have OHIP.

Midwives attend birth both in hospital and at clients' homes. We offer you the choice! The midwives at Stratford Midwives all have hospital privileges at Stratford General Hospital and use this hospital for all clients choosing a hospital birth.

Midwives provide care for low-risk women and their babies from conception through to 6 weeks postpartum.

You do not need a referral for midwifery care.

Midwifery care in Ontario is founded on three core principles

Informed Choice - we provide you with information and advice but respect your role as the primary decision maker for your care and the care of your baby.
Continuity of care - you get to know your primary midwife/midwives throughout your prenatal care and you will therefore know the midwife who attends your birth.
Choice of birth place. We offer home and hospital birth

If you have a midwife, you can still choose to have an epidural without your midwife having to transfer care.

If complications or concerns arise, midwives can consult with the appropriate specialist (i.e. obstetrician, pediatrician, anaesthetist).

Stratford Midwives is a teaching practice. We are happy to participate in the education of midwifery students and often have students at different levels of training at our practice. Please speak to your midwife if you have questions or concerns about student involvement in your care.

News and Events

Welcome to the Stratford Midwives!

Would you like to learn more about midwifery care and what to expect with the Stratford Midwives? Click this link to view our introductory video.

Family and Caregiver Presence on the Maternal-Child Unit at Stratford General Hospital

New guidelines will be implemented at Stratford General Hospital beginning November 1st, 2021. The hospital will be instituting a policy requiring that visitors to the hospital show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. HOWEVER, there will be some exceptions granted for labouring people and children admitted to pediatrics or the special care nursery. Please read the attached notice for full information.

Postpartum Support Group

Birthplace Options Web Portal

Have you been thinking about a home birth? Are you looking for more information as you consider your choice of birth place?

The Association of Ontario Midwives' Birthplace Options Web Portal is an interactive resource where you can access research-based information on the risks and benefits of home and hospital birth. Hear from midwives and past midwifery clients, see the equipment that midwives bring to a home birth and get answers to frequently asked questions.

COVID -19

We're watching the updates regarding the COVID-19 virus closely. Please see the Association of Ontario Midwives FAQ on COVID for what we currently know about COVID for pregnant people and their babies. We are providing care as usual with some extra precautions in place in an effort to keep you, your midwife and other clients safe and minimize exposure. The midwives will follow all employee health guidelines regarding self-isolation if they are at risk of COVID-19 or screen positive. This may mean that your visit or birth will be attended by a different midwife.

If you have a cough, fever or difficulty breathing, have traveled out of the country or have been in contact with someone who has, please call your doctor, Public Health or Telehealth for directions and do not come to the clinic.

Your midwife or our administrator will ask you the screening questions over the phone before you enter the clinic and invite you in to the clinic once the space has been cleared and cleaned. Please wait outside the building until you hear from us. If you suspect we may not have your cell phone number, or prefer email, call our administrator to advise us (519-271-3490)

We will reschedule any non-essential visits. Your midwife will be in touch to arrange rescheduling if needed. We are mindful the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the number of prenatal appointments for a positive outcome. This includes: One visit in the first trimester, two visits in the second trimester at 20 and 26 weeks, and then more frequent visits in the third trimester at 30, 34, 36, 38, 39 and 40 weeks. We recognize that this is different from our customary schedule and are offering telephone appointments to inform you about relevant topics related to pregnancy and birth, arranging ultrasounds, sending prescriptions to the pharmacy, and ordering bloodwork.

Additionally, we are asking people to avoid bringing partners or support people to your visits, including children who are not currently in our care. We have cleared the waiting room, removed all the toys and suspended our lending library to reduce the number of objects that are touched, and to make cleaning easier.

We will continue to wipe off surfaces in the clinic room in between clients, and, as always, wash our hands or use hand sanitizer in between clients. We ask that you also use hand sanitizer when you arrive for your appointment.

Stratford General Hospital is restricting visitors at this time. One support person can attend with you in labour the Mat/Child Unit, and two support people (usually the baby’s parents) are permitted to visit the Special Care Nursery. For any non-labour assessments done on the Mat/Child Unit, a support person is not currently permitted to accompany you.

We will continue to offer choice of birthplace. Home birth can be considered for people experiencing a healthy pregnancy. However, if any household members are sick or have screened positive for COVID-19, midwives will not be able to attend you at home and will request that the birth occurs in the hospital where there is a supply of masks and gowns.

Click here for instructions from Health Canada on how to Self-Isolate.

Health Canada Investigating Ranitidine (Zantac)

Health Canada issued a safety alert on September 17, 2019 requesting that drug manufacturers stop distributing the drug Ranitidine. This drug is sold over-the-counter under the brand name "Zantac" and under the generic name "ranitidine". Health Canada is investigating a possible impurity, called NDMA, in ranitidine. This chemical has been associated with an increased risk of cancer. We recommend that anyone taking these products stop immediately until Health Canada provides further updates.

Health Canada Advisory Regarding Gentian Violet

Gentian violet has been widely recommended and used for the treatment of yeast in breastfeeding moms and their babies. However, Health Canada issued a safety alert on June 12, 2019 warning that exposure to products containing gentian violet may increase the risk of cancer. Health Canada recommends that Canadians stop using any and all human and veterinary drug products containing gentian violet.

Thinking about a water birth?

The Association of Ontario Midwives has a great new resource on water birth, including answers to questions about safety and the benefits of birth in water.

Cannabis is now legal in Canada, but what does this mean for pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Cannabis is a commonly used drug, but with the recent legalisation of Cannabis, there are a growing number of questions about the safety of its use in pregnancy and during breastfeeding.

We encourage you to speak to your midwife and to let her know about any drugs (prescription or otherwise) that you use during your pregnancy.

Click here for information from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on what we know (and don't know) about Cannabis in pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Stratford Midwives
386 Cambria Street, Unit 101
Stratford, ON N5A 1J4
519-271-3490
stratfordmidwives@gmail.com