Registered Midwife

Midwifery has been documented as a profession for more than 800 years. In Canada, the midwifery profession continues to expand and evolve. Midwives are independent primary health care providers who are trained to provide high quality pregnancy, birth work, and infant health care. Midwives play a pivotal role in the healthcare system by providing full course care to pregnant persons and their babies throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period.

Duties of a midwife include physical exams, screening, and diagnostic tests to monitor the health of pregnant persons and their baby. A midwife manages labour and deliveries, orders routine tests, ultrasounds, lab work, prescribes medications, and cares for, assesses, and monitors the health of pregnant persons and newborns.

A midwife’s scope of care includes guidelines on when to consult or transfer care to another health care provider. Midwives collaborate with other health professionals, and in certain instances provide shared care with other health care providers.

Midwifery is a young profession in New Brunswick. The government of New Brunswick is committed to growing the profession and expanding services. Opportunities for employment are expected to increase as public demand for midwifery care continues to gain momentum.

Personal characteristics and skills

  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Critical Thinking and Decision Making
  • Teamwork and Collaboration
  • Oral and Written Communication
  • Attention to Detail
  • Active Listening and Interviewing
  • Concern for Others
  • Relationship Building
  • Adaptability to Changing Priorities
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Leadership Skills
  • Independent and Perform with Minimal Supervision
  • Physical Ability to Perform Duties i.e. Lifting and carrying of equipment
  • Time Management

Midwives in new brunswick have a variety of important roles, including but not limited to:

  • Care, assess, and monitor clients during normal pregnancy, labour, and the postpartum period, as well as their healthy newborns.
  • Provide and manage clinical care of low-risk pregnancies and newborns in homes, communities, clinics, and hospitals.
  • Educate clients, patients, families, and other health professionals.
  • Prescribe and administer medications, order, perform, and interpret tests, perform procedures, and provide other health care within the standards of practice.
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized care plans including appropriate place of birth with clients.
  • Responsible for documentation, such as written orders, diagnostic tests, prescriptions, and care provided.

Midwives work in a variety of settings:

Midwifery services are currently available in the Horizon Health Network. The choice of where the baby is born is a fundamental philosophy of midwifery care. Options for birth setting can be homebirth or a hospital birth, where midwives are a valued part of the Obstetric team.

Education Programs Offered in Canada

University Programs
There are six midwifery programs in Canada: McMaster University, Toronto Metropolitan University, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, University of Manitoba, Mount Royal University, and University of British Columbia.

Midwifery education programs are baccalaureate level programs which typically require four years of full-time study and a period of supervised practical training. Programs are direct entry with no requirement for nursing or other credentials prior to application. Each university has specific entry and application requirements. Health care professionals with relevant experience may be eligible for TMU’s Post-Baccalaureate Program for Health Professionals. This program is offered over 6 consecutive semesters.

Educational Requirements for Internationally Educated Midwives
Currently, internationally trained midwives are required to complete a bridging program. English programs are offered at University of British Columbia and Toronto Metropolitan University, and a French-language program at l’Ordre des sages-femmes du Québec). Successful completion of a Canadian bridging program is required prior to registration to work as a New Brunswick midwife. Further information can be found on the Canadian Regulators Midwifery Council website: Internationally Educated Midwives | Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council.

Licensure and Certifications
Registration with a regulatory body is a requirement in most provinces and territories of Canada, including in New Brunswick: The Midwifery Council of New Brunswick. Registration also requires successful completion of the Canadian Midwifery Registration Exam.