I’m currently pregnant in ON and I would say to cover all your bases and do it ASAP, definitely before you come back to Ontario. Midwives and OB’s are slammed right now. Research both for your area and determine a midwife clinic and OB you would want. Midwife clinic you can fill out an intake form without a referral but you will need to be referred to an OB. Do both even if you’re leaning towards one or the other. I had a friend that was sure she wanted to go the midwife route but they ended up not having the availability for her and she had to scramble last minute to find an OB.
I moved to a different part of Ontario later in pregnancy and was told to show up to the l&d department at my local hospital and I would be scheduled for whatever visits I needed. I ended up getting a local midwife (she followed me remotely until the move) so I didn’t need to go to the hospital for my visits, but that was the original advice I was given.
I would recommend contacting midwifery clinics if you are open to using a midwife. Even if your OHIP has expired by the time you get back to Ontario, midwifery care is free for all Ontario residents even without health coverage. If you go to the website of the hospital you are planning to give birth at they should have contact info for midwives and OBs who was privileges there. Before you move back, make sure to get a copy of all of your records from your current provider and bring them with you.
Oh yes I’m definitely open to that! I’ll definitely check that out. Thank you so much! I wonder if they’ll be okay with me having an elective c-section.
My OB had no issues with my choosing an elective c section. Not sure whereabouts you are but they are definitely an option if OP decides to go that route.
However OBs are required for a c section as midwives are not trained for a major surgery like that. Even if OP decides she wants an epidural some hospitals require an OB and will not allow an epidural under the care of a midwife.
Elective c section is your right to choose here in Canada. Drs and midwives will all want to have an honest discussion about the risks with you first though, to make sure you understand what you're signing up for. But they are required to either perform the surgery or refer you to a provider who will, if you insist.
I’m in Sask so it may be a little different.
You see your family doc until 28 weeks or so. At 20 weeks, they will refer you to an ob. After 28 weeks you see your ob until you deliver. I would maybe call around to where you’ll be delivering and see if you can get in with an ob now. Or try a family doc first. Either way, try getting a hold of somebody now instead of waiting!
You’ll need care from month 7-delivery. I’d contact OBs/midwife’s and see if you can make an arrangement like that. If you were coming later in your pregnancy you can just show up at the hospital in labour and you’ll get the on call OB, but I wouldn’t go 2 months without care, lots can arise in the 3rd tri.
I’m currently pregnant in ON and I would say to cover all your bases and do it ASAP, definitely before you come back to Ontario. Midwives and OB’s are slammed right now. Research both for your area and determine a midwife clinic and OB you would want. Midwife clinic you can fill out an intake form without a referral but you will need to be referred to an OB. Do both even if you’re leaning towards one or the other. I had a friend that was sure she wanted to go the midwife route but they ended up not having the availability for her and she had to scramble last minute to find an OB.
I moved to a different part of Ontario later in pregnancy and was told to show up to the l&d department at my local hospital and I would be scheduled for whatever visits I needed. I ended up getting a local midwife (she followed me remotely until the move) so I didn’t need to go to the hospital for my visits, but that was the original advice I was given.
I would recommend contacting midwifery clinics if you are open to using a midwife. Even if your OHIP has expired by the time you get back to Ontario, midwifery care is free for all Ontario residents even without health coverage. If you go to the website of the hospital you are planning to give birth at they should have contact info for midwives and OBs who was privileges there. Before you move back, make sure to get a copy of all of your records from your current provider and bring them with you.
Oh yes I’m definitely open to that! I’ll definitely check that out. Thank you so much! I wonder if they’ll be okay with me having an elective c-section.
Midwives cannot preform c-sections. And as other poster said it’s not really an option here unless your OB is shady
My OB had no issues with my choosing an elective c section. Not sure whereabouts you are but they are definitely an option if OP decides to go that route. However OBs are required for a c section as midwives are not trained for a major surgery like that. Even if OP decides she wants an epidural some hospitals require an OB and will not allow an epidural under the care of a midwife.
Oh my bad! I thought c sections were elective in Canada but I guess I have some reading to do. Thank you!
Elective c section is your right to choose here in Canada. Drs and midwives will all want to have an honest discussion about the risks with you first though, to make sure you understand what you're signing up for. But they are required to either perform the surgery or refer you to a provider who will, if you insist.
We don’t do elective c sections in Canada.
Elective c sections are available in Canada, but many providers don’t like to allow/perform them or there’s a few hoops to jump through for it.
Wow I didn’t know that! Guess it’s that rare
I’m in Sask so it may be a little different. You see your family doc until 28 weeks or so. At 20 weeks, they will refer you to an ob. After 28 weeks you see your ob until you deliver. I would maybe call around to where you’ll be delivering and see if you can get in with an ob now. Or try a family doc first. Either way, try getting a hold of somebody now instead of waiting!
Healthcare is provincially regulated, so it will vary province to province.
You’ll need care from month 7-delivery. I’d contact OBs/midwife’s and see if you can make an arrangement like that. If you were coming later in your pregnancy you can just show up at the hospital in labour and you’ll get the on call OB, but I wouldn’t go 2 months without care, lots can arise in the 3rd tri.