Executive chef Ted Corrado and his partner Joanne Capuano talk about the team effort of home birth with midwives and what it was like for Joanne to catch her own baby. 

Sara Luey is a midwifery client with Seventh Generation Midwives Toronto. Sara's is an insightful story of the healing power of women-centred and culturally appropriate care.

Olympic athletes Carrie and Attila Buday describe how their experience with midwifery care was all about "teamwork."

Jennifer Tryon speaks about how midwifery care helped her during her pregnancy with twins.

Former CFL linebacker Mike O'Shea and his wife Richere chose midwifery care for the births of their three children. They describe the "unforgettable wonderment" of their older children when their youngest was born.

Partner Christine Roulston, professor of French and Women’s Studies

Son Finn, 7, and daughter Una, 3, born with midwives in hospital

From reading around, we knew that births with midwives have amazingly low rates of the kind of interventions (such as c-sections) that we wanted to avoid.

And from talking to friends, we got a sense of midwives as carers who empower you to make your own decisions. When we learned that we could have midwives with full admitting privileges in hospital, it sounded like the best of both worlds: the kind of care that midwives offer, plus the safety net of a hospital’s equipment and staff.

And with our son’s birth, that turned out to be exactly what we needed. Even though there were elements of emergency about the birth – because it happened five weeks prematurely, and after the delivery I ended up needing a doctor to take the placenta out by hand – our midwives managed to stand between us and the fear. It was as if our room – with Chris, the two midwives and the doula in it, all focused on me, the queen bee! – was a little oasis in which I knew I could do this natural yet extraordinary thing. I was only dimly aware that there was a team ready outside the door in case of a crisis; the birth itself did not get medicalised.

So I got to have the experience I’d hoped for (no long delays, no bad pain, no drugs), and it’s one of the memories I most treasure.

Our daughter’s birth, at full term, was great too: a bit tougher but faster. One moment I remember with particular gratitude: when our midwife realized there was meconium coming out in my waters, she managed to let me know that I’d better push this baby out before too long… without filling me with panic.

It’s a matter of tone. Midwives speak to you respectfully, one adult to another.

They take their time: at every visit, they check out how you and your partner are feeling about everything. By the time of the birth, you know them; it’s like giving birth in a room full of trust.

They are aware of their limits, and are always ready to call in different experts. (For instance, our midwife sent me to a consultant to check that my slight heart murmur wasn’t going to be a risk during birth. When he said, in a grimly incredulous tone, ‘You’re going to attempt an unmedicated vaginal delivery?’, I was particularly glad I was in midwifery care.) They work harmoniously with, for example, doulas during the birth (non-medical helpers who focus on your comfort) or lactation consultants afterwards.

Midwives don’t go off shift; they stay till the end, and then come back often when you’re in that shaky what-do-we-do-with-this-baby phase. Our primary midwife, in particular, has won our eternal gratitude. For both our son’s and our daughter’s births, she was meant to be off duty or on vacation – but she came back. That kind of commitment is beyond price.

www.emmadonoghue.com

Coming from Sweden and being pregnant for the first time in a new country was a little bit intimidating. Another woman on my husband’s hockey team who was also pregnant with her first told me about midwives. She was due 2 months before me and had already been to see her midwife. I called, booked an appointment and haven't looked back since.

The personal and private care you get with midwives was key for us. There is so much attention to what my husband does for a living that we wanted to have as much privacy as possible. Especially being due May 7th in the middle of possible playoffs!

I learned to trust my body and what it can do. My midwife was always very positive and calm, so I always had a very comforting feeling that things would work out. I didn’t have my mother in the country for any of the births, so having that connection with someone else was hugely important.

All 4 of our kids were born very fast. During delivery, our midwives were so calm and reassuring. Everything went well and we were home 3 hours after each of them were born. I didn’t use an epidural, so each time I was up and moving quickly after. Being able to come home right after has also been a great experience because it allowed our other kids to be involved. I used the bath tub for all four births and found that helpful. I had such great experiences that I wanted to do it one more time, and so three months ago we had our fourth. 

The after-care you get with midwives is amazing. They come to you in your home. Not having to bundle everyone up to go out to an appointment is incredible, especially when it is the last thing you want to be doing. If you have questions, they are just a phone call away, and will come to your house.

Whenever we have told someone that we had midwives deliver our babies, people tend to automatically assume that it was a home birth. I tell everyone the same thing: that I had a hospital delivery but enjoyed the personal connection you get with someone you see on a regular basis. The fact that Leslie Viets, RM has been to all 4 of our kid’s births is amazing. There is such a bond between us. I knew what she could do for me and she knew both me and my husband already.

I tell friends that it is such a great experience to have that personal care. I tell them to at least read up on it or even book an appointment. I also tell them that you can choose if you want a home birth or hospital birth and if you need drugs, they are available to you. You have a lot more options with a midwife.