5 Steps to Become a Midwife in Canada
Midwifery is an essential aspect of the general health sector in Canada. It involves bringing babies safely into the world. As a midwife, you must deliver babies and offer patients prenatal, postnatal, and general gynecological care. So, you must understand how to become a midwife in Canada before pursuing a career in midwifery.
To that end, this article will discuss the necessary steps to become a midwife in Canada, the essential skills you require as a midwife, the duties and responsibilities of a midwife, and the license you news as a midwife in Canada.
Who is a midwife?
A midwife is a person who helps to bring a new child into the world. They observe the pregnant woman’s health before, during, and after birth. A midwife also makes sure that the newborn baby is in good health.
Responsibilities of a midwife
A midwife performs the following duties;
- observing the health of pregnant women and their babies before and after delivery
- teaching patients and their loved ones about reproductive health, antenatal and postnatal care, and preparation for parenthood
- educating patients on pain management techniques in preparation for labor
- delivering babies in birthing centers, patient’s homes, or hospitals
- providing encouragement and emotional support during labor
- taking and recording the patient’s temperature, blood pressure, and pulse
- teaching new mothers how to feed their newborns properly
- advising patients concerning their diets, medications, and exercises
- assisting patients and their loved ones cope with stillbirths, miscarriages, terminations, and neonatal deaths
Why midwifery is a promising career in Canada
Many people want to become midwives in Canada for many reasons. If not because of the lucrativeness of the profession, then it is because it is in demand or there are a lot of opportunities in it. Here are several reasons to become a midwife in Canada. They include:
- An in-demand job
- A huge salary
- Good job prospects
- Opportunity for career growth
Steps to becoming a midwife in Canada
You can follow the steps below to become a midwife in Canada:
#1 Obtain a high school education
To become a midwife in Canada, you must complete your high school education. This is compulsory because many midwifery programs require your high school certificate. Some requirements are a minimum grade of 75% in Biology 12 U, Chemistry 12 U, and English 12 U courses. However, some of these requirements vary according to the institution, so you can contact the admissions officer to be specific.
#2 Complete a four-year bachelor of the midwifery program
You must complete a four-year bachelor of the midwifery program at any institution to become a midwife in Canada. This is compulsory for an entry-level position. These programs are direct entry as there are no other necessary credentials for entry. You can expect courses to include basic sciences, health sciences, social sciences, and some related electives.
Canadian Midwifery Educational Programs include:
- University of British Columbia Midwifery Education Program
- McMaster University Midwifery Education Program
- Ryerson University Midwifery Education Program
- Laurentian University Programme de Formation des Sages-Femmes
- Université du Québec à Trois Rivières Baccalauréat en pratique sage-femme
- Mount Royal University
#3 Obtain your license as a registered nurse
You will need a license to become a midwife in Canada. Therefore, you must take the Canadian Midwifery Registration Exams (CRME). The Canadian Midwifery Regulators Council sets and administers the exam. Usually, it comes up twice a year. Moreover, depending on your province, provincial and territorial regulators may have other requirements beyond the CRME.
#4 Apply for job positions as a midwife
Once you have completed your registration, you can begin to apply for entry-level job positions. You can apply for work in clinical or hospital settings. Several midwives also work in private practices, birth centers, university medical centers, or private homes of patients. Additionally, you have career opportunities in the health educator or researcher, national health worker, midwifery researcher, or midwifery administrator sectors.
#5 Obtain a postgraduate degree
Your bachelor’s degree and license can help you get employed as a midwife in Canada. Still, you can further your education to have more opportunities. For example, you can apply for a master’s degree. A higher midwifery degree typically results in more career opportunities and higher salaries. The general requirements for admission are a bachelor’s degree in midwifery and a registration license.
Essential skills for midwives
You cannot become a midwife in Canada without the necessary educational requirements. However, there are some essential skills that you need as a midwife. They include :
#1 Interpersonal skills
This skill helps you to relate with patients and the people you come in contact with. So, having interpersonal skills helps you as a midwife.
#2 Good listening skills
With good listening skills, you will excel as a midwife in Canada. You need this skill when dealing with patients of different kinds. Since patients have a lot to tell you concerning their health conditions, as a midwife, you must be able to understand them. However, you can only understand them when you listen to them carefully.
#3 Problem-solving skills
To become a midwife in Canada, you must have problem-solving skills. As a midwife, you must encounter various problems every day. Your ability to dissolve these problems will also determine your success in the field.
#4 Excellent industry knowledge
Since this profession deals with human beings, midwives require in-depth knowledge of fetal and child development, female anatomy, birth processes, and postpartum delivery. Midwifery programs typically ensure that you can’t become a midwife without this knowledge.
#5 Excellent teaching skills
Your ability to teach and educate your patients on several topics, including how to stay healthy during pregnancy, what to eat, and the necessary exercises, is one of the skills you need as a midwife. Midwives also extend this education to their patient’s partners. This makes it vital for midwives to possess efficient teaching skills.
#6 Multitasking skills
At certain times, your duty as a midwife may demand you to perform more than one task at a time. For this reason, you will need multitasking skills to become a midwife in Canada. For example, you may have to monitor monitoring contractions, the baby’s heart rate, and the mother’s heart rate. These are very important and will require the same amount of attention.
#7 Initiative
Your ability to know when to take prompt actions to save a situation is necessary for your profession as a midwife. Usually, complications come with pregnancy and childbirth, so you must always be ready for the actions required to help you, especially in an emergency.
#8 Ability to work well under pressure
Midwives require the ability to perform under pressure as their jobs can involve numerous pressure-inducing circumstances. For example, an emergency can develop during a delivery leading to a tense atmosphere. However, midwives are to remain calm and perform optimally in these situations as it can help keep the patients relaxed. This ability is generally necessary to help calm uneasy patients and relations.
#8 Teamwork
To become a midwife in Canada, you must be ready to work as a team. Your team may include other midwives, nurses, and doctors. So, a midwife must possess excellent teamwork skills to provide optimal healthcare services.
CPR and first aid skills
Knowledge of CPR and other first-aid skills is necessary for midwives. This skill is helpful in times of emergency when the only option is to perform CPR or other first-aid techniques to salvage the situation. In addition, these skills are vital for midwives who perform deliveries and checkups away from medical centers.
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Licensing for midwives in Canada
In addition to the license obtained at the federal level, some provinces in Canada demand that you register to become a midwife in that province. The table shows whether midwifery is regulated in a particular province or not.
| Location | Job title | Regulation | Regulatory body |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | Midwife | Regulated | College of Midwives of Alberta |
| Nurse Practitioner | Regulated | College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta | |
| British Columbia | Midwife | Regulated | College of Midwives of British Columbia |
| Manitoba | Clinical Assistant | Regulated | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba |
| Physician Assistant | Regulated | College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba | |
| Midwife | Regulated | College of Midwives of Manitoba | |
| Nurse Practitioner | Regulated | College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba | |
| New Brunswick | Midwife | Regulated | Midwifery Council of New Brunswick |
| Nurse Practitioner | Regulated | Nurses Association of New Brunswick | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | Midwife | Regulated | Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals |
| Northwest Territories | Midwife | Regulated | Registrar, Professional Licensing, Department of Health and Social Services |
| Yukon | Midwife | Regulated | Midwifery Regulatory Council of Nova Scotia |
| Nurse Practitioner | Regulated | College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia | |
| Ontario | Midwife | Regulated | College of Midwives of Ontario |
| Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner | Regulated | College of Nurses of Ontario | |
| PEI | Nurse Practitioner | Regulated | Association of Registered Nurses of Prince Edward Island |
| Quebec | Midwife | Regulated | Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec |
| Nurse Practitioner | Regulated | Ordre des infirmières et infirmiers du Québec | |
| Saskatchewan | Midwife | Regulated | Saskatchewan College of midwives |
| Nurse Practitioner | Regulated | Saskatchewan Registered Nurses Association | |
| Yukon | Midwife | Regulated | Professional Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Government of Yukon |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do midwives receive in Canada?
The national average salary of midwives is $47.85 per hour.
Are midwives the same as nurses?
No, a midwife is a person who helps to deliver a baby. On the other hand, a nurse assists a doctor, a midwife, or another nurse.
Is midwifery a good profession in Canada?
Midwives are in demand in Canada because of the nature of their jobs. Moreover, they receive a high salary for their duties.
How can I become a midwife in Canada?
To become a midwife in Canada, you will need a bachelor’s degree and a license from a regulating body.
Where can I work as a midwife?
Midwives work in clinics, hospitals, and maternities. You can as well work as an independent midwife.
Conclusion
In summary, becoming a midwife in Canada demands a lot of qualifications and skills. Without these skills and capabilities, it will be hard to succeed as a midwife.
