5 Steps to Become a Midwife in Canada

Midwifery is an important aspect of the general health sector in Canada. It involves bringing babies safely into the world. As a midwife, you have to deliver babies as well as offer prenatal, postnatal, and general gynaecological care to patients. 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 licence you news as a midwife in Canada.

Who a midwife is?

A midwife is a person who helps to bring a new child into the world. He or she observes the health of the pregnant woman 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 labour
• delivering babies in birthing centres, patient’s homes, or hospitals
• providing encouragement and emotional support during labour
• 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 good career in Canada

Many people want to become midwives in Canada for many reasons. If not because of the lucrative nature of the profession, then because the job is an in-demand job or simply because there are a lot of opportunities in the profession. Here are a number of 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 first complete your high school education. This is compulsory because many midwifery programs require your high school certificate. Some of the 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 certain.

2. Complete a four-year bachelor of the midwifery program

You must complete a four-year bachelor of the midwifery program at any institution of your choice 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. The courses you can expect 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 licence 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, there may be provincial and territorial regulators who 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 centres, university medical centres, 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

Though your bachelor’s degree and licence can help you to get employed as a midwife in Canada. Still, you can further your education to have more opportunities. You can apply for a master’s degree. This is because 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

Without the necessary educational requirements, you cannot become a midwife in Canada. 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. 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, it is your duty to 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. Normally, there are complications that come with pregnancy and childbirth, so, you must always be ready for the necessary actions which will help you especially when there is 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. 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.

9. 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 ensure they 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. These skills are more vital for midwives who perform deliveries and checkups away from medical centres.

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Licensing for midwives in Canada

In addition to the licence obtained at the federal level, some provinces in Canada demand that you register in the province to become a midwife in that province. The table shows whether midwifery is regulated in a particular province or not.

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 licence 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 qualifications, it will be hard to succeed as a midwife.