Pregnancy and childbirth in Canada
What to prepare for when you want to become parents.
Many newcomers to Canada are concerned about the management of pregnancy and childbirth. How everything goes, how different it is from procedures in other countries, and how much it costs — all of this is covered in this article.
Two pregnancy management options
Although in most countries a pregnant woman is supervised by a gynecologist, there is another option in Canada. More and more women are choosing to trust professional midwives rather than gynecologists to handle their pregnancies and births. Midwives have the right to order tests, ultrasounds, and to examine and interview women. In addition, by choosing this option, the pregnant woman does not even have to go to the clinic except for tests — many midwives come to the house whenever the patient needs them.
However, many women still prefer to go to a gynecologist rather than a midwife. This is dictated primarily by considerations of safety, the doctor's professionalism, and the ability to convince her of his qualifications.
"The most inexperienced doctor is better than an inexperienced midwife ... often midwives turn out to be students with no real experience, so it's better to find out about this in advance," women say on social media.
Two options for the birthplace
A woman can also choose whether to give birth in the maternity ward of the hospital or in a "Maternity Center. The second option is noticeably more expensive — the cost of a room, anesthesia and other expenses can reach $17,000 CAD. Many point to the pluses of the centers, however. In particular, it is the quiet, almost homelike atmosphere, constant attention and individual approach. Since homebirth is illegal in Canada, women who do not want to give birth in a hospital choose this option.
Among other things, partnered births are very common in Canada. Many men are willing to be present with their wives at such an important moment, and this is practiced both in the centers and in the maternity wards of the hospitals.
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