Are you pregnant and looking for a midwife, a family doctor or an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) to oversee your pregnancy and deliver your baby? Many of our medical professionals are accepting new patients.
See the list of medical professionals offering prenatal care and services in the various facilities across the Montréal West Island CIUSSS.
When it comes to the actual birth location, there are 3 options available to you: at home, in a birthing centre or at the hospital.
Abnormal symptoms during pregnancy
Go to the hospital if you experience any of the following obstetrical symptoms:
- Bleeding
- Decreased fetal movements (fewer than 6 movements in 2 hours)
- Contractions
- Leaking fluid
- Trauma: fall, blow to the abdomen, car accident
- Headache, vision changes (dark spots, flashing lights), nausea / vomiting, epigastric pain (upper abdomen)
- Other concerns
Your blood group is RhD negative (-)
If your blood group is RhD negative (-), your doctor has probably spoken to you about the need to receive an injection in order to prevent a particular complication for your next baby: Hemolytic disease of the newborn.
The only way to avoid these complications in 99.9% of cases is to give the mother an injection of Rho(D) Immune Globulin (WinRho).
WinRho is a Rho(D) Immune Globulin (anti-D) made from the plasma (liquid part of the blood) of many human donors. Administering this product to the mother prevents the production of antibodies by the mother that would destroy the baby’s red blood cells.
Ma grossesse Platform
Are you pregnant?
All pregnant women are encouraged to register for Ma Grossesse: quick, free and confidential access to information and services suited to your needs.
Ma Grossesse is there to help you:
- If you have not been able to find a professional for the monitoring of your pregnancy;
- If you are living in a difficult situation and need help;
- If you need food coupons during your pregnancy;
- If you want information about free services offered close to your home.
By registering for Ma Grossesse, you allow health and social services facilities to provide you with the services you need. If you wish, a CLSC worker will contact you to help you access the information and professionals you will need during your pregnancy.
Giving Birth with the Help of a Midwife
Are you thinking of using the services of a midwife for the birth of your first child or for your next baby?
Members of the Ordre des sages-femmes du Québec, midwives are health professionals who offer pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal follow-up up to 6 weeks after the birth of the mother and baby. The clientele followed by midwives are pregnant women with a normal pregnancy.
To become a midwife, one must complete a 4-and-a-half year bachelor’s degree at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. The degree has been offered since 1999, the year midwifery was formally legalized. Midwives receive ongoing training in obstetrical emergencies and advanced neonatal resuscitation.
Midwives work in collaboration with other health professionals and consult them, as needed, for issues relating to pregnancy, delivery and postnatal care. They also work with local partners and provide referrals to community resources.
The guiding principles of the midwifery model in Quebec recognize that the experience of pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood are highly significant in the lives of women and families. From a physiological, psychological and sociological health perspective, everything is interrelated and considered as such.
For further information, please visit the Maison de Naissance du Lac St-Louis webpage