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
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.
OLO Program
To qualify for the OLO program, you must be pregnant and living in a low-income situation.
Follow-up is provided by OLO workers (nutritionists, nurses or social workers). These follow-ups include education about the link between the mother's diet and the baby's health, education about healthy eating habits, and the delivery of OLO foods (vouchers) and prenatal multivitamin supplements.
The first step to accessing the OLO program is to register your pregnancy on Ma Grossesse platform. A staff member from your region will contact you to evaluate your needs and offer services that would benefit you and your baby.
For more information on the OLO follow-up care, contact your local CLSC.
SIPPE Program
The SIPPE (Integrated Perinatal and Early Childhood Services) program is for expectant mothers and new mothers who, in addition to living below the low-income threshold, have not finished high school. The program aims to:
- Foster child development in a supportive environment to prepare the child for school.
- Optimize the health and wellness potential of families and improve their living conditions.
Follow-up is carried out by a multidisciplinary team (nurse, social worker, nutritionist, psychoeducator, family auxiliary), at the CLSC, at home or in the community. The follow-up is started during the pregnancy and continues until the child enters kindergarten.
The first step to accessing the SIPPE program is to register your pregnancy on Ma Grossesse platform. A staff member from your region will contact you to evaluate your needs and offer services that would benefit you and your baby.
For more information on the SIPPE follow-up, contact your local CLSC.
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.