Pregnant in Montreal (Part 1 of 5)
I am about to turn this conversation on its head. Most blog posts about choosing a care provider for your pregnancy focus on the provider’s responses to certain questions. For example; what is your C section rate? Do you encourage VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)? Do you cut routine Episiotomies?
While these are good questions, I dare say you’ll get the exact same answer from every doctor in the Greater Montreal area: 1) "I don’t know my C section rate, I only do C sections when they are medically necessary". 2) "VBAC, sure! We’ll discuss it as you get closer to your due date". 3) "No". Or, "only when medically necessary".
Here in Montreal, it is NOT an easy feat to shop for a care provider. The Quebec Medicare system does not leave a lot of room for picking and choosing when it comes to selecting health care practitioners. In fact, if you are fortunate enough to already have a doctor that follows pregnancies, many other offices will not consider taking you on as a patient. Our system is seriously overloaded but luckily, when it comes to pregnancy you have a ticket in!
If you are pregnant in Montreal, you will have a medical care provider - you may have to work for it and make lots of phone calls but, you will succeed!
The strategy I suggest to newly pregnant Montrealers involves shopping around for the TYPE of care you want and then choose the PLACE you want to birth your baby.
Here are a few questions for you consider if you are thinking about getting pregnant (or, right after getting a positive pregnancy test).
First decision: Midwifery Care OR Physician's Care?
Second Decision: Family Doctor OR Ob-Gyn?
Third Decision: Which Montreal hospital do you want to deliver in?
Part 1 of Pregnant in Montreal
I am about to turn this conversation on its head. Most blog posts about choosing a care provider for your pregnancy focus on the provider’s responses to certain questions. For example; what is your C section rate? Do you encourage VBACs (Vaginal Birth After Cesarean)? Do you cut routine Episiotomies?
While these are good questions, I dare say you’ll get the exact same answer from every doctor in the Greater Montreal area: 1) "I don’t know my C section rate, I only do C sections when they are medically necessary". 2) "VBAC, sure! We’ll discuss it as you get closer to your due date". 3) "No". Or, "only when medically necessary".
Here in Montreal, it is NOT an easy feat to shop for a care provider. The Quebec Medicare system does not leave a lot of room for picking and choosing when it comes to selecting health care practitioners. In fact, if you are fortunate enough to already have a doctor that follows pregnancies, many other offices will not consider taking you on as a patient. Our system is seriously overloaded but luckily, when it comes to pregnancy you have a ticket in!
If you are pregnant in Montreal, you will have a medical care provider - you may have to work for it and make lots of phone calls but, you will succeed!
The strategy I suggest to newly pregnant Montrealers involves shopping around for the TYPE of care you want and then choose the PLACE you want to birth your baby.
Here are a few questions for you consider if you are thinking about getting pregnant (or, right after getting a positive pregnancy test).
First decision: Midwifery Care OR Physician's Care?
Second Decision: Family Doctor OR Ob-Gyn?
Third Decision: Which Montreal hospital do you want to deliver in?
Part 1 of Pregnant in Montreal
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