Pregnant in Montreal? Need healthcare? Read this!
I might be about to turn this conversation on its head, as a doula working alongside Montreal maternity care providers, I've learned a few things along the way. Most blog posts about choosing a care provider for your pregnancy (especially from our neighbors to the South) focus on the provider’s responses to certain questions. For example;
While these are good questions, I dare say you’ll get the exact same answer from every doctor in the Greater Montreal area:
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. 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 choosing the PLACE you want to birth your baby. Once you've figured where you want to birth, it is much easier focusing your energy on contacting the associated offices, clinics and practices.
Here are a few questions for you consider if you are thinking about getting pregnant (or, right after getting a positive pregnancy test - eeek!!)...
- 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:
- "I don’t know my C section rate, I only do C sections when they are medically necessary".
- "VBAC, sure! We’ll discuss it as you get closer to your due date". Btw this is a bit of a red flag for me. If a doctor does not want to discuss VBAC from the get go, you have to wonder how supportive of VBAC they really are.
- "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. 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 choosing the PLACE you want to birth your baby. Once you've figured where you want to birth, it is much easier focusing your energy on contacting the associated offices, clinics and practices.
Here are a few questions for you consider if you are thinking about getting pregnant (or, right after getting a positive pregnancy test - eeek!!)...
For more information on the following choices please select:
Part 2: Midwifery Care OR Physician's Care?
Part 3: Family Doctor OR Ob-Gyn?
Part 4: What is the Best Hospital for MY Birth?
Part 5: List of Montreal Hospitals with Birthing Units
Part 6: FAQs on Pregnancy and Birth in Montreal
Part 2: Midwifery Care OR Physician's Care?
Part 3: Family Doctor OR Ob-Gyn?
Part 4: What is the Best Hospital for MY Birth?
Part 5: List of Montreal Hospitals with Birthing Units
Part 6: FAQs on Pregnancy and Birth in Montreal
Part 1 of Pregnant in Montreal?
Copyright © 2016 Heather Collins, Birth Doula