New Postnatal Care at Home Program offered by two Montfort Midwives

An initiative of the Family Birthing Centre

Ottawa, May 4, 2018 - Montfort is proud to launch a unique initiative in Canada. Ottawa-area mothers who deliver at Montfort with a family physician or obstetrician will have access to postnatal midwifery care from the comfort of their own homes.

The academic hospital will hire two midwives dedicated to this hybrid program. From now on, expecting mothers will be able to attend an information session during their pregnancy, and in the case of low-risk deliveries, new mothers will have the option of returning home within 24 hours following birth.

Mothers participating in the program will receive home visits from these two midwives during the first week following delivery. A home visit will take place during the first 24 hours after returning home to assess the mother and baby's condition and conduct routine testing for the newborn. Subsequent visits will be organized around the routine follow-up visit with their family physician or pediatrician. Home visits will be offered seven days a week.

Prior to delivery, all patients followed by a family physician or obstetrician from Montfort will be offered to participate in a group information session, offered by the midwife, on the transition to home for mother and baby and breastfeeding.

This innovative program is made possible through close interprofessional collaboration among family physicians, obstetricians, midwives, pediatricians and nurses.

This new approach responds to requests from new mothers who want to return home sooner and express the need for support at home after delivery. It provides a safe alternative for mothers and babies.

Of the 3,200 deliveries that take place each year at the Montfort Family Birthing Centre, it has been conservatively estimated that 600 mothers would qualify for the program. The hiring of the two midwives dedicated to the program will make it possible to accompany approximately 250 of these new mothers the first year.

Montfort is excited about this project, which will be the subject of studies by Dr. Wendy Peterson, School of Nursing at the University of Ottawa, and researcher affiliated with the Institut du Savoir Montfort and other members of the Family Birthing Centre. The program may be adopted by other Canadian hospitals.

Montfort is Ontario’s Francophone Academic Hospital, offering exemplary person-centred care. Affiliated to the University of Ottawa, the hospital serves over 1.2 million people in Eastern Ontario, in both official languages. Thanks to its partnership with the Institut du Savoir Montfort, a knowledge institute, Montfort has joined the ranks of Canada’s top 40 research hospitals. The daily actions of the Montfort team are guided by compassion, respect, mutual support, excellence and accountability.

For more information about the Montfort Postnatal Care-at-Home Program, visit the 'After' section of the following page. 

For more information about or to register for a prenatal information session, visit the 'Before' section of the following page. 

- 30 -

Media: 
Department of Communications 
613-746-4621, extension 2049 
communications@montfort.on.ca