About our Clinic
Our clinic shares office space with Northern Centre for Integrated Medicine, which includes Naturopathic Physicians, Nutritionists, Physiotherapists, Midwives, Counsellors and Medical Physicians.
We are located at 206-1811 Victoria Street, centrally located in Prince George. Within our local neighbourhood there area a diversity of shops, cafés, banks, and compounding pharmacies. We are within five minutes driving distance to all local lab services, ultrasound clinics and the University Hospital of Northern B.C. Being on a main street, we are highly accessible to those using public transportation. There is also ample free street parking nearby.
NMC was founded by Jane Hedges B.MW., R.M., who works in collaboration with Doula's in the Prince George Community. Together we unite to provide you
with the highest standard of pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Between us, we have
attended over 600 births and have been privileged to participate in
midwifery practice both in BC and overseas.
In British Columbia, midwives work as primary care providers and
are fully funded by the government’s Medical Services Plan. There is no
additional charge to you.
We offer you and your family with personalized
prenatal, labour, birth and postpartum care 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year. We offer home and hospital birth, and we have admitting privileges
at University Hospital of Northern BC and GR Baker Hospital. As a Midwife we are registered with the College of Midwives of British Columbia and are
also members of the Midwives Association of British Columbia.
NMC works very closely with other health care professionals in order to provide a consistent standard of
care. We meet regularly for peer review and professional development. We
share responsibility for staying current with research on maternity and
newborn care to deliver you and your family the highest quality
evidence-based care.
We have a
selection of books and toys for young children who may be accompanying
you on prenatal visits. We offer a small but growing lending library on a variety of topics, including prenatal, birth and breastfeeding books and DVDs.
Midwifery Model of Care
Midwives are specialists in the care of healthy women and babies.
We view pregnancy and birth as normal, healthy, family-centered
life events. Our model is a collaborative model, and we consult with
our colleagues such as physicians, lactation consultants, and
alternative care providers should maternal or newborn complications
develop. Our care is fully funded through the Medical Services Plan
and there is no charge to you for midwifery care.
Informed choice is a fundamental principle of midwifery care in B.C.
Midwives recognize the childbearing woman as the primary
decision-maker in her care, and we commit to empowering families to
take on this role by providing time, information, and guidance about
choices in maternity and newborn care. We anticipate that you will also
actively seek out other sources of information in order to make
informed choices.
NMC a Solo Midwifery Practice
Your care will be provided by Jane Hedges RM, seeing one Midwife throughout your pregnancy allows for nine months to get to know your Midwife and develop a personal relationship. Jane will provide your prenatal
visits, attend your labour
and birth. In addition to clinic visits, Jane will
be available to you 24 hours a day 7 days a week for urgent concerns throughout your pregnancy and birth experience.
Prenatal Care
Prenatal care is provided at our clinic on Victoria Street. Our
prenatal visits are generally 30 to 45 minutes long, and follow the
standard antenatal schedule of every four-five weeks up to 28 weeks
pregnant, every two-three weeks up to 36 weeks pregnant, and weekly until
you have the baby.
Prenatal care includes urinalysis, monitoring blood
pressure, fetal growth, fetal heart rate and position and the general
well-being of mother and baby, and plays an important role in
preventing and detecting problems that can arise in pregnancy. In
addition, we pay close attention to the social and emotional aspects of
your pregnancy and transition into parenthood.
Your support people and your children are welcome to join
you at prenatal visits. Please be on time for your appointments and
give as much notice as possible if you must cancel a visit.
Prenatal Education & Doulas
Attending prenatal education classes is recommended as part of
your birth preparation, especially for first-time parents. We are happy to discuss the options available in our community. It is recommend
that you research and book your class early. An ideal time to take
prenatal classes is between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. Many of our clients attend classes with Expecting Miracles Birthing Naturally Classes and we have received great feedback about these classes.
Doulas are a MUST! Doulas are ;,independent support people hired by parents to
support and assist them at the birth. Both the medical evidence and
our anecdotal experiences support doulas as very positive members of
the birthing team. We encourage you to use the services of a doula and
are happy to refer you to one.
Labour and Delivery
By the time your labour begins, your midwives are aware of your
wishes and plans for this special event. We will have discussed
important issues requiring your decision-making as well as what to
expect at the time of birth and during the first weeks postpartum.
When you are in active labour, your Midwife will
attend you. For a planned hospital birth we often attend you in your
home until your labour is well-established and then move to hospital
for the birth. Following the birth, your midwife will complete the
care of you and your baby, and assist with early feeding. When all is
well, many of our clients choose to leave the hospital a few hours
after the birth and the majority of postpartum care is provided in your
home.
Many women choose to birth their babies at home. In this
case, a second midwife will arrive close to the birth of the baby to
help out. Every woman will receive safe and comprehensive care in
whichever setting she chooses to birth.
Postpartum Care
Midwives provide care for you and your baby for the first six
weeks postpartum and we remain on-call for you and your baby in case of
emergency. We usually make three postpartum visits in the first
week, generally in your home, followed by check-ups in the clinic.
Around 6 weeks postpartum, we will see you and your baby for your last
visit and then discharge you both back to your family physician for
ongoing care. If you do not already have a family physician, we can
help refer you to one.
Appointment Times
If you must cancel your appointment, please give us as much
notice as possible. Please expect that our office manager may need
to reschedule your appointments from time to time due to the
unpredictable nature of midwives’ schedules, and ensure that she has
all your contact numbers.
