• Highland Maternity Group (family physicians)
• Cedar House Birth Collective  (family physicians and midwives)
• Plum Midwifery (midwives)

Pregnant in Comox Valley: a website developed to help individuals make decisions regarding their pregnancy, whether the pregnancy is planned or unplanned, information regarding available supports and essential steps for each pregnancy stage. Maternity care is covered by British Columbia provincial health insurance (MSP) as long as you have a valid BC Care Card.

What is the difference between a family physician and a midwife?

Family physicians in the Comox Valley perform deliveries at North Island Hospital Comox Valley. If you choose a family doctor to be your Maternity Care Provider, you can expect:

• Comprehensive care for both pregnancy and other medical conditions (new or pre-existing)
• Availability on-call 24 hours per day throughout pregnancy and after the birth of your baby
• Breastfeeding support and well-baby care for your newborn
• Collaboration with other care providers and community supports including public health nursing, obstetricians, and paediatricians as needed
• Referral back to your Family Doctor or Nurse Practitioner at approximately 6 weeks postpartum

Midwives are specialists in low risk pregnancy and birth. Registered Midwives in BC offer primary maternity care to healthy pregnant individuals and their babies from early pregnancy, through labour and birth, until about six weeks postpartum. 

Midwives in the Comox Valley work in small groups to provide continuity of care, which means that you are likely to know the midwife who attends your birth. Each visit with your midwife is approximately 30-45 minutes in length. This provides the time to learn about pregnancy, birth and the newborn, and to enable parents to ask questions to make informed choices. 

Following the birth visits take place at home for the first 1-2 weeks and focus primarily on the newborn, breastfeeding, and the mom's recovery.