| About Us |
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| Principles of Midwifery Care |
| Continuity of care |
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You will have the opportunity to establish a relationship of trust
with your midwives. You will have the same caregivers throughout
your pregnancy, labour, birth and in the postpartum period. |
| Informed Choice |
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There are many choices to make in pregnancy regarding your care.
We support you as the primary decision maker. This involves discussing
available testing, procedures and interventions and their advantages,
disadvantages and research evidence. Our 45 minute appointments
give us the time to discuss these issues so that you can make appropriate
decisions. |
| Choice of Birthplace |
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Some women feel safer in hospital, while others feel safe and
more comfortable in the familiar surroundings of their home. In
accordance with international medical and midwifery research findings,
we support the choice of planned home birth as a safe option for
healthy women with low-risk pregnancies. |
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Midwifery care is free
to women who are residents of Ontario.
Funding is provided by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. |
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Midwifery care involves
clinic and home visits, physical assessments, lab work, time to
address
your questions, and discussion of a number of topics such as: |
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Nutrition, exercise and lifestyle |
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Normal physical and emotional changes during pregnancy |
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Diagnostic procedures and medical interventions |
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Preparation for labour and birth |
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Abnormalities, complications and emergency measures |
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Infant care and breastfeeding |
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Postpartum adjustment and parenting |
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Fertility awareness and family planning |
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| A complete explanation of our
philosophy and services is contained in our Informed
Choice Agreement. The full text of the agreement is here. |
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| Madawaska Valley Midwives: Biographies |
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| Leslie and Kilmeny |
Leslie Chapley, Registered
Midwife
My interest in midwifery started in the early 1990’s
and peaked around 1993 with the legislation of midwifery in Ontario.
I initially became part of a volunteer doula group in Peterborough
and helped women in difficult life situations during their labours.
I subsequently travelled to El Paso, Texas where I did a 4 month
introduction to midwifery course at a birthing centre. On my return,
I worked as a 2nd birth attendant for the Kawartha Community Midwives.
In 1998 I entered the Midwifery Education Programme at Ryerson University
as a part-time student. For the academic portion of my education,
I commuted from Renfrew County (I became very skilled at reading
on a moving bus). The practical aspect of my education was done
full-time. My student midwifery practicums were done in Kingston,
Thunder-Bay, and Ottawa. My hospital and obstetrical practicums
were done in Pembroke at the Pembroke Regional Hospital.
My first year of practice as a midwife was with the Midwives Grey
Simcoe, a 6-7 midwife practice following a shared care model. I
had privileges at Grey Bruce Health Services – Owen Sound,
Collingwood General and Marine Hospital and South Bruce Grey Health
Services – Walkerton. It was a very large and primarily rural
catchment area. I believe that my experience there will bode me
well for working in Renfrew County.
Starting this new practice is a dream come true. When I am not dreaming,
you may find me knitting, walking with my black lab/border collie
pup, or just generally enjoying our beautiful outdoors here in Renfrew
County.
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Kilmeny Heron, Registered Midwife
The idea of pursuing midwifery as a profession began during my first
pregnancy and the birth of my daughter in 1994. Not satisfied with
my employment prospects after completing a degree in Urban and Regional
Planning from the University of Waterloo, I realized I needed the
challenge and fullfilment that midwifery offered. I was accepted
into the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson University shortly
after the birth of my son in 1997. I choose to complete the program
part time over the course of 7 years. My student midwifery placements
were primarily in Toronto, as well as Kitchener-Waterloo. After
graduating in 2004 I accepted a position with the St. Lawrence Valley
Midwives, a small rural practice serving a large rural catchment
area between Ottawa and the St. Lawrence River. I had privileges
at the Winchester District Memorial Hospital where we had a full
scope of practice and enjoyed excellent working relations with the
obstetrician, family physicians and nurses.
I am thrilled to make Renfrew County my home and intend to enjoy
to the fullest its natural beauty. Otherwise you can find me curled
up in a chair reading a good book.
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