Clinical Courses & Placements

Clinical courses combine academic work with clinical placements in midwifery practices. Throughout the Program students are placed in more than one midwifery practice. In these courses students are able to develop clinical skills over five terms during which they are providing care for women and their babies throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and up to six weeks postpartum under the supervision of midwife preceptors. Students from the three universities are also combined in weekly, three-hour tutorial groups based on geographic location. Students may have to relocate or travel for clinical placements.

Students have clinical placements with an obstetrician as well as in hospital settings with obstetric and neonatal care nurses. There is also a one month elective placement in a site of the student's choice, related to maternal and/or newborn care. Some students have opted for international placements in their electives.

Clinical Requirements for Students

Successful completion of the Program includes the following in order to meet registration requirements of the College of Midwives of Ontario.

• Attendance at a minimum of 60 births
• Students must be involved as a primary care-provider for 40 of the 60 births
• 10 births must be at home, 5 as a primary care-provider
• 10 births must be in the hospital

Student involvement in 30 births must include continuity of care through pregnancy, labour, birth and the puerperium (the first six weeks after birth)