Your Questions |
Glossary of Terms YOUR
QUESTIONS
- Who can be referred to FPMS Birthdocs?
answer...
- When should I be referred to the
FPMS? answer...
- How do I get referred to the FPMS?
answer...
- How often do I meet with the FPMS
doctor? answer...
- Do I see my regular family doctor
also during my pregnancy?
answer...
- What happens if I need to see an
FPMS doctor urgently? answer...
- What if I need to see an Obstetrician?
answer...
- Do I go back to my regular family
physician after my baby is born?
answer...
- How do the doctors feel about doulas
and other labour support people? answer...
- I have a lot of questions about pregnancy,
labour, birth, and baby care. Where can I get information?
answer...
- Which doctor might be present at
my birth? answer...
- Will I get a chance to meet all of
the FPMS doctors? answer...
- Can others come with me to appointments
and for labour and birth? answer...
- How are medical students involved?
answer...
- What is Centering Pregnancy? answer...
- What is the difference between a
doctor and a midwife? Could I see both? answer...
- Do you have any further questions?
If so, please email us at:info@birthdocs.ca
1. Who can be referred to the FPMS Birthdocs?
Answer: Anyone who is pregnant who
wishes to see an FPMS doctor can be referred. Usually you
must be a resident of Vancouver but certain exceptions apply.
Contact us…
2. When should I be referred to the FPMS?
Answer: As soon as you know you are
pregnant.
3. How do I get referred to the FPMS?
Answer: You can be referred by your
family doctor, or you can refer yourself. See physicians
referral form or self
referral form.
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4. How often do I meet with the FPMS doctor?
Answer: After a few visits in early pregnancy
you will meet with your doctor once a month. Later in pregnancy,
you will see the doctor more often. In the last month, visits
occur every week. See Your Journey...
5. Do I see my regular family doctor also during my
pregnancy?
Answer: Your FPMS doctor usually provides
all your prenatal care. For other health concerns we encourage
you to see your regular family physician. After your baby
is born, we will arrange for you to return to your family
physician. If you don’t have a family physician, we
will help you to find one.
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6. What happens if I need to see an FPMS doctor urgently?
Answer: One of our doctors is always
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The FPMS doctor on-call
will answer your phone call promptly, and will see you in
hospital if necessary. See contact us…
7. What if I need to see an Obstetrician?
Answer: Your FPMS doctor will arrange for you
to see an obstetrician if necessary. If a specialist becomes
involved in your care, the FPMS doctor will continue to see
you.
8. Do I go back to my regular family doctor after my
baby is born?
Answer: Absolutely! One of the advantages of
FPMS is that we are all family doctors and we understand how
important your family doctor is to you. After the birth we
will help you return to your family doctor with your newest
family member.
9. How do the doctors feel about doulas and other labour
support people?
Answer: We want to help you create a comfortable
and supportive atmosphere throughout your pregnancy, labour,
and birth. Each woman will decide whom she wants on her labour
support team. Doulas are trained professionals in labour support
and their presence has been shown to shorten labour and to
increase mothers’ satisfaction with their birth. We
consider them valuable team members. We welcome your friends,
family members, and doulas at all visits and during labour
and birth.
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10. I have a lot of questions
about pregnancy, labour, birth, and baby care. Where can I
get information?
Answer: We welcome questions and discussion
during your doctor visits. At Meet
the Doctors Night there is a lot of information shared
to help prepare for labour and birth. Prenatal classes are
an excellent source of information and an opportunity to meet
other pregnant women. See
our resources page for books and articles… In our
Centering Pregnancy Groups, each meeting has mother-led discussion
and questions about pregnancy, birth, and early parenting.
11. Which doctor might be present at my birth?
Answer: You will have the same doctor for most
of your clinic visits. For labour, birth and emergencies,
the FPMS doctors take turns being on call for 24 hours at
a time approximately once a week. This doctor is available
to talk to you on the phone and to be with you in labour and
birth at any time of day or night.
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12. Will I get a chance
to meet all of the doctors?
Answer: Yes. Near your due-month you are invited
to Meet the Doctors Night where you can see all the doctors
that might be on call when you are in labour. Topics are discussed
that help you prepare for labour and birth and there is plenty
of time to visit, ask questions, and listen to stories of
other births. Friends, family and doulas are welcome.
13. Can others come with me to the hospital for appointments
and for labour and birth?
Answer: We welcome any family members or support
people you wish to have with you during appointments, labour,
birth, and the newborn period.
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14. How are medical students
involved?
Answer: Because BC Women’s is a teaching
hospital, you might be asked to have a student (nurse, physician,
or midwife) involved in your care. All learners are carefully
supervised by your doctor. Read
Medical Students and Resident Doctors PDF...
15.
What is Centering Pregnancy?
Answer: Centering Pregnancy is an innovative
style of prenatal care that combines prenatal education and
medical care in one visit. Women join a group of 8-10 other
women (partners are welcome) who are all due near the same
time and meet once a month for approximately 1.5 hours. See
your Journey...
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16. What is the difference between a doctor
and a midwife? Should I see both?
Answer: In British Columbia, Family Doctors,
Registered Midwives, and Obstetricians are all licensed to
provide maternity care. Women can choose any one of these
three caregivers. Obstetricians are specialists with extra
training in surgery and complicated pregnancies, such as twin
pregnancies. Family doctors provide general medical care and
maternity care for normal pregnancies and can care for babies
and the other members of the family. Midwives are trained
to provide care for normal pregnancy and are able to offer
the option of birth either at home or in the hospital. They
will care for a mother and baby up to 6 weeks after the birth.
In B.C. you can choose either a family doctor or a midwife,
but not both. Feel free to discuss this with your doctor if
you need more information.
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