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What is the birthing centre’s mission?
The birthing centre is a place for pregnant women and their families. It is a home nestled in the community, a physical location separate from the hospital but still part of the public health network. To maintain the warm, intimate, family-like environment, the birthing centre caps the number of comprehensive maternity follow-ups it provides at 400 per year.
The physical environment and equipment at the birthing centre are designed to encourage and support the natural, physiological process of pregnancy, delivery and the immediate postpartum period. It is an ideal place for the development of midwifery practice, training and research.
What is the birthing centre’s vision?
The birthing centre is a living environment that meets the needs of the community in which it is located. We foster a social and civic vision of birth that recognizes the process as belonging to women and their families. Families play a key role in shaping the birthing centre into a place where they can feel at home.
Input from parents, to whom the birthing centre provides resources tailored to their reality, is central to the community aspect of the birthing centre. We encourage them to set up and maintain a parents’ committee. The birthing centre also organizes community activities on health and parenting as a way to build relationships.
When will the birthing centre open?
Temporary locations
The opening of the birthing centre is a project that will span several years. In order to offer midwifery services as quickly as possible, we will begin providing services at temporary locations.
- Start of services: February 2024
Development of the birthing centre
The CISSS de la Montérégie-Ouest is working with local municipalities and elected officials to identify a location that will best meet the needs of the population.
- Current stage: Request for proposals underway