Can You Have a Midwife If You’re Planning a Scheduled C-Section in Ontario?

When people think of midwives, they often picture home births, birth pools, and unmedicated vaginal births.

And while midwives absolutely do support many physiologic births, that is not the whole picture.

Something many families do not realize is this:

In Ontario, planning a scheduled C-section does not automatically mean you cannot have midwifery care.

This is especially important for families who want the continuity, longer appointments, postpartum visits, newborn care, and breastfeeding support that midwives are known for — even if the actual birth will happen by caesarean.

Midwives are not just for home births

Midwives in Ontario are health-care professionals who provide government-funded primary care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum for both the parent and baby. You do not need a referral to apply for midwifery care; you can contact a midwifery practice directly.

Many midwifery clients give birth in hospital. According to the Association of Ontario Midwives, from April 2023 to March 2024, 86% of midwifery clients gave birth in hospital, while 11% gave birth at home and 1.4% gave birth at a birth centre.

So even though midwifery is often associated with home birth, the majority of midwifery clients in Ontario are actually giving birth in hospital.

What happens if you are planning a C-section?

A C-section is a surgical birth, so the surgery itself is managed by a physician, usually an obstetrician.

The College of Midwives of Ontario explains that midwives attend spontaneous vaginal births within their scope of practice, and a caesarean birth requires transfer of care to a physician for the birth itself. But that transfer may be temporary, and the midwife can continue providing care in collaboration with the physician when appropriate.

In plain language, this means:

Your midwife won’t be the provider performing or managing the C-section.

But depending on the clinic, hospital, and your specific situation, you may still be able to receive midwifery care during pregnancy and postpartum.

This might include prenatal appointments, informed choice discussions, emotional preparation, newborn care, breastfeeding support, postpartum recovery checks, and home or community follow-up after birth.

Why would someone want a midwife if they are having a scheduled C-section?

Because birth is only one part of the experience.

For many families, midwifery care is valuable because of the relationship and continuity. Prenatal visits are often longer than typical appointments, and there is more time to talk through your questions, preferences, fears, and recovery plan.

And after birth, midwifery care can be incredibly helpful.

The Association of Ontario Midwives says postpartum care includes monitoring your recovery, caring for your baby, feeding support, newborn assessments, jaundice screening, weight checks, emotional well-being, and referrals when needed. Midwives may provide close follow-up shortly after birth and several more visits in the weeks that follow.

For someone recovering from a C-section, that kind of support can matter so much.

You may have questions about your incision, bleeding, pain, swelling, feeding, milk coming in, baby’s weight, emotional recovery, or simply whether what you are experiencing is normal.

Having a provider who already knows you and your baby can make that early postpartum period feel less lonely and less fragmented.

Not every clinic will be able to take every client

This part matters too.

Even though planning a C-section does not automatically mean midwifery care is impossible, availability can vary.

Some midwifery practices may have limited spots. Some may have different hospital arrangements. Some may not be able to accept clients who already know they will need physician-led birth care. And in some areas, especially smaller or rural communities, midwifery care can be harder to access.

The Association of Ontario Midwives recommends contacting a practice as early in pregnancy as possible because demand often exceeds availability.

So if you are pregnant and hoping for midwifery care, it is worth reaching out early and asking directly.

Questions to ask when you contact a midwifery clinic

If you are planning a scheduled C-section or think you may need one, you can ask:

“Do you accept clients who are planning a scheduled C-section?”

“Would I be able to receive prenatal care with your clinic even if the birth is transferred to an OB?”

“What does care look like around the time of the C-section?”

“Would you provide postpartum and newborn care after the birth?”

“Would my midwife be able to attend the hospital with me, or resume care after discharge?”

“Are there any hospital or clinic policies I should know about?”

These questions can help you understand what is actually available in your area.

The takeaway

You do not have to be planning a home birth to want a midwife.

You do not have to be planning an unmedicated birth.

And you do not necessarily have to be planning a vaginal birth.

If you are having a scheduled C-section, you may still want midwifery care for the parts of pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn life where that support can make a huge difference.

A C-section may change who is responsible for the birth itself.

But it does not always mean midwifery care is off the table.

If this is something you are interested in, reach out to your local midwifery clinics early and ask what options are available to you.