How to find a midwife in Canada
The short version: start early, expect wait lists, and know that you deserve this care. Here is what actually happens, province by province.
Midwifery care in Canada is publicly funded in most provinces, which sounds great until you realize that demand consistently outstrips supply. In many cities, midwifery practices fill their entire caseload for the year within a few months. If you want a midwife, you need to move earlier than you think.
Here is the honest, practical guide to finding a registered midwife in Canada, broken down by province.
What does a midwife actually do?
In Canada, registered midwives provide full scope of care for low-risk pregnancies. That includes prenatal appointments (usually longer and more conversational than OB visits), attending your birth at home or in hospital or birth centre depending on your province, and postpartum visits for up to 6 weeks after birth. You will get to know your midwife before labour, which matters a lot when things get intense.
Midwives also work alongside OBs when needed. If your pregnancy becomes higher-risk, you will transfer to or share care with an obstetrician, but in many provinces your midwife stays involved.
Province-by-province guide
British Columbia
Midwifery is publicly funded in BC. Registered midwives are regulated by the College of Midwives of BC. You can search the Cradld directory to find a registered midwife in your city, or contact the College directly. Demand is high, especially in Vancouver, Victoria, and the Fraser Valley. Start looking as early as 6 to 8 weeks pregnant.
Browse midwives in British Columbia on CradldOntario
Ontario has one of the largest midwifery workforces in Canada. Midwifery is provincially funded via OHIP for the entire scope of care. The College of Midwives of Ontario maintains the register. Wait times in Toronto, Ottawa, and Hamilton can be long. Put your name on multiple wait lists early.
Browse midwives in Ontario on CradldAlberta
In Alberta, midwifery care is publicly funded. The Alberta College of Midwives regulates practice. Calgary and Edmonton have the most midwives. Rural and northern Alberta still have significant gaps in access, so if you live outside a major city, cast a wide net early.
Browse midwives in Alberta on CradldQuebec
Quebec funds midwifery through birth centres (Maisons de naissance) and some hospital settings. The Ordre des sages-femmes du Quebec regulates midwives. Most publicly funded care happens through birth centres, and spots fill quickly. Private midwifery care is also available.
Browse midwives in Quebec on CradldManitoba
Manitoba regulates midwives through the College of Midwives of Manitoba. Publicly funded midwifery care is available in Winnipeg and some other areas. Coverage is growing but patchy outside urban centres.
Browse midwives in Manitoba on CradldSaskatchewan
Saskatchewan funds midwifery care in several Health Authorities. The Saskatchewan Registered Midwives Association is a good first contact. Access varies significantly by region.
Browse midwives in Saskatchewan on CradldNova Scotia
Nova Scotia has publicly funded midwifery in Halifax and select areas. The Nova Scotia College of Midwives oversees registration. Access is limited outside Halifax right now.
Browse midwives in Nova Scotia on CradldNew Brunswick
New Brunswick introduced publicly funded midwifery in recent years. It is still developing, and access is concentrated in a few urban centres. Check the Cradld directory for current listings.
Browse midwives in New Brunswick on CradldTips for landing a spot
- Contact practices as early as possible. Some fill up before 8 weeks of pregnancy. Get your positive test, call the same day.
- Put your name on multiple wait lists. You can always decline a spot if you already have one.
- Be flexible about which midwife on the team attends your birth. Group practice models mean more availability.
- Ask your family doctor or OB for a referral. Some practices have informal referral networks.
- If you cannot find a midwife, a birth doula is not a replacement but can provide meaningful support during labour and postpartum.
Search the Cradld directory
The Cradld midwifery directory for Canada pulls together registered midwives from provincial regulatory databases so you can search by city and contact practices directly. It is not a booking system. Think of it as a starting point.
You can also browse by province: British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick.
What if you can not find a midwife?
It happens. Midwifery capacity in Canada has not kept pace with demand. If you end up with an OB or family physician instead, that is not a failure. Advocate for what you need in appointments, consider hiring a birth doula for continuous labour support, and lean on your support network.
The perinatal period is hard no matter how you go through it. You deserve support from all sides, including in the in-between hours. That is what Mira is here for.