Self-Referring for Prenatal Care
If you need prenatal care for your pregnancy, you should first visit your primary care provider. If your primary care provider is not specialized in caring for pregnant individuals, then you should ask them to refer you to a provider who can care for you during your pregnancy. Many patients can receive care from a family doctor or midwife, while other pregnancies may require specialist care from an obstetrician.
If you do not have a family doctor, you DO NOT need a referral to see a family doctor who delivers babies (FM-OB, "family medicine obstetrics") or midwife. The FM Prenatal Self Referral List provides contact information for family medicine providers who are open to taking new patients for the duration of their pregnancy.
Please note: these providers are unable to take patients on as their long-term family doctor. During your pregnancy, your baby can also be added to the Unattached Newborn list to ensure your baby has care for the first few months of life while awaiting attachment to a long-term doctor.
Midwives provide complete care during pregnancy and postpartum, including: regular visits, diagnostic tests, routine bloodwork, and emotional support. You can call a midwife as soon as you know you are pregnant to request care; you do not need a referral from a doctor. If you would like a midwife to care for your pregnancy you can request an intake form by emailing midwiferyintake@iwk.nshealth.ca or by calling the clinic at 902-491-2292. Please note: you may be placed on a waitlist due to the high demand for midwifery care.
In need of a family doctor?
Call 811 or visit and register at the Need a Family Practice Registry to be notified when a primary care provider in your area is accepting new patients.