FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
ARE YOU ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS?
At present, the Mom Care Docs are accepting new patients for pregnancy care, delivery and postpartum care. An appointment can be made directly by a patient or through a referral from a family doctor.
The Allin Clinic is not currently accepting new patients for general practice at this time.
IS MOM CARE DOCS AS SAFE AS AN OBSTETRICIAN?
As long as you are considered a low-risk patient and your pregnancy continues without major complications, being cared for by a family doctor is as safe for you and your baby as seeing an obstetrician. If complications ever do occur, we can rapidly consult or transfer your care to an obstetrician.
AM I A LOW-RISK PATIENT?
If you are generally healthy, do not have high blood pressure, diabetes, or epilepsy, and have had 1 or no previous C-sections, you are most likely low-risk. Most low-risk patients can be seen by a family doctor who delivers babies for their whole pregnancy and labour. If complications develop during your pregnancy or in labour, we work closely with the obstetricians at the Royal Alex and will consult with them as necessary to give you the best care.
CAN I PICK MY OWN DOCTOR?
You have the opportunity to meet all the doctors through your prenatal appointments. If you prefer to see one doctor, you can book your appointments for when that doctor is in clinic. However, the doctors share the on-call schedule for deliveries at the hospital so when baby decides to arrive the doctor on-call will be there to help!
WHEN CAN I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH MOM CARE DOCS?
You can have your family doctor refer to us, or you can make an appointment directly with us when you know you are pregnant. We offer appointments between 9:00 am to 3:30 pm Monday to Friday at The Allin Clinic.
AM I GOING TO SEE STUDENTS OR RESIDENTS AT MY VISITS?
Mom Care Docs is proud to teach resident physicians and medical students in clinic and in hospital. If there is a learner working with us at your visit or while you are in hospital, you do have the option of seeing only a Mom Care Doc physician. If you choose to assist us in teaching these budding professionals in the clinic, a Mom Care Doc physician will always see you as well.
WHERE WILL MY BABY BE DELIVERED IN EDMONTON?
We deliver at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The Labour and Delivery ward is located on the fourth floor of the Robbins Pavilion (Lois Hole Hospital for Women). This is on the West side of the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
10245 111 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta.
HOW LONG CAN I EXPECT TO BE AT MY CLINIC APPOINTMENTS?
The first and second visits usually take about 30 minutes to complete, as we take a detailed medical history, do a physical examination and provide you with lots of information to keep your pregnancy safe and healthy. After this, your visits usually take 10-15 minutes.
As we are a group practice, we have a dedicated doctor-on-call each day for deliveries, so the clinic doctor does not have to leave to attend patients in the hospital.
CAN I GIVE BIRTH IN A TUB?
We deliver babies at the Royal Alexandra Hospital where birthing tubs are not permitted. All birthing rooms have bath tubs and showers which many women find helpful for pain relief during labour, but you would need to come out of the tub for delivery.
WILL I MEET THE DOCTOR WHO DELIVERS MY BABY BEFORE I GET TO THE HOSPITAL?
You should have the chance to meet most or even all of the doctors if you book appointments with different doctors for each visit. If you prefer to stick to one or two docs for your prenatal visits, then most people find that during the admission and labour process, they build a relationship with the delivering Mom Care Doc.
SHOULD MOM CARE DOCS TAKE THE PLACE OF MY FAMILY PHYSICIAN?
Mom Care Docs physicians only provide pregnancy and delivery care.
Patients are encouraged to have a family physician to manage other health concerns. The Edmonton Oliver Primary Care Network can help to connect you with a family physician.
Please let us know who you want to care for your baby (your family doctor or pediatrician). We can take care of your baby while you are in hospital if your doctor does not do so. We ask that you take your baby to your family doctor or pediatrician one week after delivery for follow up.
DO MOM CARE DOCS WORK WITH DOULAS?
Coping with labour and delivery can be stressful and we are happy to accommodate the people who support you through this process, whether they are a spouse, family member, or doula. Your doula, however, would not replace your physician for providing medical care and advice.
I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS, HOW CAN I CONTACT MOM CARE DOCS?
Please feel welcome to call our office at
(780) 482-7551 ext 212.