Pregnancy and Childbirth Guide for Newcomers in Canada
By WelcomeAide Team
Quick Summary
- Prenatal care, hospital births, and medically necessary procedures related to pregnancy and childbirth are covered by provincial health insurance in Canada.
- You can choose to receive prenatal and delivery care from a family doctor, an obstetrician, or a registered midwife.
- Midwifery care is fully covered by provincial health insurance in most provinces and includes the option of home birth.
- Maternity leave (15 weeks) and parental leave (up to 61 weeks) are available through Employment Insurance (EI) for eligible workers.
- The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) provides tax-free monthly payments to families with children under 18.
- You must register your baby's birth with your provincial vital statistics office, typically within 30 days of birth.
Prenatal Care in Canada
If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in Canada, the first step is to confirm your pregnancy with a doctor or nurse practitioner and begin prenatal care as early as possible. Prenatal care refers to the regular medical check-ups and monitoring you receive throughout your pregnancy. In Canada, prenatal care is covered by your provincial health insurance (for example, MSP in British Columbia, OHIP in Ontario, or RAMQ in Quebec), so there is no cost for routine prenatal appointments, blood tests, ultrasounds, or other medically necessary services.
During your pregnancy, you will have regular appointments, typically monthly in the first and second trimesters, then every two weeks, and then weekly as your due date approaches. These appointments monitor your health and the baby's development, screen for potential complications, and provide an opportunity to ask questions and discuss your birth plan. Your healthcare provider will order blood tests, urine tests, and at least two ultrasounds (one in the first trimester and one around 18 to 20 weeks).
Choosing Your Care Provider: Doctor, OB, or Midwife
In Canada, you have three main options for prenatal and delivery care. A family doctor can provide prenatal care and may deliver your baby at the hospital if they have delivery privileges. An obstetrician (OB) is a specialist in pregnancy and childbirth and is recommended for high-risk pregnancies. A registered midwife provides holistic, patient-centred prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care.
Family Doctors and Obstetricians
If you already have a family doctor, they can provide your prenatal care and may refer you to an obstetrician if your pregnancy is considered high-risk (for example, if you have pre-existing health conditions, are carrying multiples, or develop complications). If you do not have a family doctor, your walk-in clinic or provincial patient matching program can help connect you with prenatal care. In most provinces, you need a referral from a family doctor or midwife to see an obstetrician, though some obstetricians accept self-referrals.
Midwifery Care
Midwives are regulated healthcare professionals who specialize in normal pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. In most Canadian provinces, including British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec, midwifery care is fully covered by provincial health insurance. Midwives provide longer appointments, continuity of care (you see the same midwife or small team throughout), and the option to give birth at home, in a birth centre, or in a hospital. Midwives attend to you during labour and delivery and provide postpartum care including home visits after the birth.
Tip
Midwives are in high demand in Canada, especially in urban areas. Register with a midwifery practice as soon as you get a positive pregnancy test, ideally before 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Many practices maintain waitlists, so early registration is essential.
Giving Birth in Canada
The majority of births in Canada take place in hospitals. Hospital births are fully covered by provincial health insurance, including the delivery room, nursing care, medications (including epidural anesthesia), and any medically necessary interventions such as cesarean sections. You do not receive a bill for a hospital birth in Canada as long as you have valid provincial health insurance.
What to Expect at the Hospital
When you arrive at the hospital in labour, you will be assessed by a nurse and your healthcare provider. You will be admitted to a labour and delivery room where you will remain for the birth. After delivery, you and your baby will be moved to a postpartum room. For a vaginal delivery, you can typically expect to stay in the hospital for 24 to 48 hours. For a cesarean section, the hospital stay is usually 48 to 72 hours. During your stay, nurses and lactation consultants will help you with breastfeeding, and a pediatrician will examine your newborn.
Canada has one of the lowest maternal mortality rates in the world, and hospital births are very safe. You have the right to make informed decisions about your care, including whether to receive pain medication, your preferred birthing positions, and who is present in the delivery room. Creating a birth plan and discussing it with your care provider in advance is encouraged.
Info
If you do not have provincial health insurance (for example, during the MSP waiting period in BC), a hospital birth can cost $5,000 to $15,000 or more. It is strongly recommended that you obtain private health insurance that covers maternity care if you are in a waiting period. See our guide to finding a family doctor for more on health insurance waiting periods.
Maternity Leave and Parental Leave
Canada has a generous parental leave system funded through Employment Insurance (EI). If you have been working in Canada and have accumulated enough insurable hours (typically 600 hours in the 52 weeks before your claim), you are eligible for maternity benefits and parental benefits.
Maternity Benefits
Maternity benefits are available for up to 15 weeks to the person who is pregnant or has recently given birth. You can start receiving maternity benefits as early as 12 weeks before your expected due date. The benefit rate is 55% of your average insurable weekly earnings, up to a maximum amount set annually. Maternity benefits are available exclusively to the birth parent.
Parental Benefits
Parental benefits can be taken by either parent and can be shared between parents. You can choose between the standard option (up to 40 weeks of benefits at 55% of earnings, with one parent taking a maximum of 35 weeks) or the extended option (up to 69 weeks of benefits at 33% of earnings, with one parent taking a maximum of 61 weeks). In Quebec, the Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP) replaces the EI parental benefits with more generous coverage.
Warning
Employment Insurance benefits are taxable income. Plan for this when budgeting your leave, as your take-home amount will be less than the stated benefit rate. Some employers top up EI benefits to a higher percentage of your salary. Ask your employer about any top-up policies.
Canada Child Benefit (CCB)
The Canada Child Benefit (CCB) is a tax-free monthly payment made to eligible families to help with the cost of raising children under 18. The amount you receive depends on your family's net income, the number of children you have, and their ages. For the 2025-2026 benefit year, the maximum annual benefit is approximately $7,787 per child under 6 and $6,570 per child aged 6 to 17. The CCB is income-tested, meaning higher-income families receive a reduced amount or no benefit.
How to Apply for the CCB
You can apply for the CCB when you register the birth of your child, or separately through your CRA My Account. Both parents must file Canadian tax returns to receive the CCB. If you are a newcomer, file your tax return as soon as possible, even if you had no income in Canada. Some provinces also have their own child benefit programs that are delivered alongside the CCB.
Registering Your Baby's Birth
In Canada, you are required to register the birth of your child with your provincial or territorial vital statistics office. In most provinces, the hospital will provide you with birth registration forms before you are discharged. You typically need to submit the registration within 30 days of the birth. When you register the birth, you can also apply for your baby's Social Insurance Number (SIN) and Canada Child Benefit at the same time through the Newborn Registration Service, available in most provinces.
Citizenship and Documentation
Any baby born in Canada is automatically a Canadian citizen, regardless of the immigration status of the parents. The birth certificate issued by the province serves as proof of Canadian citizenship. You will also need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN) for your baby, which is required for the Canada Child Benefit and other government programs. If you are a permanent resident or temporary resident, your baby's birth in Canada does not automatically change your own immigration status, but your Canadian-born child can sponsor you for permanent residency when they turn 18.
Resources and Next Steps
Having a baby in Canada is a well-supported experience with comprehensive healthcare coverage and generous parental benefits. Here are key resources to help you through your pregnancy and beyond:
- HealthLink BC (8-1-1): Pregnancy and prenatal care information, available 24/7 with translation
- Employment Insurance maternity and parental benefits: canada.ca/ei-maternity-parental or call 1-800-206-7218
- Canada Child Benefit: canada.ca/child-family-benefits
- BC Vital Statistics: gov.bc.ca/vitalstatistics for birth registration
- Ontario Newborn Registration: ontario.ca/page/register-birth-new-baby
- Midwives Association of BC: bcmidwives.com to find a midwife
WelcomeAide is here to support you through every step of your journey in Canada. Our AI Newcomer Navigator can answer your questions about pregnancy, parental leave, and child benefits in your language. Explore our blog for more newcomer guides, learn about our mission, or see how to get involved in supporting newcomer communities across Canada.