Midwives are experts in normal pregnancy, birth and newborn care. Ontario midwives are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care so services are free to clients. Give birth at a hospital or at home and receive safe, skilled care from your midwife.
As demand for midwifery care continues to grow, midwives will discuss how to best support the growth of the profession at the 28th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the Association of Ontario Midwives, held May 15-17 in Toronto. The theme of the conference will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with the growth of the profession in Ontario. The conference will also feature the latest research on maternal and newborn health. This year’s list of experts includes midwife Eileen Hutton, midwife Lisa Kane Low, and Maureen McTeer of White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.
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Midwives went to Queen's Park on May 2, 2012, to meet with MPPs and discuss strategies for giving Ontarians even greater access to midwifery care. Although midwifery care has grown exponentially since 1994, demand for midwives from women still outstrips supply, and 4 out of 10 women wanting midwifery care can't access it. Midwives shared their concerns about systemic issues which need to be addressed by government, including hospital integration, infrastructure deficits, stalled contract negotiations and a wage equity gap.
MPPs from all three parties participated in the day and shared their perpsectives. Statements in support of midwifery were presented on the floor of the Legislature by Minister Deb Matthews (Lib, London North Centre), MPP Bill Walker (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound), and Minister France Gelinas (NDP, Nickel Belt), honouring the work that Ontario midwives perform and celebrating International Day of the Midwife (May 5).
We still need your support. If you haven’t sent an e-mail to the Premier, Minister of Health and your MPP please do so now!
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May 5 is International Day of the Midwife. It’s a day to celebrate midwifery, and to reflect on the importance of midwives’ work to the health of women and babies around the world. It’s also a time to draw attention to the most important issues affecting midwives here in Canada. In Ontario, women and families have enthusiastically embraced midwifery care since it was regulated in 1994. By 2015, we estimate that there will be more than 1,000 midwives in Ontario, making midwifery the fastest-growing profession providing obstetrical care in Ontario.
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