Midwives Launch Campaign to Promote Safety of Home Birth

TORONTO – March 5, 2018 – The Association of Ontario Midwives (AOM) has launched a campaign to promote midwifery-attended home birth as a safe and responsible choice. "Midwives attend births at home, in hospital and in birth centres," says Elizabeth Brandeis, RM, president of the Association of Ontario Midwives. "In fact, more than 80% of midwifery clients have a hospital birth. So we wanted to help educate the public to let them know that, for those with uncomplicated pregnancies, the research shows that home birth with a midwife is a safe and responsible choice."

For people who plan to give birth at home with a midwife and are experiencing healthy, uncomplicated pregnancies, excellent quality research from Ontario suggests that important health outcomes are no different for those planning home or hospital births under the care of a midwife; and that a planned home birth was associated with lower rates of certain complications and medical interventions during birth than a planned hospital birth, including a lower rate of C-section. The problem, however, is lingering myths and misperceptions.

“I hope that this campaign will lead to more people considering the option of out-of-hospital birth. It is an opportunity to start a public conversation about birth as a normal life event that often does not require medical intervention," says Brandeis.

WHO: Association of Ontario Midwives

WHAT: Campaign to promote safety of home birth

WHEN: March 5, 2018 to March 30, 2018

WHERE: Online (see sample ads here and here) and radio (here and here)

WHY: To help Ontario families better understand their birth options

There are over 800 midwives in Ontario, serving 77 communities in 90 clinics across the province. Approximately 17% of births in Ontario in 2018 will be attended by a midwife. Since midwifery became a regulated health profession in 1994, more than 225,000 babies have been born under midwifery care. See more midwifery by the numbers.

Midwives are experts in normal pregnancy, birth and newborn care, university educated and trained in emergency management. Midwifery care is funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and is rooted in the most current maternal and newborn care research and evidence.

For more information, please contact:

Juana Berinstein, Director of Policy & Communications

Desk: 416-425-9974 x 2229

juana.berinstein@aom.on.ca

https://www.ontariomidwives.ca/media

- 30 -