Photo courtesy the Midwives Association of Manitoba website

 

Today is the International Day Of The Midwife, and is used to bring awareness of the importance of midwives' work, and recognize the care they provide to child bearing families.

Marla Gross is a Registered Midwife with the Central R.H.A. She tells us they usually start seeing a family somewhere between 8 to 12 weeks into the pregnancy, and continue with their visits until 6 weeks post partem. She notes the visits happen in a similar pattern to when they would see a doctor. Gross adds pregnant women who choose a midwife do not need to see a doctor during their pregnancy because midwives are considered primary health care givers, meaning they can take care of them during a normal pregnancy from the first visit to six weeks post partem.



Gross says the biggest misconception about midwives is it means an automatic home birth. She says that is absolutely not the case. In fact nearly 75% of births involving a midwife take place at a hospital. She says a home birth is certainly an option, but all midwives across the province have hospital privileges in their respective health authority.

There is a strong demand for midwifery services in our area. Gross says in the past up to five midwives have been employed by the R.H.A., but currently just one point five positions are filled. She stresses the R.H.A. is trying to recruit more midwives to the region.


You can get more information on midwifery services in the Central R.H.A. by visiting their website . You can also check out the College of Midwives of Manitoba website , and the Midwives Association of Manitoba website .