“It’s good to hear women speak out about the things that
make us passionate. For too long we have not been heard.”
— Workshop Participant
make us passionate. For too long we have not been heard.”
— Workshop Participant
Winnipeg —
Midwifery Consumers Group
March 10, 2007
Wolseley Family Place
Facilitators: Jennifer deGroot & Becky Thiessen
Participants: 16 women
The following ideas were generated by workshop participants as part of our gender budget consultations. Please note that this list does not represent the official position of the UN Platform for Action Committee Manitoba (UNPAC). Neither UNPAC nor all of the participants have endorsed these suggestions.
What are key concerns around midwifery and childbirth services for women in your community?
- Birthing options
- Southern Manitoba — 50% of women who would choose a midwife over a doctor were turned away
- Women are refusing to go to hospitals, therefore having more unassisted births
- Increase in renegade births
- Education
- Need more midwifery programs in Manitoba — in addition to UCN in Thompson and The Pas
- Recognize the importance of alternate sources of education (not only in university)
- Support prior learning — valuing experience as knowledge
- Recognizing midwifery as a profession
- In hospitals
- With nurse educators
- Recognizing the unique and important role of a doula
- Important for doulas to have support and sustainability in their role
- Doulas are being asked to attend unassisted homebirths because of the limited numbers of midwives available to MB women
- Doulas role not respected in hospital
- Doulas could take on the role as second attendant thus freeing up midwifery resources. There are legal restrictions pertaining to NRP certification (neonatal resuscitation) that, if changed, could allow doulas to be 2nd attendants.
- College of Midwives
- Limited funds
- Almost a year after budget was submitted, Labour & Immigration responded
- Insured service
- Suggestion to move midwifery from public funding to insured service
- Gives RHAs less control — obligated to provide service
- Model of BC — controversial
- Any Midwife can create her own clinic
– many women work out of their cars - More accessible
- Government pays
- Any Midwife can create her own clinic
- Public Awareness
- Young girls — educate midwifery as career option instead of just nursing
- Public perception of midwives must change
- Maternity Care Plan
- Bigger picture
- Mothering and maternity care
- Young women with children are on a path to poverty
– 19-24 year old women with children have a 1/3 chance of being on social assistance - Women waiting longer to have children — increased chance of complications
- Provincial Government Maternity Task Force Report has never been published
“We can create change — we are such an amazing group of passionate women!”
What are ways to take action?
- Write letters!
- Ask Theresa Oswald, Minister Responsible for Health for the report on the Provincial Government Maternity Task Force
- Contact Betsy Dolin — midwifery consultant / primary health care consultant: bdolin@gov.mb.ca
- Contact the CEO of your RHA
- Contact information on website
- Keep pressure on
- Keep pushing for birthing centres
- Contact your local RHA, MLA or Minister of Health or Deputy Minister of Health, and ask for a copy of the ‘MB Health Ministerial Working Group on Maternal Newborn Services Report’ — compiled as of May 2005 and never publicly released
- Continuously create opportunities to reduce fear of birth