Celebrating the International Day of the Midwife

Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Published Friday, May 5, 2017

Midwives and their patients are celebrating the International Day of the Midwife in Winnipeg today.

In the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, registered midwives work to ensure safe and healthy pregnancies and deliveries for more than 600 women every year.

Registered midwives play an important role in the women's health program: they provide holistic, primary care to expectant mothers before, during and after delivery. They are also the only primary-care providers in Winnipeg who are able to offer a planned delivery outside of a hospital setting. All practicing midwives are registered with the College of Midwives of Manitoba.

Midwives specialize in low-risk obstetrics and are a great option for expectant mothers in Winnipeg each year who do not need additional medical intervention. Midwives provide these mothers a choice of the kind of care that best suits her needs, the needs of her family and the needs of her new baby.

Having the choice to use a midwife, and the choice to deliver inside or outside of hospital, represents the WRHA's broader aim to offer choices to those seeking care. Because of midwives, patients can choose the kind of provider they connect with, they can choose where to have their baby and they can choose the level of involvement they need from their care provider.