The Next Generation of Midwives
In our new blog segment, the Alberta Association of Midwives is sitting down with midwives throughout the province for an inside look at midwifery in Alberta and the important topics that make this profession unique, personal and powerful.
The Bachelor of Midwifery program at Mount Royal University is a unique, direct entry program and one of only six programs offered across Canada at the university baccalaureate level. The program provides an intimate and hands-on look at the profession of midwifery, offering participants the chance at practical application of skills through placements with practicing midwives in the community. The program has been offered for 10 years and continues to grow with the next generation of midwives, both here in Alberta and beyond. Graduates of the Bachelor of Midwifery program at MRU go on to become stakeholders in the midwifery profession as leaders and advocates for midwifery care in our province.
Part of the program focuses on teaching future midwives to become primary care providers within the framework of the Alberta provincial healthcare system. It is a rigorous program with a year and a half of classroom learning and two and a half years of clinical placements working alongside other healthcare professionals and midwives. Midwifery is a provincially funded service that provides birthing people with many choices for their prenatal care, birthplace and course of care throughout pregnancy and postpartum.
We had the opportunity to ask some of the current MRU program grads about their experiences and hopes for the future of midwifery. Bailey, Melanie and Emily gave us some great insights into the experiences of student midwives.
What is something you wish more people knew about midwifery?
“I wish more people knew that midwifery in Alberta is funded by AHS, so just like going to the doctor, there are no additional fees for receiving midwifery care. Midwives are autonomous healthcare providers that are extensively trained to specialize in low-risk care of folks throughout pregnancy, birth, all the way to 6 weeks postpartum. Additionally, midwives are the only healthcare providers that can offer out-of-hospital birth and we carry the equivalent of a level I hospital in terms of equipment/resources with us to every out-of-hospital birth!” – Bailey
“I think probably how broad our scope and skill set is, and how many hats we wear when caring for our clients. It's so much more than catching babies! We are with people when they listen to their babies for the first time, assess people at home and in hospital, take calls night and day for medical reasons, refer folks to resources, collaborate with other healthcare professionals, sure. But supporting people emotionally, advocating for them, creating a relationship of trust, walking with them as they navigate decisions about their bodies and pregnancies and babies is just as much a part, if not a bigger piece, of our work.”- Emily
What advice would you offer someone considering a career as a midwife?
“Every career has sacrifices, and midwifery is no exception. Being on-call can be disruptive to schedules and relationships. So being aware of those realities is an important consideration, however, finding the people that support and build you up is a game-changer. It is all possible with community, and the incredible experiences that are shared with you make the longest days (and nights, of course) worth it.”- Bailey
“Make sure this is something that you really want to do and feel very passionate about because in a lot of ways it’s not just a job it’s a part of who you are as a person.
And also set up strong boundaries so that you are also able to step away when needed and focus on yourself and your family.”- Melanie
What do you hope to bring to the profession of midwifery?
“I hope to bring a new voice, new support and maybe even new ideas to the profession. The more voices we have, the more we will be heard. And the same goes for being an advocate for my clients and their families.” -Melanie
“One of my biggest dreams for midwifery in a large urban center such as Calgary is to work with sexual and gender diverse minorities. There are huge gaps in our LGBTQ2S+ healthcare spaces that I further explored during my fourth-year capstone project. I would love to create an inclusive and welcoming space that educates, supports, and brings parents together to help reduce the isolation and exclusion that exists for many LGBTQ2S+ folks in the realm of obstetrical healthcare today.”- Bailey
“I simply hope to walk beside folks during their care in a way that they feel supported, equipped, respected, and safe.”- Emily
What is an issue facing pregnant/birthing people that needs to be talked about more?
“Choice. It’s huge, and not many individuals know or understand that they have a voice, the right and the power to choose what their care will look like, and either include or exclude, and care providers and government need to be listening to them more.”- Melanie
“Preparing for the postpartum period and how to best support the parent(s) can easily get overlooked in the focus on and excitement about birth and the baby. It truly is the 'fourth trimester’! Informing folks about what to expect and how to be gentle with themselves as they navigate so much newness and learning is so important I think.”- Emily
“Unfortunately, there are still a great deal of barriers for folks who identify as LGBTQ2S+ in Canadian healthcare today - especially in obstetrics. My hope is that these aspects of marginalization and discrimination can start to be dismantled through smaller tangible changes. For example: inclusive policy/documentation reforms, authentic representation, and appropriate queer-specific education for healthcare providers.”- Bailey
The Alberta Association of Midwives aims to promote the growth and sustainability of midwives and midwifery services in Alberta. We tell the stories of midwives in our province so that the profession of midwifery is understood, respected and valued in our communities.
If you have a story to share about midwifery in Alberta, connect with us to be featured in a future blog post. Email us marketing@alberta-midwives.ca
