Midwives Are Experts in Healthy Pregnancy and Birth

Indigenous midwives were once a cornerstone of every Indigenous community across Canada. After years of colonization and assimilation, the role of Indigenous midwives was undermined, leaving a devastating impact on the preservation of culture and maternal and newborn health outcomes.

The Alberta Association of Midwives is actively working against colonialism by taking steps to support our Indigenous members and communities, by supporting the resurgence of Indigenous midwifery and the cultural transformation needed to achieve this.

Indigenous midwives play a key role in building healthy and safe Indigenous communities in rural and urban areas. In Alberta, there are approximately 10 Indigenous midwives who are engaged in the important work of “bringing birth home” to Indigenous communities, providing culturally appropriate care that honours Indigenous peoples, languages, oral cultures, and traditions.

In addition, there are a number of non-indigenous midwives who provide care on First Nations reserves.

The midwifery model of care in Alberta is committed to honouring and recognizing the multitude of ways in which family can be created and chosen, and respecting the right for all expectant families to receive evidence-based, safe and respectful care.

We are aligned with the Canadian Association of Midwives regarding their statement on upholding all people's rights regardless of gender or sexual identity, inclusive of transgender, non-binary, genderqueer, two-spirit, and intersex people.

There are many paths to parenthood and expansion of family. We value your journey whether it involves pregnancy, adoption, sperm or egg donation, surrogacy, multi-partner relationships, co-parenting, blended families, or becoming a single-parent by choice.

All midwives in Alberta are searchable by community and language. If you are a refugee covered by the Interim Federal Health (IFH) Program, you do not have to pay for midwifery services.

Visit our midwife directory to search for a midwife by language, community, and/or the ability to provide care through the IFH Program. Or, you can view the IFHP providers list here.

For many rural Albertans, access to safe, quality perinatal care closer to home is much needed. Having to travel great distances in rural settings to deliver a baby increases the risk of adverse outcomes for the birthing person and their baby. Exposure is even higher during seasons when the weather is severe, not to mention the financial burden, unnecessary intervention, psycho-social stress, and even roadside delivery.

Unfortunately, many rural families experience multiple barriers to accessing perinatal care and midwives face many unique challenges in rural settings. Together with provincial and local governments, the Alberta Association of Midwives is working to address this issue and help strengthen perinatal care in these communities.

The practice of midwifery is based on the understanding that pregnancy, labour and birth are profound experiences, which carry significant meaning for an individual, their family and their community.

Midwifery is grounded in the principles of health and wellbeing, recognizing that conception, pregnancy, birth and chest/breastfeeding are natural life processes. Midwifery care enhances these life experiences and provides continuity of care through a reciprocal relationship between midwives and families.

Midwifery is traditionally holistic, combining an understanding of the social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, psychological and physical aspects of a woman or other birthing person’s reproductive experience. Midwives promote wellness in parents, babies and families, both autonomously and in collaboration with other health care professionals.

Midwifery is a partnership based on mutual respect. With midwifery care, the client is the center of the childbirth experience and has great influence on their own health and wellbeing. The practice of midwifery is based on the individual and recognizes each client’s unique strengths and needs. Midwifery care promotes self-care, growth, awareness and confidence, and is provided in a manner that is flexible, creative, empowering and supportive.

Midwives actively encourage informed choice throughout the childbearing cycle by providing relevant, objective information to facilitate informed decision-making. The practice of midwifery enables individuals to develop the understanding, skills and motivation necessary to take on the responsibility for and control of their own health.