What does it take to become a midwife?

The journey of bringing new life into the world is one filled with anticipation, joy, and sometimes uncertainty. Midwives act as guardians to expectant mothers by offering care and support combined with expertise gained from years of training. 

Becoming a midwife requires a dedication to education and continued professional development. 

In Alberta, the path to becoming a registered midwife requires a four-year Bachelor of Midwifery (B.Mid) degree. The program always includes a combination of academic coursework and clinical training so future midwives understand the full scope of their roles. 

Midwifery students spend years learning the physiology of pregnancy and childbirth as well as prenatal and postnatal care. Any midwife will tell you that their role isn’t purely medicinal - they also need to support birthing individuals emotionally, as well as physically. Giving birth is an extremely vulnerable time for those giving birth - a midwife is a supporting partner as well as a medical professional. 

That’s why clinical placements are, perhaps, the most important aspect of a midwife’s education. Students have the chance to gain hands-on experience under the watchful eye of experienced midwives. 

Stacy Peleskey, a midwife and ambassador for the AAM, shares her experience of the unique blend of hands-on and academic training midwives receive:

“I was working as a nurse and did a fair bit of maternity and labor and delivery work. I didn’t really know what midwives were or did until I attended a presentation by local midwives. I was hooked from my first experience shadowing a midwife at a birth. The supportive approach was so different from the medical management I was used to.”

Are You a Midwife? Contact AAM Today

If you’re a midwife in Alberta and would like to share your story to improve the advocacy and awareness of the midwifery profession, please don’t hesitate to email us at jo.samu@alberta-midwives.ca. Your unique experiences can help to highlight the role that midwives play in healthcare and improve the growth of excellent midwifery services in Alberta. 

We’d also love to hear about parents' midwifery experiences. If this sounds like you, please email us at jo.samu@alberta-midwives.ca to tell your story. Every word can help amplify the voices of midwives and the birthing individuals they support so that everyone can access safe and compassionate care. 

For more information or to get involved, visit the Alberta Midwives website. Your support will make a huge difference in promoting the well-being of birthing people and their families in and around Alberta.