Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak today about the significant progress that has been made to incorporate midwifery services into the NWT health system.
Midwives work with women and their families, before, during and after birth to keep them and their babies healthy. Midwifery care is women-centred, family-centred, and responds to the unique strengths and needs of each woman and her family, and honours traditional and cultural birth practices. Midwives monitor the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle into infancy.
In addition to being involved in the delivery, whether it is a homebirth or in a health facility, midwives are part of the primary community health care team actively involved in a broad range of activities including:
- • health promotion in the community, including education on healthy choices related to pregnancy such as drinking, smoking and birth control;
- • information and education to prepare families for the birth of the baby;
- • offer counselling and support in getting started with breastfeeding and continuing to successfully breastfeed;
- • work with the mother and family on how to care for a new baby, including facilitating the father's participation in caring for and bonding with the baby, and help with family adjustment;
- • check on the mother's and baby's health;
- • assist the mothers through counselling on diet, exercise and stress reduction;
- • identify other resources in the community available to the mother and the family.
This is a newly regulated profession in the NWT, and all midwives in the territory work as part of an interdisciplinary maternity care team. The success to date is a direct result of the collaboration, cooperation and support of the health professionals, communities and individuals.
There are currently two midwives practising in Fort Smith and one in Yellowknife, with plans to add an additional midwife to Yellowknife. Building on the success in Fort Smith and Yellowknife, the hope is to expand midwifery services to other communities in the NWT where the appropriate supports are available.
Since April 2005, the midwife in Yellowknife has delivered 22 babies and the midwives in Fort Smith have delivered three babies; two were delivered at home and one was delivered in the Fort Smith Health Centre.
Next month a representative from Health and Social Services will sign the Agreement on Mobility for Midwifery
in Canada, which recognizes the NWT midwives' credentials in five provinces, and the GNWT in turn accepts midwives from these five provinces.
Mr. Speaker, the Midwifery Profession Act has been a success in the NWT with its 25 births since April. It has provided mothers with another option and the ability to be close to home. Midwives know that if we keep our mothers healthy, they will give birth to healthier babies and take good care of them as they grow. Furthermore, this will have a powerful influence on the health of all members of the family and the community. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause