| | CommonTater said "Are midwives a routine part of the child birthing process in Manitoba? If so, have not enough positions been created/filled?
Are midwives a valuable "extra" that some regions have chosen to employ due to their value?
Are midwives available for hire for those wishing to have that as part of their child birthing experience? " |
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I am no expert but I'll answer with what info I do know.
There are 53 midwives accross Manitoba. Brandon's vary in numbers but the last I heard there were 5 or 6, this may have changed. When I was last with them for my baby they had 4.
The way they work in Brandon is they can take on so many births per month, so they accept clients based on that number. They get applications and there are certain spots that get filled first (low income, women with not a lot of support) this is because the midwives are a great assest to those who need more support, and because the province mandates it.
So many women get turned away or on wait lists because there simply are not enough midiwives for all those who are looking This is due to funding mostly I believe but am not 100% sure.
Midwives are not an extra, but a part of the healthcare system. Low risk births can go to them, higher risk births must go to the OB's. But they are valuable, they free up space for the high risk births that surgeons need to look after, and they offer very personal care to mothers and families.
Midiwives are not available for private hire, our healthcare system doesn't allow for that.