Fall 2009 - Association of Ontario Midwives

Association of Ontario Midwives Fall 2009: Vol. 2 No. 302Welcomenew practices05Preparing yourpractice forflu seasonWorkingtowards aProvincialBreastfeedingStrategy06Optimizingmidwives’ scopein hospital081Breastfeeding0resourcesValuable Tips for Successfulupdated BreastfeedingToday, most mothersare breastfeeding their babies09These 10 Valuable Tips will helpmake your breastfeeding experiencemore successful and enjoyable.Representingmidwives togovernmentAssociation of Ontario MidwivesClient Sarah Pole nurses herdaughter Vita Martel duringa postpartum midwiferyappointment.See story, page 4.

TORONTO: Registered Midwife Joyce Coombs enjoysher retirement party hosted by the Midwives Collectiveof Toronto, and her daughters Robyn (left) and Laura(right).NEWMARKET: Midwives of York Region and clients celebrate at thepractice’s annual picnic in September.LEFT TO RIGHT: Sharon Swift, Jyothy Nair, Roya Mirmohammadi anddaughter Dorsa Nikbakht, Buhay Juniosa, Ola Levitin, Baby OliverLevitin-Neilly and Mark Neilly.TORONTO: Meeting with American midwifery stakeholders atthe American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) .Back row (left to right) Lorrie Kaplan (ACNM), Juana Berinstein(AOM), Carrie Bright (American Midwifery CertificationBoard).Bottom row: Joanna Zuk (AOM), Tom Quash (AWHONN),Kelly Stadelbauer (AOM).AOM Members Sharon Swift, Tiffany Haidon, Sarah Carey-Dugas, Elizabeth Brandeis and Grace Zhang enjoya meal at the 2009 AOM conference.AOM Annual General Meeting and Conference 2010Save the date: May 3-6 in Niagara Falls!Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls - Fallsview Hotelwww.niagarafallscrowneplazahotel.comBe sure to attend the AOM annual conference for new clinicalinformation, practice management tips and a chance to socialize withfriends and old classmates.May 3 - ESW Instructor Training;May 4 - ESW recertification, Workshops and Conference Opening;May 5 - AGM & Conference;May 6 - ConferenceMUSKOKA (both photos above): The Friends of MuskokaMidwives consumers group celebrates with midwives,clients, babies, families and friends at their annual picnic inthe park in Bracebridge this September.A great celebration of birth, family and midwifery care,featuring cake, face painting, crafts and children’sentertainment.www.aom.on.ca03

AOM News & UpdatesWelcome new AOM members!Leslie Viets, RM, provides breastfeeding support and information for client Phuong Lan Ly and her newborn Patrick Zhou during a postpartum home visit.Supporting a provincial breastfeeding strategyThe AOM Board endorsed a statementin October 2009 drafted by the OntarioBreastfeeding Committee (OBC) regardinga provincial breastfeeding strategy. Thestatement will be used by the Committeeas an advocacy tool.The statement provides an outline of thebenefits of breastfeeding and supportingstatistics. Ontario, for example, generallyfalls short of standards of feeding infantsand young children exclusively withbreast milk for the first six months, theaddition of iron-rich complementaryfoods at about six months, and continuedbreastfeeding to two years and beyond(WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infantand Young Child Feeding 2003 and HealthCanada, 2004).Calling for a provincial strategy, thestatement hopes to influence the increasein breastfeeding initiation, duration andexclusivity rates and thus improve thenutrition and health of infants, childrenand mothers in Ontario. In Quebec, theimplementation of aprovincial breastfeedingstrategy (Breastfeeding inQuebec: September 2001)saw an increase in rates ofinitiation and exclusivity.The statement callsfor the developmentof a comprehensive,coordinated and resourcedapproach to the protection,promotion and support ofbreastfeeding in Ontario.The statement advocatesfor a strategy that consistsof four key components:leadership and policydevelopment; servicedelivery; surveillance, research andevaluation; and capacity building.Government, through the Ministry ofHealth and Long-Term Care strategydivision, has been working to supportbreastfeeding in the province. This workThe AOM looks forwardto continuing to act asan advocate on breastfeedingissues with theOntario government andthe Ontario BreastfeedingCommittee.has included the formationof a Maternal-NewbornBreastfeeding Services andSupport Work Group. TheWork Group is Co-chairedby Bobbi Soderstrom, RM,AOM Director of Insuranceand Risk Management, anda breastfeeding expert. TheWork Group’s mandate isto provide cost-effectiverecommendations andoptions to optimize thedelivery of breastfeedingsupport and serviceswith a focus on improvedbreastfeeding initiation andduration rates.The AOM looks forward to continuingadvocacy on breastfeeding issues withthe Ontario government and the OntarioBreastfeeding Committee.For breastfeeding resources you can usein your practice, see page 8.04ontario midwife • Fall 2009

H1N1: Creating a plan foryour practiceMembers will notice frequent updatessent to practices regarding preventionand treatment of the H1N1 flu virus.The AOM and other health careprovider organizations meet withthe Ministry of Health’s EmergencyPlanning Team regularly to receiveup-to-date information about pandemicplanning, prevention and treatment.The information is then disseminated topractices by e-mail and fax. The AOM alsocreated a special section about H1N1 inthe members only portion of the website.In addition, the AOM recently developedand distributed a checklist to assistpractices in developing their ownpandemic plan. It is included in the IRMPBulletin #12, available for download inthe members only section of the AOMwebsite.Each practice will have different needsaccording to their own community andpractice situation. The checklist canhelp guide a planning discussion aroundseveral topics including:• General Knowledge for Caring forClients with Respiratory Symptoms• Caring for Women Who are Ill• Role Clarity• Key Services• Supplies• Services and Human Resources• Security• Data Systems, Client Appointments• Planning for Unexpected CostsOntario Midwife interviewed RemiEjiwunmi , RM, chair of the Insurance andRisk Management Program Committee,about how H1N1 is affecting herpractice and clients.What is the most important thingmidwives should know about H1N1?Midwives need to know how to protectthemselves, their clients and those incontact with their clients from risk oftransmission.What, if anything, has your practice doneto prepare for the possibility of a flupandemic?We reviewed the risks of transmissionand the criteria for risk assessment, forexample how and when to screen andwhat to do in response to elevated risks.We ensured our practice has adequatesupplies of barrier protection like goggles,face masks and gowns, and made sure wehad enough hand washing stations andalcohol-based pumps. We changed theanswering machine message to indicateto clients the need for risk screening andput up signs around the office to thesame effect. Our practice has also talkedabout what we would do if midwivesare compromised by illness, and howto manage limitations in staffing dueto potential hospital restrictions if anoutbreak takes place.How did you organize the work in yourpractice?Because we are a larger practice, weassigned roles and responsibilities to asmaller subcommittee. Any practice candecide what’s most important for themand work until they have a full plan.Is getting prepared for H1N1 just like itwas for SARS six years ago? What did thatexperience teach midwives?I’d say there are similarities. Midwivesreally understand the importance ofbeing constantly up to date on recommendationsabout risk assessment andminimizing transmission. And, like duringSARS, we know it’s important to have acoordinated practice strategy for makingsure we know what other parties requireof us, like our hospitals, and the Ministryof Health and Long-Term Care.How are clients responding to informationand media stories about H1N1?My experience has been that clients arenot panicked. Generally, clients have hadsome questions about vaccination andantivirals, but this has not dominated ourdiscussions.Emergency Infection Control Kits available for midwivesIn 2006, after the SARS epidemic, theMinistry of Health and Long-Term Caresent an Emergency Infection Control Kit(EICK) to each midwife and physician inthe province. These kits include surgicalmasks, gloves, gowns, goggles, surfacesanitizer and hand gel sanitizer.All practitioners who did not receive thekit in 2006 are invited to contact theMinistry to request that a kit be sentto them. Practices may wish to requestenough EICKs so that each midwife inthe practice group will have one in theevent that supplies become short duringa pandemic. New kits are not availableto practitioners who received one threeyears ago.To request a kit, simply send a messagewith your name and clinic addressindicating that you are a midwife whodid not receive a kit in 2006. Send themessage to emergencyICkits@moh.gov.on.ca.With regards to the kits from 2006, thehand sanitizer and the surface sanitizerare likely past their “best before” dates.However, the Ministry is not replacingthose items. It remains the responsibilityof individual practitioners to besure that clinics have sufficient supplieson hand.Do not hesitate to send your questionsto the AOM at:riskmanagement@aom.on.ca, or call1-866-418-3773.www.aom.on.ca05

AOM News & UpdatesWhen midwives, nurses and other maternity care providers understand each others’ scope of practice and role in the birth unit, clients benefit. Improving interprofessional relationships wasone of the primary goals of the HealthForceOntario-funded project titled “Optimizing use of Midwifery Competencies.” This project is now in the final stages of evaluation at the AOM.Hospital integration project wraps upOver the summer, close to 200 physicians,nurses and midwives participated inbirth unit rounds and retreats in eighthospitals across the province as part ofa hospital integration project fundedby a grant awarded to the AOM fromHealthForceOntario.The project, aimed to improverelationships between maternity careproviders, support patient safety andmaximize provider competencies, endedin September 2009.The rounds and retreats were inspiredby a process spearheaded by Dr. AlanStewart at the Guelph General Hospitalin 2001, following the coroner’srecommendations of the Eoin StalkerInquest.Katrina Kilroy, AOM President, gavea presentation about the project atthe Ontario Hospital Association’sInterprofessional Care conference inSeptember 2009 and to members at allfall regional meetings.Thank you to all the providers andhospitals who participated in thisimportant work.For additional resources on hospitalintegration, please contact the PolicyDepartment at the AOM.Three elements thatmaximize providercompetencies in hospitals:• Communication, respectand understanding• Clear protocols andpolicies• A common goal ofproviding high qualityand client/patientcentredcare.06 ontario midwife • Fall 2009

Key Maternity Care IssuesLocum programunderway for rural andremote practicesJasmin Tecson, RM, cares for client Anita Craig in hospital with her husband Scott Craig. Consumer and practitioner inputcan shape LHIN decisions, such as regional maternity care planning.Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)Approximately 10 Ontario midwives are currently involved in their Local HealthIntegrated Network (LHIN) through committees, such as the Health Care ProfessionalAdvisory committee. The AOM encourages all midwives to build relationships withand take part in their LHINs to ensure midwives’ voices are heard. LHINs are influencedon a local level by local communities and local providers. By being involved, midwivescan work to ensure that there is a strong plan and resources in place for maternal andnewborn health.Add your voice:• Most LHINs are in the midst of developing service plans for the next three yearsand will be holding service plan meetings with community members and health careproviders to receive input on the planning process. This is an important way midwivescan help make maternity care a priority in the province. To find out how to take part inyour local LHIN service plan meeting, visit your local LHIN website or join the AOM-LHINlistserve (see below).• The Rural and Northern Health Care Panel established this spring to investigatehospital closures in these areas will be presenting its report and recommendations tothe government this winter and is looking for input from midwives. Further details onhow members can take part will be circulated when available.• With a provincial mandate requiring hospitals to balance their budgets, many hospitalsacross the province are facing closure or cuts to services, including maternity units. TheAOM is monitoring any recommended closures and working with local practices thatmay be affected. If you are being affected by cuts or closures, please contact the AOM.To get more information on LHIN activities and committees, contactpolicycoordinator@aom.on.ca.Receiving LHIN updatesThe AOM continues to inform midwives about LHINs through the listserve. If you wish tosign up to the listserve, contact: policycoordinator@aom.on.ca.Please ensure that at least one midwife from your practice is registered on the listserve.The AOM is pleased to announcethat the new Rural and RemoteLocum Program is now underway.To date, five practices haverequested locum relief and a poolof midwives who are availableand interested in doing locumsfor rural and remote practices hasbeen created.All expenses related to providinglocum relief (such as travel andlodgings) will be paid, and insome cases top up payments willbe provided to cover clinical carecosts.Maggie Fioravanti, who retiredfrom the St. Jacobs Midwivespractice last fall, is one of sevenmidwives who has signed up tobe in the pool.Several years ago, Fioravanti didsomething similar to a locumwhen she teamed up with RoyceEntwistle of the Family MidwiferyCare practice in Guelph to standin for Wendy Peterson of theKenora Midwives practice.Peterson, the only midwife at herpractice at the time, had not beenable to take time off in years.“We loved it,” said Fioravanti ofthe experience providing prenataland postpartum care during theirtime in Kenora.She also admits somewhatselfish reasons behind joining thelocums program: “I was hoping tosee some of Northern Ontario, tobe honest,” she laughs.Rural and remote practices inneed of a locum should contactpolicy@aom.on.ca.Any midwife interested in joiningthe pool of available locums candownload the application fromthe AOM website at:www.aom.on.ca/AOM/Career_Opportunities/Registered_Midwives.aspxwww.aom.on.ca07

Consumer ResourcesOnline videos answercommon baby care andself-care questionsTrillium Health Centre’s new web pagefor women’s health includes a series ofover 50 educational videos. Midwivesmay wish to refer clients to these shortvideos about maternal and newborncare.The videos feature several health careproviders, including Head MidwifeRemi Ejiwunmi of Midwifery Care ofPeel and Halton Hills.The short videos are available at:www.trilliumhealthcentre.org/programs_services/womens_childrens_services/womensHealth/birthing_services/caring_for_baby_and_you/10areValuable Tips for SuccessfulBreastfeedingToday, most mothersbreastfeeding their babiesThese 10 Valuable Tips will helpmake your breastfeeding experiencemore successful and enjoyable.Canadian Public Health breastfeeding guides revised and reprintedThe Public Health Agency of Canada has revised and reprinted “10 Great Reasons to Breastfeed YourBaby” and “10 Valuable Tips for Successful Breastfeeding.”Booklets can be downloaded in black and white or colour from the PHAC web site at www.publichealth.gc.ca/breastfeedingand from the Breastfeeding Committee of Canada web site at www.breastfeedingcanada.caMidwifery practices may wish to order in bulk from publications@hc-sc.gc.ca. (Limit of 400 copies ata time.) These publications are free of charge.Information is also available in plain text on the website along with answers to commonly askedbreastfeeding questions and links to more information about breastfeeding and infant care.Both publications feature photos, illustrations and clear information. Both publications are availablein English and French. Order French copies from www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/dca-dea/prenatal/nutrition-fra.phpFamily violence resources inmultiple languagesA new Statistics Canada study (October2009) reveals that family violenceaccounted for 23% of all police-reportedviolent crime in Canada in 2007. Thefollowing resources about abuse andpregnancy may be useful for midwives.Printer-ready handouts are availablefor download at: www.beststart.org/resources/anti-violence/index.htmlThe double-sided information sheetsare produced in English, French, Arabic,Punjabi, Traditional Chinese, SimplifiedChinese, Somali, Spanish, Cree - N Dialect,and Severn Ojibwe.¿Están seguros USTED y su bebé?¿Su pareja...le grita?la insulta?la culpa por estar embarazada?rompe sus cosas?lastima o mata a sus mascotas?la amenaza con lastimarla?necesita siempre tener el control?le prohíbe que vea a sus amigos o a su familia?le prohíbe que vea a su doctor o a su partera?controla qué y cuánto come usted?tiene el control del dinero?la amenaza con llevarse a los niños?Esto es maltrato EMOCIONAL.Puede conducir al maltrato físico.Todos los tipos de MALTRATOpueden lastimarla.El maltrato durante el embarazopuede hacer que usted:se sienta triste y solasienta ansiedadse sienta mal con usted mismasufra de dolor y heridasse vuelque al alcohol y a las drogasno coma o duerma bienpierda a su bebé... y puede hacer que su bebé:nazca demasiado pequeñotenga un nacimiento prematuronazca muertosufra heridas o infeccionestenga problemas posteriores de saludsufra maltratos después del nacimiento.El maltrato puede causar problemas enla RELACIÓN entre usted y su bebé.PROTÉJASE y proteja a su bebé.Usted ysu bebé...www.beststart.org2008Spanish1ADIGA iyo ilmahaagu ammaanma tihiin?Wehelkaagu…ma kugu qayliyaa?ma ku caayaa?dambi ma kaaga dhigaa uurka?ma jajabiyaa alaabtaada?ma waxyeelaa ama ma dilaa xayawaankaaga guriga?ma ku hanjabaa inuu wax ku yeeli doono?markasta ma rabaa inuu isagu xukunka lahaado?ma kuu diidaa inaad aragtid saaxiibadaa amaqoyskaaga?ma kuu diidaa inaad aragtid dhakhtarkaaga amaumulisada?ma xukumaa waxa aad cuntid ama inta aad cuntid?ma xukumaa lacagtaada?ma ku hanjabaa inuu ilmaha kaa qaadan doono?Kani waa xumeyn NIYADDA ah.Waxay keeni kartaa xumeyn ah jidhka.Nooc kasta oo XUMEYN ahiwaxyeelo ayuu kuu keeni karaa.Xumeynta lagugu sameeyowakhtiga aad uurka leedahaywaxay kuu keeni karta:inaad dareentid murugo iyo cidloinaad dareentid walwalin niyaddaadu xumaatoinay ku soo gaadhaan xanuun iyo dhaawacyoinaad qaadatid khamri iyo daroogoin aanad si fiican wax u cunin ama u seexaninuu kaa soo dhaco ilmuhu...waxana uu ilmahaaga u keeni karaa:inuu dhasho isaga oo si weyn u yarinuu goor hore dhasho ama soo hormaroinuu dhasho isaga oo mayd ahinay soo gaadhaan dhaawacyo ama cuduroinuu wakhti dambe yeesho dhibaatooyin caafimaadin waxyeelo loo geysto ka dib dhalashadaAdiga iyoilmahaaga...Xumeyntu waxay keeni kartaa dhibaatooyinXIDHIIDH oo dhex mara adiga iyo ilmahaaga.BADBAADI NAFTAADA iyo ilmahaaga.www.beststart.org12008Somali8ontario midwife • Fall 2009

Policy InitiativesResearchMidwives active in shaping health care policyThe Ministry of Health and Long-TermCare has established a new council tofocus on developing a maternal-childhealth strategy.The overall goal of the ProvincialCouncil for Maternal, Newborn, Childand Youth Health Care is to support thedevelopment of a system of care thatprovides timely, equitable, accessible,high quality, evidence-based, familycentredcare in an efficient and effectivemanner.The Provincial Maternal-NewbornAdvisory Committee (PM-NAC) is anarm of this Council. Vicki Van Wagner,RM, sits on the PM-NAC as a midwiferyrepresentative. Eight work groupsare performing work related to thisCommittee’s goals.Eileen Hutton, RM, is a member ofthe Maternal Newborn PerformanceMeasurement and AccountabilityWork Group. This group will focus ondeveloping a “report card” which canbe used to measure or evaluate theprovincial performance in terms ofmaternal newborn health care.Elana Johnson, RM, is a member ofthe Late Preterm Birth Work Group.This group will describe predictorsfor late preterm birth and identifyapproaches to decrease the incidenceof late preterm birth. The group willMidwifery scope ofpractice reviewIn September, the AOM was invited tomake verbal and written presentationsto the Standing Committee on SocialPolicy regarding Bill 179.This Bill would amend variousActs related to regulated healthprofessionals, including midwives, andbring the law more up to date withcurrent practice.At the Committee hearings, the AOMspoke in support of the proposedlaw in general, and added requestsfor clarity and amendments aroundthe section of the Bill that deals withdrugs.In October, the Standing Committeepresented a few proposedamendments to the Bill on the floorrecommend delivery and post deliveryclinical management of the latepreterm birth population and identifyimplications for early and long-termfollow up of late preterm birth infants.Bobbi Soderstrom, RM, is a memberand co-chair of the Maternal-NewbornBreastfeeding Services and SupportWork Group. This group’s purpose is toprovide cost-effective recommendationsand options to support the deliveryof breastfeeding support and serviceswith a focus on improved breastfeedinginitiation and duration rates.Data ManagementMidwives are also active with theOntario Perinatal Surveilance System(OPSS), with Liz Darling, RM, on theSteering Committee and Eileen Hutton,RM, on the Scientific Working Group.Insurance and Risk ManagementRemi Ejiwunmi, RM and Chair of theAOM IRMP Committee, has beenappointed to HIROC’s Claims andRisk Management Committee. Thiscommittee of the HIROC Board ofDirectors focuses on Claims and RiskManagement for all of the memberorganizations who are subscribers toHIROC, including the AOM.AOM Executive Director Kelly Stadelbauer and AOMBoard President Katrina Kilroy, RM, in the OntarioLegislature after their presentation to the StandingCommittee regarding Bill 179.of the legislature, but only minorrevisions were passed.The Bill in its current form has beenordered to third reading. Full text isavailable online here:www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&Intranet=&BillID=2189Home and hospitalbirths analyzed inOntario midwiferystudyA new study comparingoutcomes of planned homebirth and planned hospital birthfound no difference betweenthe groups in terms of perinataland neonatal mortality orserious morbidity. All measuresof serious maternal morbiditywere lower in the planned homebirth group as were rates for allinterventions including cesareansection.Published in the September2009 issue of Birth, the studywas authored by Hamiltonresearchers Eileen Hutton, PhD,Angela Reitsma, RM, and KarynKaufman, DrPH.The purpose of the study wasto compare maternal andperinatal/neonatal mortalityand morbidity and intrapartumintervention rates for womenattended by Ontario midwiveswho planned a home birth, witha cohort, stratified by parity, ofsimilar low-risk women planninga hospital birth with Ontariomidwives.Using information obtained frommidwifery client tracking forms,compiled by the Ontario Ministryof Health during the 2003-2006study period, no differences werereported between groups inthe rates of perinatal or seriousneonatal mortality, or in the ratesof serious morbidity. No maternaldeaths occurred in either group.Women in the planned homebirth group experienced fewerintrapartum interventions foreach specific intervention studiedincluding cesarean section.Comparing outcomes for bothmothers and infants, this studyadds to the body of researchsupporting the safety of homebirth with a Registered Midwifewho is well integrated into thehealth care system.www.aom.on.ca09

National Newsbritish columbiaAuthored by BC midwives and physicians, a large-scalestudy found that planned home birth attended by a registeredmidwife is as safe, or safer, than hospital birth. Homebirth was associated with very low and comparable rates ofperinatal death and reduced rates of obstetric interventionsand other adverse perinatal outcomes compared with plannedhospital birth attended by a midwife or physician. The study,published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, isone of the largest of its kind and received significant mediacoverage across Canada.In the study, researchers looked at data from nearly 3,000British Columbia women who planned a home delivery, about4,750 who planned a hospital birth with a midwife, and about5,330 women who had a hospital birth with a physician overa five-year period. Nearly 80 per cent of women who plannedto give birth at home actually did. Researchers found the rateof perinatal death was similarly low – less than one in 1,000 –among the three groups studied.They also found the need for electronic fetal monitoring,epidural analgesia, assisted delivery, ceasarean delivery,infection and other problems or interventions was loweramong those who planned a home birth.ManitobaStarting in 2010, the University College of the North will offermidwifery training in southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg,as well as the northern part of the province. The programwill be expanded to offer eight more seats, approximatelydoubling enrolment. There are forty-five funded midwifepositions in the province, with more than half in rural andnorthern areas. The education program expansion wasannounced at the Canadian Associaton of Midwives annualconference in Winnipeg.ontarioThe Region of Peel Public Health, Ontario is now designated asa Baby-Friendly Community Health Service. More informationon this community health service is available at:www.peelregion.ca/health/family-health/breastfeeding/healthprofessionals/babyfriendly.htmBaby-Friendly Facilities in Canada:• 9 hospitals (4 in QC, 2 in BC, and 2 in ON, with a third ONhospital currently undergoing reassessment)• 2 Birthing Centres (in Quebec)• 11 Community Health Services (7 in QC, 4 in ON)More information regarding BFI is available at:www.breastfeedingcanada.ca/html/bfi.htmlnunavutSoon pregnant women in Cambridge Bay won’t be obligedto travel south to deliver their babies. Starting early in thenew year, Cambridge Bay women who are at low risk ofcomplications during their delivery will be able to give birthunder a midwife’s care at the Kitikmeot health centre, saidClara Evalik, the Kitikmeot director for Nunavut’s healthand social services department. And all pregnant womenin the community will receive care during and after theirpregnancy from midwives at the health centre, Evalik said. The$20-million health centre has been fully equipped to handledeliveries since it opened in the fall of 2005. But until nowno one has used it because of a lack of nurses and doctorsand housing for medical staff. As well, a fire damaged partof the new health centre which set back the original plan tosee midwife-attended deliveries take place in Cambridge Bay.During 2010, midwives will likely deliver many of the approximately40 babies born to Cambridge Bay women every year.Cambridge Bay is located on the south coast of Victoria Island,with a population of about 1500.ServiceOntario newborn registrationAs of this summer, a fully electronic Newborn RegistrationService is now available across the province. The provincialimplementation, which has been an on-going processover the past two years, has been successfully completed.Parents and medical professionals now have access to theonline service to submit a newborn’s birth information,regardless of where in Ontario the birth occurred.This 3-in-1 service lets parents submit their child’sbirth registration information online and apply for abirth certificate and Social Insurance Number online.The Newborn Registration Service eliminates the birthregistration fees previously charged by some municipalitiesand the need to deal with three levels of government.To access this service, please visit www.ServiceOntario.caFetal Fibronectin video available onlineAs part of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Careimplementation strategy for Fetal Fibronectin testing,an educational video has been developed featuring Dr.Graeme Smith, maternal-fetal medicine specialist atKingston General Hospital. The video can be seen at theProvincial Council for Maternal and Child Health website.www.pcmch.on.ca/fetalfibronectin_video.htmThis is part of the ongoing provincial strategy under therecommendations of the Maternal-Newborn AdvisoryCommittee and the Fetal Fibronectin Working Group.10ontario midwife • Fall 2009

AOM ProgramsTo register for ESW courses, visit the AOMwebsite or contact events@aom.on.ca,416-425-9974 x2255.Also coming in 2010: AOM Clinical Daysand Leadership Workshops.AOM Emergency Skills Workshop(ESW recert)December 4, 2009 - OttawaVenue: Midwifery Group of OttawaAOM ESW recertificationJanuary 22, 2010TorontoAOM ESW recertificationFebruary 10, 2010KitchenerAOM ESW recertificationFebruary 26, 2010Ottawa (Gatineau)AOM ESW Instructor TrainingMarch 9, 2010SudburyAOM ESW recertificationMarch 10, 2010SudburyAOM ESW Instructor TrainingMay 3, 2010Niagara Falls - Fallsview Crowne PlazaAOM ESW recertificationMay 4, 2010Niagara Falls - Fallsview Crowne PlazaAOM ESW recertificationAugust 6, 2010GuelphAOM ESW recertificationAugust 20, 2010Thunder BayAOM ESW recertificationSeptember 10, 2010KingstonAOM ESW recertificationSeptember 24, 2010TorontoAOM ESW recertificationOctober 8, 2010OttawaAOM ESW recertificationNovember 19, 2010LondonAOM ESW recertificationDecember 10, 2010MississaugaConferences of interest - more at www.aom.on.ca “Professional Development”CAPPA Canada Childbirth and Postpartum ProfessionalConferenceNovember 13 & 14, 2009 in Mississauga, ONwww.cappacanada.ca/Conference2009.htmlHealth Achieve OHA ConferenceNovember 16-18, 2009 in Toronto, ONwww.ohahealthachieve.comAssociation of Radical Midwives National Conference“Safeguarding Normality - it’s our choice”November 21, 2009 in Telford, Shropshire, UKarmconference.co.ukNational Institutes of Health Consensus DevelopmentConference on VBACs: New InsightMarch 8-10, 2010 in Bethesda, Maryland, USAconsensus.nih.gov/2010/vbac.htmThe Internationally Educated Health Professional StakeholderConferenceDecember 2-3, 2009 in Toronto, ONwww.cehpea.caObstetrical Malpractice: A Survival Guide for 2010January 16, 2010 in Toronto, ONwww.mtsinai.on.ca/seminars/ceOVLC 14th Annual Breastfeeding ConferenceApril 22-23, 2010 in Montreal, QCwww.ovlc.netSOGC Annual Clinical MeetingJune 9-13, 2010 in Montreal, QCwww.sogc.org/cme/events-acm_e.aspNormal Labour and Birth Conference: Benefits & Challenges ofPreserving Physiologic Birth (UBC Midwifery)July 20-23, 2010 in Vancouver, BCwww.midwifery.ubc.ca/midwifery/research/normalbirth.htmInternational Stillbirth Alliance and the International Societyfor the Study and Prevention of Perinatal and Infant DeathOctober 8-10, 2010 in Sydney, Australiawww.isaispid2010.comOntario Midwife is a quarterly publication of the Association of Ontario Midwives. This publicationis available online at www.aom.on.ca, or you may request a printed copy. All websites listed are“hotlinked” in the digital copy. Scroll over the website address and click to launch the site.We welcome all feedback. Please contact Joanna Zuk, Senior Communications Officer:comms@aom.on.ca, or by phone: 416-425-9974 x2261 or 866-418-3773 x2261.Association of Ontario MidwivesAssociation of Ontario Midwives, 365 Bloor St. E., Suite 301, Toronto, ON M4W 3L4

AOM Annual General Meeting and ConferenceNiagara FallsMay 3-6, 2010The 2010 AOM Conference and AGMwill be held from May 3 to 6in beautiful Niagara Falls!Don’t delay, reserve your hotel roomat the historical Crowne Plaza NiagaraFalls - Fallsview Hotel.The AOM has secured a fabulous rateof $109.00 for a traditional room and$119.00 for a fallsview room, but thesavings don’t stop there.The Crowne Plaza has extended thatdiscounted rate to our delegates fortwo days pre- and post-conference, sobring the family and enjoy a vacationbeside one of the greatest wonders ofthe natural world.Call 1-800-519-9911 to reserve yourroom and request the special grouprate for the Association of OntarioMidwives.More conference information coming soon towww.aom.on.caAssociation of Ontario Midwives