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 <strong>of</strong>perinatal death and reduced rates <strong>of</strong> obstetric interventionsand other adverse perinatal outcomes compared with plannedhospital birth attended by a midwife or physician. The study,published in the Canadian Medical <strong>Association</strong> Journal, isone <strong>of</strong> the largest <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> women who plannedto give birth at home actually did. Researchers found the rate<strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> the North will <strong>of</strong>fermidwifery training in southern Manitoba, including Winnipeg,as well as the northern part <strong>of</strong> the province. The programwill be expanded to <strong>of</strong>fer 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 <strong>of</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> annualconference in Winnipeg.ontarioThe Region <strong>of</strong> Peel Public Health, <strong>Ontario</strong> 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/healthpr<strong>of</strong>essionals/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 <strong>of</strong>complications 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 <strong>of</strong> 2005. But until nowno one has used it because <strong>of</strong> a lack <strong>of</strong> nurses and doctorsand housing for medical staff. As well, a fire damaged part<strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> the approximately40 babies born to Cambridge Bay women every year.Cambridge Bay is located on the south coast <strong>of</strong> Victoria Island,with a population <strong>of</strong> about 1500.Service<strong>Ontario</strong> newborn registrationAs <strong>of</strong> 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 pr<strong>of</strong>essionals now have access to theonline service to submit a newborn’s birth information,regardless <strong>of</strong> where in <strong>Ontario</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> government.To access this service, please visit www.Service<strong>Ontario</strong>.caFetal Fibronectin video available onlineAs part <strong>of</strong> the Ministry <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong> the ongoing provincial strategy under therecommendations <strong>of</strong> the Maternal-Newborn AdvisoryCommittee and the Fetal Fibronectin Working Group.10ontario midwife • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
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, <strong>2009</strong> - OttawaVenue: Midwifery Group <strong>of</strong> 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 <strong>Fall</strong>s - <strong>Fall</strong>sview Crowne PlazaAOM ESW recertificationMay 4, 2010Niagara <strong>Fall</strong>s - <strong>Fall</strong>sview 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 <strong>of</strong> interest - more at www.aom.on.ca “Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Development”CAPPA Canada Childbirth and Postpartum Pr<strong>of</strong>essionalConferenceNovember 13 & 14, <strong>2009</strong> in Mississauga, ONwww.cappacanada.ca/Conference<strong>2009</strong>.htmlHealth Achieve OHA ConferenceNovember 16-18, <strong>2009</strong> in Toronto, ONwww.ohahealthachieve.com<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> Radical <strong>Midwives</strong> National Conference“Safeguarding Normality - it’s our choice”November 21, <strong>2009</strong> in Telford, Shropshire, UKarmconference.co.ukNational Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health Consensus DevelopmentConference on VBACs: New InsightMarch 8-10, 2010 in Bethesda, Maryland, USAconsensus.nih.gov/2010/vbac.htmThe Internationally Educated Health Pr<strong>of</strong>essional StakeholderConferenceDecember 2-3, <strong>2009</strong> 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 <strong>of</strong>Preserving 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 <strong>of</strong> Perinatal and Infant DeathOctober 8-10, 2010 in Sydney, Australiawww.isaispid2010.com<strong>Ontario</strong> Midwife is a quarterly publication <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong>. 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.<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong><strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong>, 365 Bloor St. E., Suite 301, Toronto, ON M4W 3L4