Midwifery. It’s the fastest growing medical profession in the province of Alberta, according to the Alberta Association of Midwives.
And now Cochrane midwives will have a space to call home with the Jan. 21 opening of the new location of Cochrane Community Midwives Inc. located at 611-101 Sunset Drive.
Fellow practicing midwife Carly Scrymgeour joins owner/operator Shianna Pace at the new location.
Together, with the backing of the community, the women aim to transform the midwifery clinic into a birthing, education and care centre for Cochrane families over time.
“Currently there are not enough midwives in Alberta to meet the demand,” explained Pace. “We recommend that women contact us as soon as they find out that they are expecting a baby. Our catchment area is Cochrane and the surrounding area and we do our best to accommodate women from our community.”
Part of this accommodation for prenatal care includes ensuring the new facility has enough equipment and supplies to keep up with growing demand.
The Cochrane Community Midwives suffered a recent loss, as their office was housed in the basement of the home of Lindsay and Joy Eklund, who lost their home due to a house fire Jan. 8 on LJ Ranch on Towers Trail.
Although not currently practicing, Joy was the founder of the Cochrane Community Midwives, and had turned the business over to Pace in December of 2013. The midwives lost most of their client records and much of the equipment necessary for practice.
This has prompted supporters of the local midwives to spearhead a fundraiser at Cochrane High School Jan. 29 at 7 p.m.
“We’re so lucky in Cochrane to have midwives because we don’t have enough in the province — especially in rural areas,” explained Bonnie Bend, who went through two pregnancies and deliveries with Cochrane Community Midwives.
“I was really drawn to a midwifery model of care…I really felt like I was a part of the process…they’ve done so much for me and I want them to be successful and stay here in Cochrane.”
The only midwifery clinic in Cochrane, Alberta Association of Midwives president JoanMargaret Laine said she credits Joy for being such an advocate for the medical practice in Alberta.
“Joy was one of the founders in the province,” explained Laine, adding that Joy was the former divisional chief for the region. “She has been instrumental in integrating midwifery care into the region.”
A recognized medical profession in Alberta since 1996, Laine said the industry has exploded since it received Alberta Health Services (AHS) funding in 2009; prior to 2009, the cost for the service had increased to $3,500.
Women who receive midwifery care are now fully covered through AHS.
Prior to the funding announcement, there were 30 licensed midwives in the province; there are now 80.
Laine said this increase would likely continue, currently at a rate of 17 per cent annually, as Mount Royal University (MRU) will see its first batch of graduates in 2015 from the Bachelor of Midwifery program.
The Calgary university is the only midwifery school in Alberta.
“All of the studies that have been done around registered midwives in Canada have shown that out-of-hospital birth for a select group of women with few or no risk factors is as safe as having a baby in a hospital setting,” explained Pace.
“Registered midwives are held to a high level of training and are expected to maintain up to date certifications in order to safely practice in the community.”
Midwives begin working with clients in early pregnancy, through six weeks postpartum.
Women who choose to work with midwives instead of a family physician during their pregnancy may opt for a hospital delivery instead of a home birth; Pace said clients could choose to have a midwife attend hospital births in most Calgary and area hospitals.
Laine said the relationship between the hospital and midwifery communities in Calgary is ‘seamless’.
Those who are unable to attend the fundraiser for the Cochrane Community Midwives are encouraged to stop by Great Things in Store with their donations.
