Alberta government to fund 400 more births by midwives this fiscal year

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman (Photo from Wikipedia/Connor Mah)

EDMONTON – The Alberta government is funding up to 400 more midwife-assisted births.

Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said Tuesday that an additional $1.8 million in funding will see the number of births with midwives increase to about 2,774 this year.

Hoffman says continuity of care for women and babies is so important and this gives women a safe option for delivering their babies.

Alberta has publicly funded midwifery care since 2009.

There are currently 94 midwives practising in the province, an increase of 163 per cent in the past five years.

Nicole Matheseon, president of the Alberta Association of Midwives, says more and more women want the continuous, personalized care that midwives provide.

“I’m pleased Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services are responding by expanding their partnership with the Alberta Association of Midwives, enabling hundreds of additional women to access our services,” she said in a news release.

“Now more expectant mothers have the opportunity to decide what’s best for them – giving birth in a hospital, in a birth centre or at home.”