Midwifery Services for ALL!

As we head into a provincial election, the association is calling on candidates to share their plan for expansion of midwifery services across all of Newfoundland and Labrador. We invite the public to do the same! Below you'll find a letter prepared by the Association for community members, previous clients, wishful clients and general advocates. Please copy and paste this letter into an email and send to candidates in your riding.

"Dear Candidate, 

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent and a supporter of the expansion of midwifery services in Newfoundland and Labrador. As we approach the upcoming provincial election, I believe it is essential to discuss the impact of midwifery care on our communities and the healthcare system, and I would appreciate hearing your stance on this issue.

Midwifery care offers numerous benefits that are vital for improving the health outcomes of families across our province. Evidence consistently shows that midwives provide high-quality, patient-centered care with better outcomes for both parents and babies. Midwives are highly trained primary healthcare providers who offer continuity of care, supporting families from early pregnancy through to postpartum. This continuity is known to improve perinatal health, breastfeeding rates, and overall satisfaction with the birth experience.

Importantly, midwives provide full-scope sexual and reproductive health care across the lifespan. This includes pre-conception counselling, pap tests, STBBI testing, and contraceptive care. By offering these services, midwives further alleviate strain on the healthcare system and ensure that community needs are met in a timely and accessible way.

Furthermore, midwifery care empowers families to make informed choices regarding their care, ensuring that individuals feel respected and heard throughout the childbearing journey. Research also indicates that midwifery services are associated with a reduction in medical interventions, which contributes to a more positive experience for the mother and reduces the overall strain on the healthcare system.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, where healthcare resources are often stretched thin, midwives play a crucial role in relieving pressure on other primary care providers. By providing comprehensive care during the childbearing years—and broader reproductive health services throughout the lifespan—midwives help to reduce the demand for services from family doctors and obstetricians, allowing these professionals to focus on other areas of healthcare. This can result in a more efficient use of resources and better outcomes for the healthcare system as a whole.

As a province, we need to ensure that midwifery services are accessible to all families, regardless of their location. Expanding midwifery services would not only improve health outcomes but also enhance the overall quality of care provided to residents of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Given the importance of this issue, I would like to ask for your position on the expansion of midwifery services in our province. Do you support increasing access to midwifery care in all regions, and if so, how do you plan to ensure that these services are adequately funded and integrated into the broader healthcare system?

The Association of Midwives of Newfoundland and Labrador (AMNL) has been advocating for greater access to midwifery care, and I, along with many others, believe this is a critical step forward for the well-being of our families and the efficiency of our healthcare system. Your response to this matter would help me, and many others, make an informed decision when we cast our votes.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this important issue. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can improve healthcare services in our province, particularly in relation to midwifery care."