Winnipeg's birth centre hopes to up deliveries next year

A year after opening, Winnipeg's birth centre held an open house Saturday to show the public what the facility has to offer.

Leigh Anne Caron is the team manager with the program and said there have been 112 births at the centre since it opened.

She said she hopes to have 150 to 200 births next year.

"Just keep gradually increasing," said Caron. "Our capacity for being able to provide births here depends on how many midwives we have — it's only midwives that do deliver here."

The centre is another option for expectant mothers who deliver with midwives, she said.

Caron said there are advantages for people who choose to deliver at the centre.

"They can bring as many people in here as they want to … your children are able to be here."

Some say the birth centre isn't operating at capacity because of a shortage of midwives.

The centre has the capacity for 500 births a year.