Sask. needs more midwives, association says

Six years ago it became possible for health regions across Saskatchewan to hire midwives, who assist mothers through pregnancy and childbirth. But so far, three of the province's 13 health regions have done so — Saskatoon, Regina Qu'Appelle and Cypress. 

And currently, 15 midwives are working in the province, according to the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM).

It's holding its annual conference in Saskatoon this week, and the lack of access to midwifery service in this province is a major topic of discussion.

Megan Lalonde is a registered midwife with the Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, and Saskatchewan's representative on the board of the CAM.

She said since 2008 the total number of midwives working in the province has stayed in the range of ten to 15, which is not enough to meet demand.

"Health regions may not be aware of how high the demand can be," Lalonde commented. "Currently in Regina, and I know the same can be said of Saskatoon, we have wait lists of approximately 30 women per month who aren't able to access midwifery care, and we have women who are travelling for up to four hours to have midwifery care."

There aren't enough trained midwives in the province, because there is no training program here, Lalonde added, although the University of Regina wants to set one up.

The Midwives Association of Saskatchewan is calling for more money to hire midwives across the province. And it wants the provincial government to get behind efforts to set up the training program at the U of R.