Midwife

Midwives are responsible for the care of women and babies in uncomplicated situations. In general, midwives:

• educate women about pregnancy, labour, delivery and the postpartum period, and encourage them to make their own health care decisions
• examine women during pregnancy and assess their physical and psychological well-being
• identify potentially abnormal conditions during pregnancy and advise clients about alternative care options
• consult or refer clients to other health care professionals in the event of potentially abnormal conditions or according to client wishes
• counsel and educate women concerning diet, exercise and other prenatal health practices
• monitor the condition of the mother and baby during labour
• use hands on skills to assist women in birthing babies
• provide emotional support to clients and their families during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postpartum period
• administer emergency measures and arrange for immediate contact with physicians when abnormal conditions arise
• examine and care for newborn infants
• educate clients about breast feeding, infant care, and newborn growth and development
• see clients during the postnatal period, instruct them in how to care for themselves and their babies, and provide ongoing support
• counsel individuals and conduct classes about pregnancy and childbirth, parenthood, family planning and related topics
• maintain records and write reports
• order laboratory investigations and ultrasounds
• participate in maternity health care teams in hospitals and community health settings.

Midwives work in clients' homes and in clinics, hospitals and birth centres. They may be required to stand, kneel, bend or squat for long periods of time. Some lifting up to 20 kilograms is required.

Midwives may be on call 24 hours a day and work long, unpredictable hours. Some midwives work together so no one person has to be on call all of the time.

Midwives need the following characteristics:

• a genuine concern for people and the ability to accept them as they are
• good health, stamina and energy
• manual dexterity
• flexibility
• the maturity and emotional stability required to instill confidence and deal with emergency situations
• good organizational skills.

They should enjoy counselling and educating women and their families.

In Alberta, midwives are self-employed. They have hospital privileges in the Calgary Health Region, Peter Thompson Health Region and Westview Health Region, and at the Royal Alexandra and Stony Plain General hospitals in the Edmonton Region. Negotiations are underway in other health regions. Effective April 1, 2009, Midwifery is funded by the health care system in Alberta. 

Midwives are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 3124: Allied Primary Health Practitioners. In Alberta, 92% of people employed in this classification work in the Health Care and Social Assistance industry.

The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Health Care and Social Assistance Industry)
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
• occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
• size of the occupation.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Association of Midwives (AAM) website: www.alberta-midwives.com

Canadian Association of Midwives website: www.canadianmidwives.org

Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium website: www.cmrc-ccosf.ca

College of Midwives of Alberta website: www.college-midwives-ab.ca

For more information on career planning, education and jobs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free at 1-800-661-3753 or 780-422-4266 in Edmonton, or visit an Alberta Works Centre near you.