Winter 2010 - Association of Ontario Midwives

Association of Ontario Midwives Winter 2010: Vol. 3 No. 1
03
AOM members in
the community
Midwifery: what will the
next decade bring?
04
A year of LifeWorks:
yes, they do that
06
Health equity
focus for AOM
conference
07
G8 to concentrate
on maternal care
09
Bill 179 passes,
expands scope
Association of Ontario Midwives
Midwife Jay MacGillivray involves client
Sophia Syed’s children during a prenatal
appointment.
See story, page 5.

Welcome AOM News new AOM & Updates
members!
New member
numbers and
website log-ins
The AOM has moved to a
new database system and
in the process has had to
change all AOM member
numbers to a standard four
digit number. This has also
changed the website login
process. Members received
new login information with
their membership renewal
and can now use the new
member ID and password
to access the members-only
section of the website.
Members are also reminded
that they can make some
updates to their personal
profile, including address,
phone and email changes,
through the website. Look for
the “Update Member Profile”
tab within the Membership
Benefits and Programs tab in
members only.
Personal name changes or
practice name changes need
to be submitted in writing
to member services at
programs@aom.on.ca
If you have any questions
regarding the new login
process, please contact
member services at 416-425-
9974 x2232, toll-free at
1-866-418-3773 x2232 or
programs@aom.on.ca
Early bird gets the
chocolate!
Thanks to all the members
who renewed before the end
of 2009. The winner of the
early bird draw was Nicole
Versaevel, who received a
delicious box of chocolates.
IMPP Midwives Class of 2010
Back row from left: Marie Smith (UK), Leslie Ludka (USA), JayVon Muhammad (USA), Tiffany Kyer (US trained CAN),
Jenna Konkle (US trained CAN), Kathy Balazs (Hungary)
Middle row from left: Ilse Santizo (Guatemala), Churamonie Jagdeo (UK), Masoudeh Kazemiashtiani (Iran), Mary
Gyarchie (Ghana/Jamaica), Xiaojuan Yan (China)
Front row from left: Jerren Helwig (USA), Naomi Wolfe (CAN), Mojgan Naminiasl (Iran), Kelly Graff (US trained CAN)
Of the AOM’s current 488 members, 105 came through the IMPP or PLEA programs. That means just over 20 percent
of Ontario’s midwives who were originally trained outside of the province. Welcome and congratulations to this year’s
class!
Welcome new AOM
members!
Jackie Curran, Family Care Midwives
Janis Dalacker, Thames Valley Midwives
Natalie Espinet, Stratford Midwives
Allison Hines, Womancare Midwives
Yuefang Liu, Midwives Grey Bruce
Melanie McVean, The Hamilton
Midwives
Safire Naranjo, Kensington Midwives
Laura Pierce, Countryside Midwifery
Services - Milverton Clinic
Sabrina Roy, Community Care Midwives
Monica Weber, Talbot Creek Midwives
(as of January 29, 2010)
New practice opens in
Bowmanville
New Life Midwives
Andrea Campbell, Debbie Doiron
Clinic location:
152 Church Street
Bowmanville, ON L1C 1T6
Tel: 289-240-1116
Fax: 289-240-8506
info@newlifemidwives.com
www.newlifemidwives.com
Catchment Area:
Townline Road in Durham Region
to the west and Highway 30 in
Northumberland County in the
east.
Hospitals:
Lakeridge Health Corporation-
Oshawa Site, Northumberland
Hills Hospital
Open: January 4, 2010
02 ontario midwife • Winter 2010

COLLINGWOOD: Midwives Nottawasaga prep for their “Meet the Midwives BBQ” on September 26, 2009. Three
new midwives joined the practice recently.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Sandra Fincham RM, Jessica Taylor RM, Diane Page RM, Lynne-Marie Culliton RM, Sonia
Ahrens (practice administrator) and Lilly Martin RM.
In September, Midwives Nottawasaga hosted an Open House for the community to enjoy some BBQ and
meet new midwives: Sandra Fincham RM, Lilly Martin RM, and Jessica Taylor RM. Lots of fun was at hand
for the 100 families of former, present and future clients with the library’s Active Fun Kit, playing “Pin the
Baby on the Belly” as well as the birthing tub fishpond. The day featured a breastfeeding display to honour
International Breastfeeding Week and baby massages from a local supporter.
Spring 2010 Regional Meetings
WEST (LONDON):
Monday, March 1 - Regional Coordinator Madeleine Clin
SOUTH-WEST (BURLINGTON):
Tuesday, March 2 - Regional Coordinator Kelly Gascoigne
SOUTH-CENTRAL (TORONTO):
Thursday, March 4 - Regional Coordinator Tracy Franklin
NORTH (TELECONFERENCE):
Monday, March 8 - Regional Coordinator Eileen Abbey
SOUTH-EAST (ALLISTON):
Tuesday, March 9 - Regional Coordinator Sara Stainton
EAST (KINGSTON):
Wednesday, March 10 - Regional Coordinator Jane Somerville
Full meeting information (including locations and maps) is posted in the
member meetings section of the AOM website.
All meetings are from 1:00 - 4:30 pm.
Every member is encouraged to attend regional meetings, and every
practice is requested to make sure that at least one midwife attends, then
shares information with everyone in the practice.
Minutes from the Fall 2009 meetings are now available in the members
only section of the AOM website.
BARRIE: Run for the Cure, October 2009
TOP PHOTO: Kari Loyst (former client), Ann Brown (Barrie Midwives
Practice Administrator) and Sara Stainton, RM, await the start of
the race.
MIDDLE PHOTO: Andrea McInnis, RM and Jane Flindall, RM leg
it out
BOTTOM PHOTO: Kerstin Helen-Thompson, RM, shares a moment
with daughter Lina at the end of the 5K run. Kerstin was the first
breast cancer survivor to finish the race and was interviewed by a
local TV news broadcast.
Midwives represented on
baby-friendly initiative
AOM Board Member Sara Stainton
has been appointed to the Ontario
Breastfeeding Committee (OBC).
The OBC is the organization that supports
hospitals to become baby friendly.
They support, protect and promote
breastfeeding and they are the provincial
representatives of the Breastfeeding
Committee of Canada.
www.breastfeedingontario.org
www.aom.on.ca
03

AOM News & Updates
Welcome new AOM members!
CAM 2010
This past November, the Canadian
Association of Midwives (CAM) hosted
its 9th Annual General Meeting,
Conference & Exhibit in Winnipeg,
welcoming more than 150 midwives
from across the country.
Presentations included “The Use
of Complementary Medicine in
Midwifery Care” by Dr. Cathy
Carlson-Rink, RM and “Speaking the
Truth” by Dr. Larry Reynolds.
The conference also saw many
meetings take place, including a
gathering of the National Aboriginal
Council of Midwives, the Canadian
Midwifery Regulators Consortium,
representatives from Canadian
midwifery education programs,
the Multi-jurisdictional Midwifery
Bridging Project, the CAM National
ESW Committee and the CAM Board.
The 2010 conference will take place in
Edmonton. In 2011, Ontario will host
the CAM conference in Toronto.
International
Breech
Conference
The 2nd
International
Breech Conference,
held in Ottawa
in October, was
a unique multidisciplinary
conference, bringing
experts from around the world to
meet with nearly 200 birth care
professionals as well as consumers.
The mechanics and the benefits of
vaginal breech birth in the upright
position was discussed in detail
by Jane Evans (UK), Lisa Barrett
(Australia), and Frank Loewen
(Germany). Other themes focussed on
the mythology and fear around breech
birth, as well as informed choice. The
next conference is anticipated for
2012. For more information, visit
www.breechbirth.ca.
OHA Health Achieve
The AOM made valuable connections
with Ontario hospitals by participating
in the annual trade show in November.
Thanks to AOM members Claudette
LeDuc and Katrina Kilroy who helped
at the booth.
I didn’t know LifeWorks could help me with that!
Midwives spend much
of their time providing
emotional support to
their clients, but what do
they do when they need
professional support
themselves?
Over the last year, AOM
members have been
able to access valuable
support resources
through the LifeWorks
program 24-hours-a-day,
7-days-a-week.
“When I’m responding
to members’ urgent calls
for support relating to
a critical incident, I like
to end the conversation
with a reminder about the
LifeWorks program,” said
Bobbi Soderstrom, AOM
Director of Insurance & Risk
Management. “We know
that some AOM members
are using the LifeWorks
service and encourage
others to take advantage of
it as well.”
Originally intended to provide
emotional support and counseling
following a professional critical
incident or near miss, the program
also offers much more, with members
accessing resources on everyday
issues related to financial planning,
managing a family and health issues,
among others.
For example, a member caring for an
elderly parent may need information
on a particular illness or about assisted
living options. LifeWorks consultants
can research these topics and provide
a list of resources in a specific
community.
In addition to over-the-phone advice
and counseling, LifeWorks offers many
resources on its website on topics
ranging from how to write a will, to
dealing with addiction, to managing
and communicating with staff
members. In some cases, fact sheets
are readily available from the website,
whereas for others, printed resources
can be downloaded or CDs ordered
free of charge.
“Information about managing office
staff may be useful for practice
partners, for example, who may
be wondering how to engage
administrative staff in performance
evaluations,” said Soderstrom.
LifeWorks consultants also put
members in touch with outside
resources such as lawyers, financial
planners or dieticians depending on a
member’s needs.
Contact with LifeWorks, either
by phone or website, is free and
confidential. LifeWorks is available
to AOM members and also their
immediate family, e.g., spouse and
dependent children (full-time students
living in Canada).
To access LifeWorks, call 1-877-207-
8833 or visit www.lifeworks.com.
Login and password information is
available on the AOM website in the
member’s only section under “Benefits
of Membership.”
04 ontario midwife • Winter 2010

A vision of Midwifery in
Ontario: what will the
next 10 years bring?
Over the last 10 years, midwifery in
Ontario has made incredible strides
– growing, diversifying and gaining
strength as a movement in maternal and
women’s health. On the threshold of a
new decade, it is natural to take a look
back at how far the profession has come
and develop a vision for the next 10 years.
Midwives now attend more than 12,000
births each year in Ontario and from 2000
to 2009, the proportion of provincial
births attended by midwives has jumped
from 4% to more than 9%.
The growing presence of midwives on
the maternity care landscape is in part
due to the growing number of practicing
midwives: between 2000 and 2009, the
number of registered midwives in Ontario
more than doubled, going from 197 to
480.
More midwives, more practices
Increasing numbers of
students in the Midwifery
Education Program
have certainly helped,
but programs such as
the fast track program
for nurses and the
International Midwifery
Pre-registration Program,
which replaced the Prior
- AOM President
Learning and Experience
Assessment program in Katrina Kilroy
2001, have also played
a role.
Over the last decade,
midwives have worked hard to grow their
practices, mentor students and integrate
into the hospital system, and clients are
now starting to reap the rewards of this
hard work.
Full midwifery departments in some
hospitals have provided midwives with
opportunities to be heard within the
health care system and to work with all
of their colleagues. A growing number of
practices in rural areas mean midwifery
care is entering communities where it has
never been before.
While maternity care intervention rates
overall have risen dramatically over the
“Midwives understand
physiologic birth and
have faith in women’s
ability to give birth.”
AOM President Katrina Kilroy shares a smile with baby
Vita Martel while examining her hips.
last few years, midwifery interventions
not only remain low, but also steady over
time. In Ontario, the overall number of
c-sections has grown from more than 22%
to 27.7% between 2000
and 2006, while c-section
rates among midwifery
clients remained relatively
unchanged, from 14.2% to
15.5% between 2002 and
2007.
“The increasing
industrialization of birth
and skyrocketing rates
of intervention are very
concerning. Midwives
understand physiologic
birth and have faith
in women’s ability to give birth. This
perspective and knowledge have a very
important role to play in helping to turn
the tide and promote normal birth,” said
AOM President Katrina Kilroy. “I know
that by focusing on the promotion of
normal, physiologic birth in the next
strategic plan, the AOM will make a real
difference in ensuring Ontario women
have access to the kind of maternity care
they want and deserve.”
Increasingly important role
The profession is now on the cusp of
an exciting time where midwives have
an increasingly important role to play
in bringing normal birth and home
birth back to women and communities.
Midwives hold in their hands the tools
needed to strengthen these initiatives:
the day-to-day work of providing care to
women and babies while educating and
encouraging a return to normal birth,
as well as the larger effort of changing
the maternal and newborn health care
system for the better.
Continuing to bring normal, physiological
birth back to communities will help to
establish a birth culture which empowers
women during this time of profound
meaning in their lives.
Integration and interprofessional
initiatives
“It has been exciting to see the changes
midwifery has undergone in just the last
ten years,” said Kilroy. “Midwives used
to be seen as outsiders and now there’s
a lot of progress in terms of integration
into hospitals and the greater health
care system. These days, midwives
are involved with interprofessional
care discussions and interprofessional
education initiatives throughout the
province.”
As midwifery care becomes more
diverse – from the diversity of midwives
themselves, to the diversity of clients,
to providing midwifery care in diverse
communities – the opportunity is
presented to bring normal birth into the
mainstream.
An impact for decades to come
Looking back in 2020, what will midwives
see as the key decisions and events of
this decade? What kind of difference
will midwifery care have made in the
mainstream culture of birth?
The lasting vision of the AOM is that
midwifery be central to the provision of
maternal and newborn care in Ontario,
and that midwives participate fully in
planning and policy development at all
levels of the healthcare system.
This vision is now reflected in the
Association’s strategic plan. Thank you to
all members who have participated in the
strategic planning process.
- Kelly Stadelbauer, Executive Director, and
Juana Berinstein, Director of Policy and
Communications
www.aom.on.ca
05

AOM News & Updates
Locum placements
“a good idea for any
midwife.”
The first few placements through
the new AOM Locum Program for
Rural and Remote Practices have
been completed, marking the
kick off of the much-anticipated
program that covers midwives’
expenses related to providing
locum relief.
Though she just “fell into the
position,” Bracebridge-based
midwife Lori Steele thoroughly
enjoyed her placement with the
Midwifes of Muskoka, where
she worked from September to
December 2009.
Steele didn’t immediately
consider joining the program,
but thanks to the insistence
of a midwife at the practice
where she was working at the
time and a need for a flexible
work schedule due to personal
responsibilities, Steele decided a
locum placement might be just
the thing.
“I think the program is a good
idea for any midwife,” said Steele
of the experience. She has already
been in touch with another
practice and is considering other
placements.
Rural and remote practices in
need of a locum should contact
policy@aom.on.ca or visit the
member’s only section of the
AOM website to download
the necessary forms from the
“Membership Benefits and
Programs” tab.
Midwives interested in serving
as a locum can view available
positions at www.aom.on.ca/
AOM/Career_Opportunities/
Registered_Midwives.aspx or
can join the locum pool by filling
out forms also available under
the “Membership Benefits and
Programs” tab in the member’s
only section of the website.
Client Mariana Ahmeda Mansaray reviews her file with midwife Carmen Felix at a prenatal appointment. The Diversity
Work Group has spearheaded a number of efforts to support midwives in providing care to diverse women.
Diversity Work Group established at the AOM
The AOM Diversity Work Group was
created in 2009 and is pushing full steam
ahead into several different initiatives
over the coming year.
“The work group is really excited to be
formed and running,” said group chair
Manavi Handa, RM.
The group has already drafted an
Equity Statement for the AOM, sent
questionnaires out to members
regarding member needs in the provision
of care, and is overseeing the translation
of key materials for clients into
numerous languages, including Spanish,
Simplified Chinese, Arabic, Farsi, Urdu,
Russian and Korean.
With members looking for additional
information on how to work with diverse
populations, the AOM is also hosting
Clinical Education Days on topics related
to this issue across the province.
The creation of the Diversity Work
Group was a key step towards this year’s
AOM conference focusing on “Diversity
in Action: Improving Health Equity in
Maternal and Newborn Care” and is
planning to host three seminars at the
conference on working with special
populations as well as a keynote address.
“We’re enthusiastic that the work we’re
doing will benefit members in theoretical
ways as well as practially within their
midwifery practice,” said Handa.
The Work Group’s mandate includes:
• providing the AOM with input
regarding diversity issues;
• monitoring member needs
regarding health equity issues;
• advising the AOM on
communications materials; and
• advising the AOM on education and
professional development initiatives
related to diversity, representation
and accessibility.
The Chair of the Diversity Work Group
is Manavi Handa. The members are:
Genevieve Gagnon, Sylvaine Devos,
Wendy Wong, Babette Burrell and Nicole
Romeiko.
Anyone wishing to provide feedback
to the work group is asked to contact
the AOM at policy@aom.on.ca or Work
Group Chair Manavi Handa via West End
Midwives:
westendmidwives@gmail.com
06 ontario midwife • Winter 2010

Key Maternity Care Issues
Canadian G8 meeting
to focus on Maternal-
Child health
Ten years after the turn of the
century, this year marks the
10th anniversary of the United
Nations setting the Millennium
Development Goals (MDG) but
only five years remain from the
deadline set to achieve those
goals in 2015.
There are eight MDGs that
address issues ranging from
reducing poverty to slowing the
spread of HIV/AIDS, all meant
to shine a spotlight and initiate
action on issues facing the
world’s poorest populations.
With MDG #5 focused
squarely on reducing the
maternal mortality ratio by
three-quarters and achieving
universal coverage of skilled
care at birth by 2015, the AOM
has taken a direct interest in
seeing these goals achieved.
More than 500,000 women die
each year in childbirth or due
to complications related to
pregnancy and a recent study
found that nearly 70% of these maternal
deaths could be prevented.
The AOM is supporting organizations
including the White Ribbon Alliance
for Safe Motherhood, the International
Confederation of Midwives (ICM), the
Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM),
the International Federation of Gynecology
and Obstetrics (FIGO) and the Society
of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of
Canada (SOGC) to push the Canadian
government to make maternal mortality a
priority and actively address MDG#5.
At the 2009 annual conference, the
AOM donated exhibit space to CAM to
promote the Mothers and Midwives
CAMpaign, which aimed at putting
pressure on the Canadian government
to make MDG #5 a priority. Following
this, ICM President, board member of
the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn
& Child Health (PMNCH) and former
AOM President Bridget Lynch, alongside
campaign partners, successfully petitioned
parliament to pass a unanimous, all-party
resolution agreeing to this effort last June.
“This global political will is what
is needed to finally end the
needless deaths of mothers and
their newborns, to help build
functioning health systems in
developing countries and to
create innovative global financing
systems to fund these needs.”
- Bridget Lynch, President
International Confederation
of Midwives
“Until now, what has been lacking is a
political will on the part of the G8 and the
G20 to make it happen. Today, Canada
joins with resolutions from the European
Parliament, the US Congress and the
African Parliamentary Union, all of whom
have passed similar resolutions in the past
few months. This global political will is
what is needed to finally end the needless
deaths of mothers and their newborns, to
help build functioning health
systems in developing countries
and to create innovative global
financing systems to fund these
needs,” said Lynch.
In October, Lynch spoke at
the 16th Annual Canadian
Conference on International
Health, once again addressing
the need for governments to
play an active role in achieving
the MDGs, specifically MDG #5.
Organizations continue to
put pressure on the Canadian
government.
This past December, AOM
members attended a
stakeholder event hosted by the
SOGC, FIGO and PMNCH which
included members of parliament
and Canadian White Ribbon
Alliance representative Maureen
McTeer, among others. This
event again called for a focused
effort on improving maternal
health outcomes.
A day earlier, Canadian Senator
Honourable Sharon Carstairs
proposed a motion that
maternal and child health be
made a priority at the upcoming
G8 and G20 meetings.
“In the developing world, 99 per cent of
maternal and newborn mortality occurs
where more than 50 per cent of women
still deliver without the assistance of
skilled health personnel. This statistic is a
powerful statement about inequity and
access to quality care,” Carstairs said.
These events and the efforts of these
organizations have directly contributed to
Prime Minister Stephen Harper recently
announcing that this year’s G8 meeting
will focus on maternal mortality. While
the AOM lauds the announcement that
the G8 will make maternal mortality a
priority, more details are needed regarding
a specific action plan from government
to ensure this promise makes a practical
difference to ensure that MDG #5 is
achieved.
To receive more information about the
Maternity Matters campaign and events
leading up to and during the Canadian G8
meeting, contact comms@aom.on.ca.
www.aom.on.ca
07

Consumer Resources
Pour la sécurité de la mère et du bébé
Attachez-vous
For the best
protection
wear your
seatbelt
ABOVE and
BELOW your
belly
Pour obtenir
une protection
maximale,
portez votre
ceinture de
sécurité
AU-DESSUS et
EN-DESSOUS
de l’abdomen.
Thanks to model Malve Petersmann, Peter Gwynne-Timothy and Steele Hyundai.
Merci à Kristel Vom Scheidt, Peter Gwynne-Timothy et Steele Hyundai.
For more information visit:
http://rcp.nshealth.ca
http://rcp.nshealth.ca
Pour obtenir de plus amples renseignements,
consultez le site suivant : http://rcp.nshealth.ca
Correct seat belt use reduces injury to pregnant women
The Safe Mother, Safe Baby, Buckle Up
project wants women to know there’s
a right way and a wrong way to wear a
seatbelt when pregnant. Several Nova
Scotia-based health agencies have
teamed up to create a series of posters
and information cards available for health
care professionals to display in clinics
and pass out to clients that provide an
example and answer questions about
proper seatbelt use during pregnancy.
The message is: Safe Mother, Safe Baby,
Buckle Up. The posters are in three
languages: English, French and Arabic.
The cards are in English only and printed
on two sides; the back has frequently
asked questions and answers.
The posters and card were created in
response to a need identified by The
Canadian Perinatal Surveillance System:
Special Report on
Maternal Mortality
and Severe Morbidity
(2004). The report
noted motor vehicle
crashes were the
leading cause of
incidental maternal
death, citing no-use
death.”
or incorrect-use of
seatbelts to be a major
contributor. CPSS
advises, “The correct
use of seatbelts is one clear measure to
reduce morbidity and mortality among
pregnant women.” (CPSS, 2004, pg 27)
“ Motor vehicle crashes
were the leading cause
of incidental maternal
This project was completed with a
grant from The Road Safety Advisory
Committee of
The Department
of Transport and
Infrastructure Nova
Scotia. Project partners
included: The Reproductive
Care Program
of Nova Scotia Child
Safety Link at the IWK
Health Center, Halifax,
NS and The Atlantic
Center of Excellence
for Women’s Health.
To get a free digital copy of the posters
and information cards, send an e-mail
request to comms@aom.on.ca.
Parenting, breastfeeding and infant care resources available in multiple languages
The Multicultural Perinatal Network
through the Credit Valley Hospital has
developed 12 fact sheets for parents
of newborns that provide advice and
guidance on issues such as attachment,
breast engorgement, comfort techniques
during labour, what to expect after a
caesarean section and how to provide
care for your preterm baby at home,
among others.
Found at www.cvh.on.ca/maternalchild/
multicultural.php, every fact sheet is
available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese,
English, French, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi,
Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu and
Vietnamese.
The Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and
Institute features breastfeeding information
sheets and videos available to the
public on two websites: www.drjacknewman.com
and www.nbci.ca.
The information sheets cover a variety of
topics related to breastfeeding, including
mastitis, medication use and latching
issues in both English and French.
Short video clips demonstrating both
proper and improper latching and baby
feeding techniques are available in
English, French, Spanish and Chinese.
Midwives may want to direct patients
to some pamphlets found on the BC
Children’s Hospital website www.bcchildrens.ca/KidsTeensFam/A-ZPamphlets/
default , under the “See All Pamphlets”
tab. The pamphlets touch on a wide
variety of issues, from prenatal and labour
advice, to feeding a baby with a cleft
palette, to healthy snack suggestions.
Some of the brochures are available in
Chinese, Korean, Punjabi or Vietnamese.
8 ontario midwife • Winter 2010

Government Initiatives
Joint Midwifery
Advisory Committee
Gives Midwives a Voice
Kerstin Helen-Thompson, RM, holds baby Nicho while parents Ngwaagan and Nicholas share a smile. Among other procedures,
Bill 179 allows midwives to take blood samples from fathers or donors.
Midwifery scope of practice expanded in Bill 179
This past December, Bill 179 was passed
in the Ontario Legislature through a
unanimous vote, granting greater scope
of practice to allied health care providers,
including midwives.
Several changes to the Midwifery Act
now enable midwives to communicate a
diagnosis to clients based on lab results,
administer suppositories, take blood
samples from fathers or donors and
intubate newborns.
“These changes are long overdue,” said
AOM president Katrina Kilroy. “They’re
things that are just naturally a part of the
Does your LHIN prioritize Maternal Health?
The AOM continually strives to support
the work that midwives are doing with
their Local Health Integrated Network
(LHIN) representatives and to create a
greater understanding of midwifery and
maternal and newborn care within the
LHIN.
To that end, several initiatives have taken
place:
• In December, the AOM hosted a
teleconference to provide midwives
working on LHIN committees
with the opportunity to provide
committee updates and to share any
challenges they have faced working
in their LHINs;
• Representatives from all 14 LHINs
have been invited to the AOM
Regional Meetings in March;
work that we do every day in caring for
pregnant women and their newborns,
and the intent is that midwives are able
to provide that care that is necessary for a
normal, healthy delivery.”
At the time the bill passed, Minister
of Health and Long-Term Care Deb
Matthews said “Allowing our health care
professionals to make better use of their
skills and talents will offer many more
choices to patients and increase access
to care. This legislation is a great step
forward in delivering sustainable health
care to all Ontarians.”
• The AOM is creating a LHIN-specific
Midwifery 101 PowerPoint presentation
for midwives to use in their
communities to educate LHIN staff.
The Central West LHIN has broadened
its initial “Maternal and Child” priority
to “Women and Children Services” on
its Integrated Health Services Plan for
2010-2013, which includes a plan for
integrating antenatal, breastfeeding
and maternal mental health services.
The Central West LHIN has put women
and children services as a priority on its
upcoming service plan and can serve as an
example to other LHINs.
The AOM continues to inform midwives
about LHINs through the listserve. If you
wish to sign up to the listserve, or for
more information about LHINs, contact
policycoordinator@aom.on.ca
The Joint Midwifery Advisory
Committee (JMAC) was established
as a result of the negotiations
process that culminated
in the April 2009 funding
agreement with the Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care.
“JMAC gives midwives a voice
at the Ministry. It ensures that,
like physicians and nurses, the
professional association has
regular opportunities to communicate
with decision-makers at
the Ministry,” said Katrina Kilroy,
AOM President and member of
JMAC.
JMAC is composed of 10
members, five from the AOM and
five from the Ministry. Each year,
JMAC meets at least four times to
discuss current issues.
“Since the creation of JMAC,” said
Kilroy, “the Association has been
able to raise a number of critical
issues and advocate for solutions,
including the need to update the
clinical audit process and the
need to plan for the expansion of
the profession.”
JMAC is also the umbrella group
that is overseeing important
sub-committee work, such as the
yearly review of the equipment
list and a compensation review.
www.aom.on.ca
09

National News
Daviss article among most cited
Manitoba
The first birth centre for Manitoba will be located in
Winnipeg thanks to a partnership between Manitoba
Health, the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the
Women’s Health Clinic. Aimed at supporting both the
region’s midwifery program and midwifery education in the
province, the centre will feature a primary care clinic, four
birthing rooms as well as education, counseling and administrative
space. In addition to being able to support 500 births
a year, the centre will also provide post-partum and newborn
care, parenting and breastfeeding support and education.
In Canada, Quebec is currently the only province with birth
centres. The Manitoba free-standing birth centre will be
under construction in 2011.
Congratulations to AOM member Betty-Anne Daviss,
who co-authored one of the Top 10 Cited Papers
(2006-2008) published in the International Journal of
Gynecology and Obstetrics (IJGO). Daviss was recently
recognized along with co-authors Andre Lalonde,
Arnaldo Acosta and Kathy Herschderfer.
The article was published in IJGO, Volume 94, Issue 3
(2006), pages 243-253, titled Postpartum Hemorrhage
Today: ICM/FIGO Initiative 2004-2006.
“All of the presenters were
fabulous, enthusiastic,
knowledgeable and
inviting. Great Day!”
Ottawa Clinical Day participant
“Quite inspiring and
creative in helping us with
our own solutions.”
Ottawa Leadership Workshop participant
Clinical Education Days
Working with Special Client Populations
London - TBA
• Perinatal Mental Health
• Management of Addictions in Pregnancy
• Culturally Competent Care for Newcomers
Increasing Positive Perinatal Outcomes
Evidence and Practice
Sudbury - March 12; Toronto - March 26
• Sterile Water for Low Back Pain research and
workshop
• ECV research and workshop
• Natural Health Products
• Perinatal Depression
Leadership Workshops
FREE
for AOM
members
Sudbury - March 11;
Toronto - March 25;
Kitchener - TBA
• Take on leadership roles in your practice, hospital
and community
• Communicate effectively
• Influence others and drive change
Register today at www.aom.on.ca/professional
10 ontario midwife • Winter 2010

AOM Emergency Skills Workshops
To register for ESW courses, visit the AOM
website or contact events@aom.on.ca,
416-425-9974 x2255.
AOM ESW recertification
March 10, 2010
Sudbury
AOM ESW recertification
March 19, 2010
Thunder Bay
AOM ESW Instructor Training
May 3, 2010
Niagara Falls - Fallsview Crowne Plaza
AOM ESW recertification
May 4, 2010
Niagara Falls - Fallsview Crowne Plaza
AOM ESW recertification
August 6, 2010
Guelph
AOM ESW recertification
September 10, 2010
Kingston
AOM ESW recertification
September 24, 2010
Toronto
AOM ESW recertification
October 8, 2010
Ottawa
AOM ESW recertification
November 19, 2010
London
AOM ESW recertification
December 10, 2010
Mississauga
Conferences of Interest - more at www.aom.on.ca “Professional Development”
Midwifery Education Program - Preceptor Conference
March 3, 2010 in Toronto
swatson@ryerson.ca
NIH Consensus Development Conference on VBACs: New Insight
March 8-10, 2010 in Bethesda, Maryland
http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/vbac.htm
SOGC 23rd International CME
March 8-12, 2010 in Costa Rica
www.sogc.org
Midwifery Today Conference
April 14-18, 2010 in Philadelphia, PA
www.midwiferytoday.com/
Ottawa Valley LC 14th Annual Breast Feeding Conference
April 22-23, 2010 in Montreal, QC
www.ovlc.net
HIROC AGM and Conference
April 26, 2010 in Toronto, ON
www.hiroc.com
AOM AGM and Annual Conference
May 4-6, 2010 in Niagara Falls, ON
www.aom.on.ca
3rd Americas Regional Conference (Hosted by the Jamaica
Midwives Association, UWI Nursing and ICM)
May 26-28, 2010 in Kingston, Jamaica
myspot.mona.uwi.edu/nursing/
SOGC Annual Clinical Meeting
June 9-13, 2010 in Montreal, QC
www.sogc.org
Normal Labour and Birth Conference: Benefits & Challenges of
Preserving Physiologic Birth (UBC Midwifery)
July 20-23, 2010 in Vancouver, BC
www.midwifery.ubc.ca/midwifery/normalbirth/conf.htm
Global Congress of Maternal and Infant Health
Congress website
September 22-26, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain
www.globalcongress2010.com
Canadian Association of Midwives AGM and Annual Conference
October 6-8, 2010 in Edmonton, AB
www.canadianmidwives.org
International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)
29th Triennial Congress
June 19-23, 2011 in Durban, South Africa
www.midwives2011.org
Ontario Midwife is a quarterly publication of the Association of Ontario Midwives. This publication
is available online at www.aom.on.ca, or you may request a printed copy. All websites listed are
“hotlinked” in the digital copy. Scroll over the website address and click to launch the site.
We welcome all feedback. Please contact Joanna Zuk, Senior Communications Officer:
comms@aom.on.ca, or by phone: 416-425-9974 x2261 or 866-418-3773 x2261.
Association of Ontario Midwives
Association of Ontario Midwives, 365 Bloor St. E., Suite 301, Toronto, ON M4W 3L4

Diversity in Action
Improving Health Equity in Maternal & Newborn Care
AOM Annual General Meeting and Conference
May 4-6, 2010
Niagara Falls, Ontario
Regular room: $109
Fallsview room: $119
The Crowne Plaza Hotel has
extended the AOM group
discount for two days pre- and
post-conference, so bring your
family and enjoy a vacation
beside one of the greatest
wonders of the natural world!
Waterpark discount available
on May 7.
Call 1-800-519-9911 to reserve
your room today.
• Opening Ceremonies +
President’s Wine & Cheese
Reception
• Annual General Meeting
• Keynotes & workshops on
- Health Equity
- Risk Management
- Working with teen moms,
families living in poverty
and women who are
undocumented or uninsured
• Gala Dinner + Midwives
Mingle Social Event
• Student Breakfast Event
• Exhibitors
• Pre-conference workshops:
- Breech Birth
- Homeopathy
- Emergency Skills
More conference information coming soon
to www.aom.on.ca
Share your talents in a
SILENT AUCTION FOR HAITI
Midwives are invited to donate
items for a silent auction
to take place during the
conference. All proceeds will be
directed to midwifery in Haiti.
Personal items such as
artwork and crafts especially
encouraged.
Contact events@aom.on.ca to
register your donation.
Association of Ontario Midwives