Fall 2010 - Association of Ontario Midwives
Fall 2010 - Association of Ontario Midwives
Fall 2010 - Association of Ontario Midwives
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<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2010</strong>: Vol. 3 No. 3<br />
02<br />
Midwife wins<br />
race relations<br />
award<br />
04<br />
New midwifery<br />
program attracts<br />
nurses<br />
05<br />
Interpr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
collaboration -<br />
St. Joseph’s<br />
07<br />
OHA promotes<br />
interpr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
collaboration<br />
09<br />
Midwife accepts<br />
international<br />
research post<br />
<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong><br />
Interpr<strong>of</strong>essional Care<br />
<strong>Ontario</strong> Hospital <strong>Association</strong> CEO Tom Closson and <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong><br />
President Katrina Kilroy present the new Resource Manual for Sustaining Quality Midwifery<br />
Services in Hospitals at the recent OHA full-day conference titled Maternal and Newborn<br />
Care: Meeting Community Needs and Integrating <strong>Midwives</strong>
Welcome AOM News new AOM & Updates<br />
members!<br />
Welcome new AOM<br />
members!<br />
Kathleen Babe <strong>Midwives</strong> Collective<br />
<strong>of</strong> Toronto<br />
Kathy Balazs Kawartha<br />
Community <strong>Midwives</strong><br />
Terri Barlow Community Care<br />
<strong>Midwives</strong><br />
Heike Berger Family Midwifery<br />
Care <strong>of</strong> Guelph<br />
Kimberly Brown Gentle Beginnings<br />
Midwifery/Sages-femmes<br />
premières tendresses<br />
Shâdé Chatrath West End<br />
<strong>Midwives</strong><br />
Yvonne Davis <strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>of</strong> York<br />
Region<br />
Sabina Fella Riverdale Community<br />
<strong>Midwives</strong><br />
Kelly Graff Kenora <strong>Midwives</strong><br />
Masoudeh Kazemiashtiani The<br />
<strong>Midwives</strong>’ Clinic <strong>of</strong> East York-Don<br />
Mills<br />
Jacquie Klan Midwifery Care <strong>of</strong> Peel<br />
& Halton Hills - Georgetown Site<br />
Jenna Konkle Midwifery Services <strong>of</strong><br />
Lambton-Kent<br />
Jessica Kraitberg Community<br />
<strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>of</strong> Toronto<br />
Tiffany Kyer Midwifery Services <strong>of</strong><br />
Lambton-Kent<br />
Mojgan Naminiasl Caring Hands<br />
Midwifery Services<br />
Frances Philpott Womancare<br />
<strong>Midwives</strong><br />
Lyanne Pinto <strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>of</strong> Muskoka<br />
Lindsay Sanderson Midwifery Care<br />
<strong>of</strong> Peel & Halton Hills - Georgetown<br />
Site<br />
Naomi Wolfe <strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>of</strong> Sudbury<br />
/ Sages-femmes de Sudbury<br />
(As <strong>of</strong> October 5, <strong>2010</strong>)<br />
Midwife Wins<br />
Race Relations Award<br />
Throughout her career as a Torontoarea<br />
midwife, Manavi Handa has<br />
provided excellent maternity care for<br />
women and newborns while striving<br />
for equality in the health care system.<br />
In September, she was awarded an<br />
Urban Alliance <strong>2010</strong> Race Relations<br />
Award in recognition <strong>of</strong> her work with<br />
new immigrants, women with no<br />
OHIP coverage and women without<br />
documented status in <strong>Ontario</strong>.<br />
As a child <strong>of</strong> immigrant parents and a<br />
woman <strong>of</strong> colour, Manavi is only too<br />
aware <strong>of</strong> the social determinants <strong>of</strong><br />
health and health inequities that exist.<br />
An outspoken advocate for women’s<br />
health, Manavi has devoted the last 10<br />
years <strong>of</strong> her career as a midwife to not<br />
only providing optimal maternal care,<br />
but also striving for equality in the<br />
health care system.<br />
“I’m incredibly humbled,” Manavi said<br />
in an interview with The Toronto Star.<br />
“I speak a bit more publicly about the<br />
issue and have made a little bit more<br />
noise, but there are a lot <strong>of</strong> midwives<br />
doing similar work so I really feel like<br />
I’m winning the award in recognition<br />
<strong>of</strong> all <strong>of</strong> us.”<br />
Manavi has worked tirelessly with<br />
different agencies, such as community<br />
health centres, to provide uninsured<br />
clients with valuable lab tests such as<br />
ultrasound and access to obstetrical<br />
consultants. As chair <strong>of</strong> the Diversity<br />
Work Group at the <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> (AOM), Manavi<br />
has helped develop the association’s<br />
diversity statement, a tip sheet for<br />
other midwives working with undocumented<br />
and uninsured clients and<br />
is providing input into an ongoing<br />
project at the AOM to translate client<br />
documents into numerous languages.<br />
A passionate public speaker, Manavi<br />
has addressed the needs <strong>of</strong> underserved<br />
clients at numerous community<br />
and health forum lectures and events.<br />
In recent years, Manavi has been<br />
appointed as assistant pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
to Ryerson University’s Midwifery<br />
Education Program. She brings an<br />
anti-oppression perspective to her<br />
TORONTO: Manavi Handa, RM, winner <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Urban Alliance <strong>2010</strong> Race Relations Award<br />
teaching and is exploring research<br />
in the areas <strong>of</strong> maternity care and<br />
uninsured women, youth pregnancy in<br />
the Caribbean community and using<br />
various models <strong>of</strong> prenatal care to<br />
empower women. Her dedication to<br />
sharing her knowledge and improving<br />
access to health care for others has<br />
also seen her mentor medical students<br />
and nurse practitioners interested in<br />
care for marginalized communities.<br />
The Urban Alliance on Race Relations<br />
honoured four winners, including<br />
Manavi, at the 35th anniversary gala<br />
dinner on September 30.<br />
The Urban Alliance on Race Relations<br />
is a non-pr<strong>of</strong>it organization that<br />
promotes a stable and healthy multiracial<br />
and multi-ethnic environment<br />
in Toronto through public education,<br />
research and advocacy. The Race<br />
Relations Award is aimed at honouring<br />
those who are committed to fighting<br />
racism within the community.<br />
02 ontario midwife • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2010</strong>
Friends <strong>of</strong> Muskoka <strong>Midwives</strong> BIRTHday annual client picnic<br />
BRACEBRIDGE: Clients and supporters<br />
enjoy the annual BIRTHday Family Picnic<br />
hosted by Friends <strong>of</strong> Muskoka <strong>Midwives</strong>.<br />
Throughout the year, this active consumer<br />
group also hosts midwifery information sessions,<br />
movie nights, produces a calendar<br />
and coordinates midwifery birth announcements<br />
in the local papers. Their next big<br />
project is a production <strong>of</strong> “Birth, A Play by<br />
Karen Brody” in March, 2011.<br />
TOP PHOTO: Approximately 50 families<br />
enjoyed the day with their midwives<br />
at Annie Williams Memorial Park on<br />
September 19.<br />
LEFT: <strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>of</strong> Muskoka cut the<br />
birthday cakes courtesy <strong>of</strong> Ambrosial Art<br />
<strong>of</strong> Huntsville. (Left to right) Sarah Jean<br />
Smith, Barbara Borland, Lyanne Pinto,<br />
Dianne Smith<br />
RIGHT: A list <strong>of</strong> the day’s fun activities<br />
Photos: Sarah Chaloux,<br />
www.mchaloux.com<br />
“<strong>Ontario</strong> Midwife” wins<br />
national award for Best<br />
Newsletter<br />
The Canadian Society <strong>of</strong> <strong>Association</strong><br />
Executives (CSAE) presented Kelly<br />
Stadelbauer, the AOM’s Executive<br />
Director, with their annual award<br />
for Best Newsletter at the CSAE<br />
conference in Quebec City in<br />
September.<br />
“I’m delighted and proud that<br />
the AOM has been recognized<br />
for excellence in member<br />
communication,” she said. “The<br />
newsletter is a valuable service for<br />
AOM members and others who<br />
work in maternity care in <strong>Ontario</strong>.”<br />
To add someone to the newsletter<br />
mailing list, e-mail comms@aom.<br />
on.ca<br />
www.aom.on.ca<br />
03
Interpr<strong>of</strong>essional Care<br />
Family Health Team<br />
welcomes midwife<br />
As the first midwife in <strong>Ontario</strong> to<br />
formally have clinic space within a<br />
Family Health Team (FHT), Andrea<br />
Cassidy is able to informally consult<br />
with physicians, nurses and social<br />
workers whenever she needs.<br />
Although the arrangement is still in<br />
the early stages – Cassidy has only<br />
had space within the Family Health<br />
Team for a couple <strong>of</strong> months – she<br />
says it has been an extremely positive<br />
experience.<br />
“Being a new midwife coming into<br />
this community, this arrangement has<br />
made the relationships really good,”<br />
she says.<br />
And it’s obviously a popular set up<br />
that works for the other providers as<br />
well – this is the second Family Health<br />
Team to approach Cassidy. Though the<br />
first team was too remote, Cassidy has<br />
found a great fit with the Leamington<br />
and Area Family Health Team.<br />
Although she is not an employee <strong>of</strong><br />
the FHT, the arrangement provides<br />
Cassidy’s clients enhanced care<br />
because she has lots <strong>of</strong> support and<br />
resources at her fingertips.<br />
If a client is having trouble with her<br />
partner or at home, Cassidy refers<br />
her to the social worker. If a baby is<br />
struggling with jaundice a little longer<br />
than they should, she consults with<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the physicians right in the<br />
clinic.<br />
“The other thing I find beneficial is<br />
seamless care – clients go from their<br />
family doctor or nurse practitioner<br />
to me, then back again. If there’s<br />
something going on with their care we<br />
can work together,” she says.<br />
She’s not the only one who benefits<br />
from knowledge sharing – new nurses<br />
or nurse practitioners who are hired<br />
into the FHT shadow Cassidy to learn<br />
about midwifery and she currently<br />
has a fourth-year nursing student<br />
completing a placement with her.<br />
“Ultimately, physicians, nurses,<br />
midwives – we all want to provide<br />
excellent care,” she says.<br />
Nadia Bellio, RM, and Natalie Tregaskiss, former L&D nurse and current student midwife, hold newborn Isabella Liut.<br />
Shorter midwifery education program ideal for nurses<br />
Deciding to go back to school once you’ve<br />
already completed an undergraduate<br />
degree in order to move your career in<br />
a new direction is a daunting decision,<br />
especially when you think about having to<br />
put in another four years.<br />
But that doesn’t always have to be the<br />
case. For those with a health pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
degree, such as nursing or medicine, the<br />
Midwifery Education Program (MEP)<br />
<strong>of</strong>fers the Post-Baccalaureate Program for<br />
Health Pr<strong>of</strong>essionals, allowing those who<br />
already have a background in health care<br />
to complete their midwifery degree in<br />
only two years.<br />
Dr. Susan James, Director, MEP <strong>of</strong><br />
Laurentian University said when the MEP<br />
was expanded in 2007, the Ministry <strong>of</strong><br />
Health and Long-Term Care asked if it<br />
would make sense to add a stream for<br />
nurses. James had already helped one<br />
student receive a combined nursing and<br />
midwifery degree in a five-year program<br />
and knew she could make it work.<br />
“If we could get a student to finish a<br />
nursing and midwifery degree together<br />
in five years, then surely someone who<br />
has graduated and has maternity care<br />
experience could complete a midwifery<br />
degree in two intense years,” James said.<br />
Nurses are a logical fit because so many<br />
<strong>of</strong> the courses they take in nursing school<br />
overlap with courses midwifery students<br />
take: anatomy, physiology, biology,<br />
chemistry and a social/cultural course –<br />
but anyone with a degree in health care,<br />
including physicians and pharmacists, is<br />
eligible.<br />
Laurentian has set up its program so that<br />
it works as a transfer credit system: any<br />
credits already earned are transferred to<br />
count toward the midwifery degree.<br />
There are currently two students enrolled<br />
at Laurentian who will graduate in two<br />
years – the spring <strong>of</strong> 2012. Ryerson also<br />
currently has two students enrolled – a<br />
new student who started this fall like her<br />
colleagues at Laurentian, and one who<br />
started the program last year and will be<br />
graduating from the post-baccalaureate<br />
program this coming spring: Natalie<br />
Tregaskiss.<br />
Though interested in pursuing a career<br />
in midwifery, Tregaskiss had already<br />
completed two bachelor degrees and had<br />
worked as a labour and delivery nurse in<br />
Toronto for five years.<br />
At this stage <strong>of</strong> her career, “the thought<br />
<strong>of</strong> another four-year degree seemed<br />
unfeasible,” she said.<br />
But having worked with a midwife at St.<br />
Michael’s Hospital, Tregaskiss learned <strong>of</strong><br />
the condensed program and thought it<br />
was a great fit.<br />
“I am delighted to finally be doing what I<br />
have always wanted to do – it feels right,”<br />
she said.<br />
The “intense” program means students<br />
work straight through six semesters<br />
without summer breaks. While the core<br />
midwifery courses and clinic hours are the<br />
same, Tregaskiss said it helps to get credit<br />
for previous schooling and experience.<br />
“I hope more health pr<strong>of</strong>essionals become<br />
interested in the program and that the<br />
program makes midwifery education<br />
more accessible to those like myself who<br />
are already working in the field,” she said.<br />
To apply, visit www.ryerson.ca/midwife<br />
or www.midwifery.laurentian.ca<br />
04 ontario midwife • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2010</strong>
<strong>Midwives</strong>, nurses, physicians and hospital administrators cement positive interpr<strong>of</strong>essional relationships when working on projects such as Baby-friendly certification.<br />
Interpr<strong>of</strong>essional team leads to Baby-friendly success<br />
St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton<br />
has recently had its Baby-friendly<br />
Hospital status re-designated thanks<br />
to interpr<strong>of</strong>essoinal collaboration<br />
and education. This project has led to<br />
increased communication and education<br />
between physicians, nurses, midwives<br />
and lactation consultants.<br />
Despite having first become a<br />
Baby-friendly Hospital in 2003, getting<br />
re-designated was not a walk in the<br />
park, according to<br />
Shirin Aghili, RM, head<br />
midwife at St. Joseph’s. “Being part<br />
Because many<br />
<strong>of</strong> the whole<br />
mothers coming into<br />
interpr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
St. Joseph’s are from<br />
communities that<br />
meeting process<br />
routinely unnecessarily and being the head<br />
supplement with<br />
midwife is hugely<br />
formula at birth until<br />
eye-opening,”<br />
the breast milk comes<br />
in, it was quite easy for - Shirin Aghili, RM,<br />
rates <strong>of</strong> breastfeeding<br />
Head Midwife<br />
initiation to slip below<br />
desirable levels.<br />
In addition, St. Joseph’s<br />
nursery is in some ways working against<br />
it. Though categorized as a level one<br />
nursery, Aghili says it is capable and <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
does handle more complicated cases and<br />
infants with more serious issues who may<br />
require supplementation in the initial<br />
days due to medical issues.<br />
“There was a need for regrouping<br />
and re-teaching the hospital staff,”<br />
Aghili said with regard to getting the<br />
designation back. For example, proper<br />
documentation for babies coming into<br />
the nursery is essential to show cases<br />
where supplementation is needed, such<br />
as hyperbilirubinemia.<br />
“The hospital has implemented new<br />
forms that say the baby must be on the<br />
breast for 14 minutes while in the delivery<br />
room,” Aghili said. “Skin to skin is highly<br />
encouraged.”<br />
Patients also needed some<br />
education. For example, if<br />
patients indicate they plan<br />
to formula-feed when they<br />
register at the hospital, they<br />
are told not to be disappointed<br />
if staff ask again or promote<br />
breastfeeding.<br />
In addition to encouraging<br />
those who would normally<br />
supplement at birth until the<br />
milk comes in to breastfeed<br />
earlier on and be patient with<br />
the process, Aghili said they<br />
also recommend patients take<br />
advantage <strong>of</strong> on-call help as needed.<br />
Aghili said the process was spearheaded<br />
by a very dedicated Dr. Tamar Packer,<br />
Medical Director <strong>of</strong> Newborn Services at<br />
St. Joseph’s, but also successful thanks to<br />
a great interpr<strong>of</strong>essional environment.<br />
“The hospital is so proud they have<br />
midwives (because they) know about our<br />
good breastfeeding rates,” she said.<br />
As head midwife, Aghili sits on<br />
multidisciplinary steering committees<br />
for maternal, child and newborn health.<br />
Another midwife at her Hamilton practice<br />
sits on the regional lactation committee.<br />
The meetings provide a great avenue<br />
for discussion and troubleshooting<br />
among pr<strong>of</strong>essional colleagues who have<br />
different backgrounds and skill sets.<br />
“Being part <strong>of</strong> the whole meeting process<br />
and being the head midwife is hugely<br />
eye-opening,” she said. “It allows us, as<br />
midwives, to see what an institution<br />
has to face in order to increase the<br />
breastfeeding rates. It is so easy to<br />
just say ‘everybody breastfeed’ but to<br />
actually put it into practice and put it into<br />
education is challenging.”<br />
Another positive outcome from the<br />
process was that the hospital’s lactation<br />
consultant approached Aghili and asked<br />
if the practice would like additional<br />
breastfeeding education for its students<br />
and new registrants. Because the<br />
Hamilton <strong>Midwives</strong> takes on many<br />
students, Aghili said they now routinely<br />
send students to the breastfeeding clinic<br />
– which is available to clients through<br />
self-referral seven days a week – for<br />
additional breastfeeding education.<br />
The hospital’s Baby-friendly designation is<br />
reassessed every five years.<br />
www.aom.on.ca<br />
05
Interpr<strong>of</strong>essional Care<br />
New resource manual and conference launched to support hospital integration for midwives<br />
A partnership between the <strong>Ontario</strong> Hospital<br />
<strong>Association</strong> (OHA), the <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> and the College <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> (CMO) is helping<br />
midwives, doctors and nurses work together<br />
to deliver better client care.<br />
A full-day conference on<br />
Tuesday September 28,<br />
<strong>2010</strong> and a reference “The OHA supports<br />
guide - Resource<br />
integrating midwives<br />
Manual for Sustaining<br />
into <strong>Ontario</strong>’s hospitals,<br />
Quality Midwifery<br />
Services in Hospitals -<br />
and believes that<br />
have been developed midwives are an<br />
to assist midwives,<br />
important part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
doctors and nurses<br />
maternity care system.”<br />
in interpr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
collaborative<br />
- Tom Closson,<br />
relationships.<br />
OHA President and CEO<br />
Designed for both<br />
hospital leaders looking<br />
to integrate midwives<br />
for the first time, as well as those who<br />
already have midwifery at their institution,<br />
the manual provides examples <strong>of</strong> existing<br />
integration models and lessons learned.<br />
“Mothers and their newborns will definitely<br />
benefit from having more, and better,<br />
interpr<strong>of</strong>essional collaboration among their<br />
caregivers. That’s why the OHA supports<br />
integrating midwives into <strong>Ontario</strong>’s<br />
hospitals, and believes that midwives are<br />
an important part <strong>of</strong> the maternity care<br />
system, alongside their physician and nurse<br />
colleagues. This manual can help maternity<br />
care teams improve and sustain positive<br />
working relationships, which will promote<br />
safer, high-quality care,” said Tom Closson,<br />
President and CEO, OHA.<br />
On September 28, the conference, titled<br />
Maternal and Newborn Care: Meeting<br />
Community Needs and Integrating<br />
<strong>Midwives</strong>, not only highlighted hospitals<br />
leading in maternity care integration, but<br />
also <strong>of</strong>fered tips to maximize provider<br />
competencies and information on liability<br />
issues associated with integration.<br />
Speakers included Ministry <strong>of</strong> Health and<br />
Long-Term Care lead on maternal and<br />
newborn care Dr. Charlotte Moore, College<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> President Andrea<br />
Lennox, RM, and <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong><br />
<strong>Midwives</strong> President Katrina Kilroy, RM.<br />
“Whenever I give<br />
a presentation on<br />
interpr<strong>of</strong>essional collaboration,<br />
be it at hospital rounds or at<br />
interpr<strong>of</strong>essional events like<br />
this, it is always well received.<br />
Learning about one another’s<br />
roles and responsibilities<br />
creates better understanding<br />
amongst disciplines and opens<br />
the door to improving the way<br />
we all provide care to women<br />
and newborns,” said Kilroy.<br />
Another well-received speaker<br />
was Dr. Douglas Bell <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Canadian Medical Protective<br />
<strong>Association</strong> (CMPA), the insurance group<br />
that covers physicians. Though physicians<br />
may claim they fear liability issues<br />
with midwifery integration, that fear is<br />
unwarranted, Dr. Bell says.<br />
“In terms <strong>of</strong> whether there are lawsuits<br />
where doctors are brought in, it’s rare,”<br />
he says. “If a hospital is interested in<br />
integrating midwives into their program,<br />
the hospital should have the doctors sit<br />
down and discuss what the issues are<br />
and address those concerns. Physicians<br />
shouldn’t be supervising midwives.”<br />
The OHA has sent the 63-page resource<br />
manual binder to every hospital in <strong>Ontario</strong>.<br />
Because it is brand new and therefore<br />
topical, many head midwives are reviewing<br />
the document with their maternity care<br />
colleagues at unit meetings, MAC, and<br />
other hospital committees this fall.<br />
The resource manual is available for free<br />
download from the OHA website at:<br />
www.oha.com/KnowledgeCentre/Library/<br />
Pages/Manuals.aspx<br />
AOM toolkit aims at<br />
hospital integration<br />
In addition<br />
to the new<br />
resource<br />
manual<br />
published by<br />
the <strong>Ontario</strong><br />
Hospital<br />
<strong>Association</strong>,<br />
the AOM has<br />
developed<br />
a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
resources to Hospital Integration Committee<br />
Chair and AOM board<br />
help members member Jane Somerville, RM<br />
advance their<br />
integration<br />
into communities and hospitals.<br />
They include tip sheets, handouts,<br />
position statements and<br />
presentations.<br />
These have all been gathered<br />
together in one handy “Hospital<br />
Integration Toolkit” for members.<br />
Central to this toolkit is an annotated<br />
list <strong>of</strong> all the resources. Additional<br />
links, materials and support are<br />
provided to further facilitate the<br />
increase <strong>of</strong> hospital integration<br />
and growth <strong>of</strong> collaborative<br />
relationships.<br />
Developed in consultation with<br />
the AOM Hospital Integration<br />
Committee, this toolkit is especially<br />
useful for midwives seeking<br />
guidelines, policies and other<br />
materials that address existing<br />
barriers to collaborative maternal<br />
and newborn care and to establish<br />
strong relationships between<br />
themselves and other health care<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals at hospitals and in the<br />
wider community.<br />
The toolkit was distributed at<br />
AOM fall regional meetings and is<br />
available on the AOM website.<br />
TORONTO: Maternal and Newborn Care: Meeting Community Needs and Integrating <strong>Midwives</strong> - OHA Conference September 28, <strong>2010</strong><br />
TOP LEFT: AOM members Andrea Lennox, RM, President <strong>of</strong> the College <strong>of</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong>; Elizabeth Brandeis, RM, AOM Board Member; Sharon Swift, RM<br />
TOP RIGHT: Dr. Tony Pattinson, Chief OB/GYN Windsor Regional Hospital; Katrina Kilroy, RM, AOM President<br />
MIDDLE LEFT: Tory Tudor, RM; Janet Skupsky, RN, Halton Healthcare Services; Allan Halls, CEO Halton Healthcare Services<br />
MIDDLE RIGHT: Conference delegates - over 100 people attended the conference<br />
LOWER LEFT: Dr. Charlotte Moore, Provincial Lead for Maternal, Child and Youth Health Strategy, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Health and Long-Term Care<br />
LOWER MIDDLE: Dr. Douglas Bell, Associate Executive Director and Managing Director, Risk Management Services, Canadian Medical Protective <strong>Association</strong> (CMPA)<br />
LOWER RIGHT: Clinical Nurse Educators Sharon Adams, RN, William Osler Health System; Bridget Mitchell, RN, William Osler Health System<br />
www.aom.on.ca<br />
07
Consumer Resources<br />
New breastfeeding<br />
book, posters<br />
The Womanly Art <strong>of</strong> Breastfeeding<br />
is a staple in many<br />
midwifery clinics’ client lending<br />
libraries.<br />
First published over 50 years<br />
ago as a booklet, the publication<br />
has grown with La Leche<br />
League International to be one<br />
<strong>of</strong> the world’s leading authorities<br />
on breastfeeding.<br />
A brand-new edition is now<br />
available. Written by Canadian<br />
author and breastfeeding<br />
expert Teresa Pitman, the <strong>2010</strong><br />
version includes technical information<br />
along with mothers’<br />
stories and handy tear-sheets.<br />
<strong>Ontario</strong> government introduces expanded online newborn<br />
registration service<br />
With just a few clicks, <strong>Ontario</strong> parents<br />
can now apply online for child benefit<br />
programs, including the <strong>Ontario</strong> Child<br />
Benefit, when they register their<br />
newborns.<br />
In partnership with the Canada Revenue<br />
Agency and Service Canada, the<br />
Service<strong>Ontario</strong> website has expanded<br />
its Newborn Registration Service<br />
application. This online service now<br />
provides a quick, easy and secure way for<br />
parents to register their newborn, apply<br />
for a birth certificate, a Social Insurance<br />
Number Card and Canada Child Benefits.<br />
This expanded service lets parents<br />
combine four separate applications into<br />
one easy-to-use online process from the<br />
comfort <strong>of</strong> their home. No waiting in<br />
line and faster processing times makes<br />
it easier for busy new parents to cross<br />
another thing <strong>of</strong>f their to-do list.<br />
Ligue La Leche, the Quebec<br />
division, has a new series <strong>of</strong><br />
breastfeeding posters for sale<br />
in English and French.<br />
Order here: www.allaitement.<br />
ca/produits/affiches.php<br />
Canadian Paediatric<br />
Society calls for milk banks<br />
Pasteurized human milk is a<br />
recommended alternative for<br />
hospitalized sick newborns when their<br />
own mother’s milk is not available,<br />
according to a new statement by the<br />
Canadian Paediatric Society. The<br />
statement, published in the November<br />
issue <strong>of</strong> Paediatrics & Child Health,<br />
says that human milk banking in<br />
Canada should be encouraged and<br />
promoted.<br />
“The most vulnerable babies should<br />
receive human milk,” said Dr.<br />
Sharon Unger, principal author <strong>of</strong><br />
the statement and member <strong>of</strong> the<br />
CPS Nutrition and Gastroenterology<br />
Committee. “Only about half <strong>of</strong> the<br />
mothers <strong>of</strong> these babies will have an<br />
adequate milk supply, sometimes<br />
because they are sick themselves, or<br />
due to the stress <strong>of</strong> having a very sick<br />
baby or from being separated from<br />
their baby.”<br />
Yet the supply <strong>of</strong> donor breast<br />
milk in Canada is limited. The only<br />
human milk bank in Canada, based in<br />
Vancouver, can’t meet the needs <strong>of</strong> all<br />
babies who could benefit.<br />
The statement recommends strict<br />
controls on how and when human<br />
donor milk should be used. It also<br />
recommends continued research into<br />
the benefits <strong>of</strong> banked human breast<br />
milk for preterm infants in the NICU.<br />
To access the full statement, visit:<br />
www.cps.ca<br />
8 ontario midwife • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2010</strong>
Research / Government Initiatives<br />
Eileen Hutton, RM, PhD, recently accepted a five-year, endowed pr<strong>of</strong>essorship at Vrije University in Amsterdam in the<br />
Midwifery Science Division, the first midwife to ever carry the title “Pr<strong>of</strong>essor” in the Netherlands.<br />
Midwife-researcher appointed to Dutch pr<strong>of</strong>essorship<br />
Though <strong>Ontario</strong> has borrowed much from<br />
the Dutch model <strong>of</strong> midwifery care, it is<br />
now our turn to give back.<br />
This past summer, Eileen Hutton, RM,<br />
PhD accepted a five-year, endowed<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essorship at Vrije University in<br />
Amsterdam in the Midwifery Science<br />
Division. Hutton is the first midwife to<br />
ever hold a pr<strong>of</strong>essorship role in the<br />
Netherlands, as most midwifery educators<br />
there hold a lecturer title.<br />
“I think someone from Canada is<br />
well-suited to move into that position<br />
since our model is so highly influenced<br />
by their model,” Hutton said. “It is very<br />
fitting that we borrowed from them and<br />
are now contributing to their programs.”<br />
She will continue with her role as<br />
assistant dean <strong>of</strong> the Midwifery <strong>of</strong><br />
Education Program at McMaster<br />
University, where her research<br />
background is already a valuable asset.<br />
In addition to her bachelor in nursing,<br />
master’s in parent child nursing and<br />
midwifery degree, Hutton holds a PhD in<br />
clinical epidemiology – the study <strong>of</strong> health<br />
patterns amongst populations.<br />
Her research work has garnered her<br />
several awards, including the Michael<br />
Smith Foundation for Health Research<br />
Career Scholar award, the Canadian<br />
Institutes <strong>of</strong> Health Research New<br />
Investigator Award as well as the Society<br />
<strong>of</strong> Obstetricians and Gynaecologists <strong>of</strong><br />
Canada Western Regional Award.<br />
Hutton has been a coauthor in at least 10<br />
academic research papers investigating<br />
topics such as home birth, sterile water<br />
injections to treat pain, external cephalic<br />
version, breech birth and late versus early<br />
cord clamping. Her research focuses on<br />
clinical trial methodology and knowledge<br />
translation.<br />
For the Dutch pr<strong>of</strong>essorship, Hutton will<br />
be mainly working with other pr<strong>of</strong>essors<br />
and academics from a research point <strong>of</strong><br />
view, rather than in a traditional teaching<br />
position. She sees the role as being<br />
transitional and hopes that after her term<br />
is up, there will be Dutch midwives who<br />
will be able to move into the position.<br />
She currently plans to travel to the<br />
Netherlands several times a year.<br />
Hutton’s new role as the Vrije head <strong>of</strong> the<br />
midwifery sciences department evolved<br />
over time. Three years ago she visited<br />
the university to learn more about their<br />
research and research units.<br />
Following this came the idea that Hutton<br />
could take on the duties <strong>of</strong> a visiting<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essor, which eventually developed<br />
into the current pr<strong>of</strong>essorship role. Hutton<br />
thinks it is a good fit for both Canada<br />
and the Netherlands. While the Dutch<br />
institute will make use <strong>of</strong> her expertise to<br />
develop its research capacity, Hutton and<br />
other researchers will benefit from the<br />
country’s longer history <strong>of</strong> midwifery care<br />
<strong>Midwives</strong> support Nurse<br />
Practitioner scope review<br />
This summer, the provincial<br />
government announced<br />
considerations to expand the role<br />
<strong>of</strong> nurse practitioners by allowing<br />
them to admit, discharge and<br />
transfer patients in-hospital and<br />
announced a public consultation<br />
looking into how patients would<br />
benefit from these changes.<br />
The AOM took the opportunity<br />
to submit a letter <strong>of</strong> support,<br />
highlighting lessons learned from<br />
the integration <strong>of</strong> midwives into<br />
hospitals.<br />
When midwives gained hospital<br />
privileges with regulation, it<br />
translated into benefits for both<br />
hospitals and patients – midwifery<br />
clients are known to have<br />
significantly shorter hospital stays<br />
and lower rates <strong>of</strong> readmission.<br />
Nurse practitioners with a greater<br />
range <strong>of</strong> responsibility in hospitals<br />
could result in similar benefits.<br />
The government is now reviewing<br />
feedback it received in the<br />
consultation process and plans to<br />
meet with individual stakeholders<br />
throughout the fall.<br />
When Bill 179 was passed last<br />
December, nurse practitioners’ roles<br />
were expanded to allow them to<br />
communicate diagnoses to patients,<br />
to perform procedures below the<br />
dermis and to order X-rays without<br />
restrictions, among other things.<br />
The new push from government<br />
to expand the role <strong>of</strong> nurse<br />
practitioners is part <strong>of</strong> the Family<br />
Health Care for All Strategy – which<br />
aims to address patients who do<br />
not have a primary care provider<br />
– and comes in advance <strong>of</strong> the<br />
expected opening <strong>of</strong> 25 nurse<br />
practitioner-led clinics in <strong>Ontario</strong> in<br />
2012.<br />
and rich study population.<br />
“Access to a country where midwifery is<br />
the norm and where large numbers <strong>of</strong><br />
women receive midwifery care – along<br />
with building collegial relationships – will<br />
have benefit to us as well,” Hutton said.<br />
www.aom.on.ca<br />
09
National News<br />
EDMONTON: A few <strong>Ontario</strong> delegates to the Canadian <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> conference gather at the end <strong>of</strong> the conference.<br />
Back row: Katrina Kilroy, RM (AOM President); Kathi Wilson, RM; Nicole Bennett, RM; Karline Wilson, RM; Nadya Burton, MEP Assistant Pr<strong>of</strong>essor; Anne Wilson, RM (CAM President-Elect);<br />
Lisa Weston, RM (AOM Vice-President); Chris Sternberg, RM; Deborah Bonser, RM<br />
Front row: Juana Berinstein (AOM Director <strong>of</strong> Policy and Communications), Esther Willms, RM (AOM Board Member); Mary Sharpe, RM (MEP Director-Ryerson)<br />
national<br />
The Canadian <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> hosted its 10th<br />
Annual General Meeting this October in Edmonton, AB,<br />
with a focus on place <strong>of</strong> birth. The conference hosted many<br />
notable speakers, including AOM President Katrina Kilroy,<br />
who gave a presentation to other midwives about how to<br />
educate physician and nursing colleagues at hospital rounds<br />
about home birth. In addition, it was announced that <strong>Ontario</strong><br />
midwife Anne Wilson will take over as CAM president in<br />
January 2011.<br />
ontario<br />
<strong>Ontario</strong> midwives now number over 500: new graduates<br />
started providing care this summer. This August, <strong>Ontario</strong>’s<br />
newest group <strong>of</strong> midwives were registered, pushing the total<br />
number <strong>of</strong> practitioners to an all-time high <strong>of</strong> more than 500.<br />
Jackie Klan, RM, is one <strong>of</strong> the new registrants. “My journey<br />
<strong>of</strong> receiving care from a midwife for my own daughter’s<br />
birth seven years ago was so pr<strong>of</strong>ound it made me realize it<br />
was something I wanted to <strong>of</strong>fer back to people,” Klan said.<br />
<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong> President Katrina Kilroy,<br />
RM, was one <strong>of</strong> the sixty midwives to be registered when the<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>ession was regulated in 1994. “It was a privilege to be in<br />
that first group <strong>of</strong> midwives registered in <strong>Ontario</strong>,” Kilroy said.<br />
“I’m delighted that we’ve hit this mark and even more families<br />
can access the high quality <strong>of</strong> care midwives provide.”<br />
New Brunswick<br />
This August, the New Brunswick Midwifery Act was<br />
proclaimed - the final process <strong>of</strong> integrating midwifery in<br />
the province whereby the provincial government formally<br />
recognizes midwives as health care pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and<br />
approves the regulations set out by the Midwifery Council <strong>of</strong><br />
New Brunswick. The Midwifery Council has been meeting to<br />
develop standards <strong>of</strong> practice, policies and to determine scope<br />
<strong>of</strong> practice.<br />
saskatchewan<br />
Health Minister Don McMorris led the launch <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Cypress Health Region’s Midwifery Program on October 18,<br />
recognizing Swift Current’s first midwife, Maud Addai, as<br />
well as the nurses, physicians and other staff involved in the<br />
development <strong>of</strong> the innovative and historic program at the<br />
Cypress Regional Hospital. The midwifery program brings an<br />
added dimension to the birthing services currently <strong>of</strong>fered by<br />
the Cypress Health Region, which is only the second health<br />
region in Saskatchewan to <strong>of</strong>fer the service. Maud Addai is<br />
one <strong>of</strong> just eight midwives in the province, seven <strong>of</strong> whom<br />
are actively practising, and she brings almost 20 years <strong>of</strong><br />
experience gained in the United Kingdom to her role in Swift<br />
Current.<br />
10 ontario midwife • <strong>Fall</strong> <strong>2010</strong>
AOM ESW Workshops<br />
All courses listed are regular Emergency<br />
Skills recertification workshops. Instructor<br />
training will be <strong>of</strong>fered in conjunction<br />
with the AOM annual conference.<br />
To register for ESW courses, visit the AOM<br />
website at www.aom.on.ca/Pr<strong>of</strong>essional/Emergency_Skills_Workshop/<br />
or contact events@aom.on.ca, 416-425-<br />
9974 x2255.<br />
• Mississauga/Oakville<br />
- December 10, <strong>2010</strong><br />
Plan now for 2011:<br />
• Toronto - February 18, 2011<br />
• Ottawa - March 25, 2011<br />
• Windsor - April 15, 2011<br />
• TBA Conference location May 2011<br />
• Sudbury - August 19, 2011<br />
• Kingston - September 16, 2011<br />
• Barrie - September 23, 2011<br />
• London - November 18, 2011<br />
• Toronto - December 16, 2011<br />
The AOM is proud to announce that the<br />
ESW for Paramedics has been a success<br />
and will become a regular <strong>of</strong>fering<br />
through the Sunnybrook-Osler Centre<br />
for Prehospital Care’s Continuing<br />
Medical Education Program. Members<br />
outside the Toronto area who would<br />
like to see this program <strong>of</strong>fered in their<br />
community should contact Christine<br />
Staley, CPD Director at cpddirector@<br />
aom.on.ca or 416-425-9974 x2224.<br />
Conferences <strong>of</strong> Interest - more at www.aom.on.ca “Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Development”<br />
Pregnancy and Birth Current Clinical Issues: Sunnybrook<br />
December 9-10, <strong>2010</strong> in Toronto, ON<br />
cmicr@sunnybrook.ca<br />
7th Annual Obstetrical Malpractice: A Survival Guide for 2011<br />
Mount Sinai Hospital/University <strong>of</strong> Toronto Dept. <strong>of</strong> Ob/Gyn<br />
January 15, 2011 in Toronto, ON<br />
www.mountsinai.on.ca/education/staff-pr<strong>of</strong>essionals/cme<br />
Promoting Health Equity: Action on the Social Determinants <strong>of</strong><br />
Health<br />
Ryerson University, Faculty <strong>of</strong> Community Services<br />
February 11-12, 2011 in Toronto, ON<br />
www.ryerson.ca/fcs/conference/<br />
Best Start Resource Centre 2011 Annual Conference<br />
Best Start Resource Centre<br />
February 22-24, 2011 in Toronto, ON<br />
www.beststart.org/events/detail/bsannualconf11/<br />
HIROC AGM<br />
Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal <strong>of</strong> Canada<br />
May 2, 2011 in Toronto, ON<br />
www.hiroc.com<br />
Consensus Conference: What is the future <strong>of</strong> Birth and why<br />
does it Matter<br />
Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue - UBC Collaboration for<br />
Maternal and Newborn Health, BC Women’s Hospitals Cesarean<br />
Task Force & The Power to Push Campaign<br />
May 11-13, 2011 in Vancouver, BC<br />
www.cmnh.ca<br />
9th Annual Refresher in Primary Care<br />
Mount Sinai Hospital/University <strong>of</strong> Toronto Dept. <strong>of</strong> Ob/Gyn<br />
May 13, 2011 in Toronto, ON<br />
www.mountsinai.on.ca/education/staff-pr<strong>of</strong>essionals/cme<br />
ICM 29th Triennial Congress<br />
June 19-23, 2011 in Durban, South Africa<br />
Call for Abstracts deadline: September 1, <strong>2010</strong><br />
www.midwives2011.org<br />
Medical Disorders in Pregnancy<br />
Mount Sinai Hospital/University <strong>of</strong> Toronto Dept. <strong>of</strong> Ob/Gyn<br />
November 26, 2011<br />
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON<br />
www.mountsinai.on.ca/education/staff-pr<strong>of</strong>essionals/cme<br />
Canadian Conference on Medical Education (CCME)<br />
<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> Faculties <strong>of</strong> Medicine <strong>of</strong> Canada<br />
May 7-11, 2011 in Toronto, ON<br />
www.mededconference.ca<br />
<strong>Ontario</strong> Midwife is a quarterly publication <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong>. This publication<br />
is available online at www.aom.on.ca, or you may request a printed copy. All websites listed are<br />
“hotlinked” in the digital copy. Scroll over the website address and click to launch the site.<br />
We welcome all feedback. Please contact Joanna Zuk, Senior Communications Officer:<br />
comms@aom.on.ca, or by phone: 416-425-9974 x2261 or 866-418-3773 x2261.<br />
<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong>, 365 Bloor St. E., Suite 301, Toronto, ON M4W 3L4<br />
<strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong><br />
©<strong>2010</strong> <strong>Association</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Ontario</strong> <strong>Midwives</strong>, all rights reserved.
AOM Clinical and Pr<strong>of</strong>essional<br />
Development Program <strong>2010</strong>/2011<br />
Working with Special Client Populations<br />
London, December 3, <strong>2010</strong><br />
This day is designed to assist care<br />
providers in providing prenatal, labour<br />
and postpartum care to women and their<br />
families affected by and coping with<br />
addictions, mental health and settlement<br />
issues.<br />
Providing Perinatal Care for Lesbian,<br />
Bisexual, and Queer (LBQ) Women and<br />
their Families<br />
Toronto, January 21, 2011 (morning)<br />
Providing Perinatal Care for Trans Clients<br />
and their Families<br />
Toronto, January 21, 2011 (afternoon)<br />
These two sessions will take a<br />
multidisciplinary approach to the<br />
promotion <strong>of</strong> clinically appropriate and<br />
culturally competent perinatal care for LBQ<br />
women and trans-masculine clients who<br />
are pregnant.<br />
Near Misses and Poor Outcomes in<br />
Maternal/Newborn Care: Issues Facing<br />
Care Providers<br />
Hamilton, February 25, 2011<br />
This day will explore the practical and<br />
psycho-social issues facing care providers<br />
when supporting clients and each other<br />
following a near miss or poor outcome.<br />
Webinar Lecture Series<br />
January 12; January 26; February 9;<br />
February 23<br />
These webinars are designed to create<br />
an atmosphere <strong>of</strong> workplace learning,<br />
communication and collaboration.<br />
Sessions aim to inform participants <strong>of</strong> new<br />
developments, legislation, topical issues,<br />
and best practices. The webinars are<br />
designed to cover a topic in approximately<br />
60 minutes and can be accessed from the<br />
comfort <strong>of</strong> your own home or <strong>of</strong>fice. They<br />
will also be recorded and posted on our<br />
website for midwives unable to attend.<br />
E-learning<br />
The AOM currently <strong>of</strong>fers a self-paced<br />
e-learning course on informed choice to<br />
all members. An additional course will<br />
be introduced during the <strong>2010</strong>/2011<br />
educational year.<br />
Discussion Forums<br />
Discussion Board Forums are being<br />
developed where members can<br />
communicate, collaborate and discuss a<br />
variety <strong>of</strong> clinical and leadership issues in a<br />
collegial online environment.<br />
Leadership Program<br />
The AOM recently held several wellreceived<br />
Leadership and Media Skills<br />
Workshops in Burlington, Barrie and via<br />
webinar.<br />
The Media Skills webinars will be made<br />
available on the AOM website for all<br />
members who were unable to attend.<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Development Fund<br />
The Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Development Fund is<br />
available to members again this year and<br />
applications are currently being accepted<br />
for this program.<br />
www.aom.on.ca/Members/Pr<strong>of</strong>essional_<br />
Development_Fund<br />
Registration:<br />
Registration for all events is available<br />
on the AOM website. Register online or<br />
download a form to print and fax or mail<br />
with payment.<br />
To comment on or contribute to the AOM<br />
Clinical and Pr<strong>of</strong>essional Development<br />
program, contact cpddirector@aom.on.ca