Summer 2011 - Association of Ontario Midwives

AOM AGM & Conference 2011Delivering Change: Strengthening Maternal-Newborn Care in OntarioThe theme of this May’s AOM conferencewas Delivering Change, and the manyvaried sessions built upon this theme.Midwives from across the province cametogether to share information, network,and strategize with the AOM for thecoming year.The pre-conference workshop wasfacilitated by doula and childbirth educatorPenny Simkin, who delivered a full-daysession with energy and enthusiasm. Inthe morning, she described how womenwho have experienced sexual abuse mayexperience birth and how their historymay shape their relationships with theirmidwives. In the afternoon, Simkinexplored the complex topic of labourpain, and shared some surprising factsfrom her research on fetal positioning.Though her subject matter waschallenging, Simkin’s sharp wit andwarmth made the session enjoyable forall who attended. During the openingceremonies at the wine and cheesereception that evening, Simkin announcedthat she had no intention of retiring –news which was greeted with considerableenthusiasm by the crowd.The next morning’s Annual GeneralMeeting followed the theme of DeliveringChange, and the first resolution of themorning, on reproductive choice, passedunanimously. The resolution proposedthat the AOM adopt a position statementstating:Reproductive health care is an integralpart of maternal health; this includesfamily planning and access to legal, safeabortion care, which are fundamental tothe rights of women.This will lead to the creation of a newPosition Statement from the AOM, whichwill be available on the website after it ispassed by the Board.The second resolution involved the ongoingnegotiations and compensation review(see story page 4). Midwives were askedto vote on a resolution which expressedtheir disappointment in the government’slack of a timely response on the September2010 Midwifery Compensation report,endorsed midwives’ belief that they shouldbe compensated fairly based on similarhealth care professionals, and that theAOM should review potential job actions toAnne Wilson, President of the Canadian Association of Midwives; Peter Flattery, CEO of HIROC;Katrina Kilroy, President of the AOM; Penny Simkin, childbirth educator and author.protest the undervaluing of the professionof midwifery. The resolution passed withvery strong support from members.In the afternoon, Madeline Boscoe,Executive Director of Vancouver’s REACHCommunity Health Centre, gave aninspirational keynote address abouther career in women’s health advocacy.She promoted the idea that health-careproviders should see themselves aschange agents in the health-care system,and she described her role in developingManitoba’s first birth centre, which willopen in 2011. Her slides of birth centresfrom around the world provided a range offresh ideas and possibilities.Birth centres were further explored on theThursday, in the form of a panel discussionabout the birth centres movement, whichhas the potential to improve maternal andnewborn outcomes while cutting costs.The afternoon concurrent sessions delvedfurther into new research and innovation,such as sessions on group antenatal care,rural home birth and midwifery care forToronto’s Aboriginal communities.One of the most talked-about sessionsat the conference was presented by IvyBourgeault and Carol Cameron, RM, on thec-section reduction project taking place atMarkham Stouffville Hospital. Preliminaryresults from the study showed a dramaticdrop in c-section rates as a result of anumber of evidence-based interventions.Strategies targeted patients (offeringVBAC information sessions, for example),clinicians (such as publicly posting careproviders’ c-section rates) and hospitalpolicy (scheduling inductions after 41weeks gestation). As a result, VBAC trial oflabour rates doubled, induction rates fellsharply and c-section rates went down forall care providers.The conference closed with an address byOntario midwife Bridget Lynch, who hasrecently completed her tenure as Presidentof the International Confederation ofMidwives (see story, page 8). Lynch toldthe room that Ontario midwives, havingcreated a midwifery model which is theenvy of the world, have an important roleto play at an international level to improvematernal and newborn health globally.SPECIAL THANKSThe AOM is grateful to the SheratonHamilton, which made a donation to theGhislaine Francoeur Fund in the name ofeach midwife who booked a room for theconference. The Fund contributes to thereduction of maternal and infant mortalityin Haïti by promoting the developmentof midwifery and of midwifery education.canadianmidwives.org/fundraising.htmlAlso thanks to everyone who participatedin the silent auction, which generated$1190 for the Ghislaine Francoeur Fund.06 ontario midwife • Summer 2011