New midwife clinic opens, Expands services for Findlay Creek, Riverside South

Posted Feb 16, 2012 By Eddie Rwema

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Sarah Doyle, left, Denise Fuller, Paula Salehi, Natalie Beauchamp, Claudia Smith and Sandra Gervais all work at the new Ottawa South Midwife Clinic located on Albion Road.

Eddie Rwema, Ottawa South EMC

Sarah Doyle, left, Denise Fuller, Paula Salehi, Natalie Beauchamp, Claudia Smith and Sandra Gervais all work at the new Ottawa South Midwife Clinic located on Albion Road.

EMC news - Expectant mothers in south Ottawa looking for alternative care can now turn to a local midwifery clinic.

The Ottawa South Midwifery Clinic, which received provincial funding, officially opened at 4112 Albion Rd. on Feb. 9.

The founders of the clinic - five local midwives - wanted to expand midwifery services in Ottawa and reach the underserviced communities of Findlay Creek, Riverside South and Barrhaven.

"We chose Ottawa South because it is one of the fastest growing neighbourhood populations in terms of birth rate in Ottawa," said Sarah Doyle, one of the five registered midwives running the clinic.

Prior to the opening of the clinic, midwives in Ottawa were attending well below the provincial average of 10 per cent of births in Ontario.

"We saw the need in Ottawa South and put in the proposal to the ministry of health and long-term care," said Doyle. "The women that are in this area are really happy to have something that is so accessible and we are having great feedback so far."

Doyle said it is important for women to have someone with them they trust during their labour.

"The women that come to see us get to know the midwife following them very well and they have a high chance of one of us being with them during labour," she said.

She added that having a local clinic will allocate regional resources more equitably.

Claudia Smith, also a midwife, said she was thrilled to be working for the clinic.

"Our practice is committed to serve women and their families living in this fast-growing and ever expanding community."

According to Ottawa midwifery practices, 500 women in Ottawa could not have a midwife as their caregiver of choice because of the small number if midwives practicing in the area.

"There is a huge need for more midwives to be able to accommodate all of the women that want midwifery care," said Smith.

Statistics from the association of Ontario midwives indicate that since 1994, more than 100,000 babies have been born under midwifery care, including more than 23,000 births at home.

"It is becoming more mainstream ... and there is more demand for it," said Smith.

She added many mothers choose midwives because they provide care throughout pregnancy, labour and birth, plus they are available for both the mother and baby the first six weeks following the birth.

"When they come to us, it is because they want something different," said Smith. "It is becoming very popular and we have a waiting list already."

Michelle Turner used a midwife for her three births. She said the clinic is a great alternative to a regular doctor.

"They take amazing care of you," Turner said. "I had all my three kids with a midwife - two of them were born at home and one was born at the Civic hospital and I couldn't have asked for a better birth experience."