NL Health Services Launches Midwifery Program in Eastern-Rural Zone

Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services is pleased to announce the official launch of the midwifery program in Carbonear, NL. Midwifery services will be implemented in a phased approach with initial services, including postpartum and prenatal care, cervical cancer screening and other sexual/reproductive health services, beginning on August 5, 2024. An expansion of services is planned for February 2025.

“The introduction of midwifery services in the Eastern-Rural Zone is a significant step forward in enhancing the level of care we provide to new parents and their babies. We are so pleased to be able to offer this service to residents in this zone,” said Debbie Walsh, vice president and chief operating officer of the Eastern-Rural Zone, NL Health Services. “Thank you to our health-care staff and management across program areas for their commitment to launching this new service and to current and future midwives who will deliver safe and quality care to clients. We would also like to acknowledge and thank the Trinity Conception Placentia Health Foundation who supported this initiative through funding for equipment and furniture.”

By February 2025, a total of three midwives will deliver the program in Carbonear which will facilitate expansion of midwifery services to provide support and care to clients during labour and birth.

The three core services that will be offered initially include:

• Prenatal care: The midwifery practice will begin by offering prenatal care for individuals with an estimated due date of February 2025 and later at the Carbonear Community Services Building. Midwives will also provide assessments at the Carbonear General Hospital, as needed.
• Postpartum care: Working with other program areas, families without a primary care provider will be referred to the midwifery practice for the delivery of postpartum care to parent and child for up to six weeks postpartum, including breastfeeding support. Individuals who live in the Carbonear area will be offered a home visit for postpartum care; for those outside the Carbonear area, postpartum care appointments will be available at the clinic in the Carbonear Community Services Building.
• Other health services: Midwives will work with other program areas to identify individuals in need of cervical cancer screening and other sexual/reproductive health services. Pap clinic days will be offered at the Carbonear Community Services Building.

Beginning August 5, 2024, individuals can be referred by a health-care provider or can self-refer by calling 709-945-5517.

“The midwifery practice looks forward to accepting clients into care in the coming weeks with expanded services in early 2025,” said Sarah Donnelly Harnum, registered midwife and midwifery implementation coordinator for the Eastern-Rural Zone, NL Health Services. “Midwives are primary care providers who care for pregnant, labouring and postpartum individuals and their newborns and provide prenatal and postpartum education. Midwives also provide care to non-pregnant individuals for other services, such as pap tests and contraception counselling. We are excited to start providing care and working with other program areas in the Eastern-Rural Zone to help provide more health-care services in the Carbonear area.”

“We are proud to introduce midwifery services in the Eastern-Rural Zone,” said the Honourable John Hogan, KC, Minister of Health and Community Services. “Having a midwifery program available in Carbonear will ensure increased access to high quality perinatal and newborn care, and is a valuable addition to primary care in the zone.”

About midwifery

• Midwives are trained health-care professionals who provide primary care in the prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum period for mothers and their newborns up to six weeks of age. Midwives specialize in low-risk pregnancies but are trained to recognize any complications that may arise requiring a specialist in high-risk pregnancies.
• Midwives provide complete care during pregnancy to promote health and well-being for pregnant individuals, babies and families. A midwife can order routine tests and lab work and can prescribe certain medications. A midwife’s scope of care includes guidelines on when to consult, when to share care and when to transfer care to another health-care provider.
• All practicing midwives in Newfoundland and Labrador must be registered with the Newfoundland and Labrador Council of Health Professionals and are required to meet established educational and other certification requirements.

More information

• For updates and more information about the midwifery program in the Eastern-Rural Zone, please visit: https://cwhp.easternhealth.ca/womens-health/midwifery-services/.
• Since 2019, midwifery services have been available in the Central Zone, bringing positive outcomes and success stories to the community. For more information about midwifery in the Central Zone, please visit: https://www.centralhealth.nl.ca/midwifery.
• The Labrador-Grenfell Zone is also working to plan and implement a midwifery program within the zone that aligns with the framework that has been established in other parts of the province.

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