Practices... - Midwifery - Midwifery in Canada

Much of Canada's midwifery history began with the Aboriginal people in the early and mid 1800's. Women were working as midwives in every community and attending the majority of births, although they may not have had any particular training or special knowledge. They were, on the other hand, available to help women in labour and usually had experienced childbirth themselves. There were some women, known as "granny" midwives, who had learned the art of midwifery through their mothers and grandmothers in a more formal way. In addition, trained midwives had come from the United Kingdom, Europe, and other parts of the world, bringing their ancient traditions of midwifery practice with them.

Most circa 1800 midwives received very little payment of any kind for their work but saw it as their calling and their place in the community. Travel would occasionally be made over long distances by horseback or even foot to reach a family or woman in labour. From the late 1800's, doctors began to dominate medical practices and this carried over into the world of midwifery. Attempts were made to eliminate midwives and replace them by doctors. In 1815, an Act was passed that protected the role of the midwife in Upper Canada to practice without a license. However, the Ontario Medical Act of 1865 changed this to prohibit any person from practicing midwifery without registration. Midwives were then charged and doctors took over the control of childbirth. As a result, midwifery in Canada declined.

Throughout the 1900's, midwifery continued to decline, apart from a few strong midwives who followed their hearts and helped with births among friends and neighbours. It was not until the 1960's and 1970's that midwifery made its appearance again. Birth had become a highly medicalized practice and 98% were attended by doctors in hospitals. Groups of nonconformist women began to oppose hospitalization for childbirth. They fought for years to gain control over their bodies and to bring the experience of birth back to women.

Midwives were in demand in order to help women achieve positive birthing experiences. Important issues such as the percentage of episiotomies, drugs, artificial onset of labour, forceps deliveries and caesarian sections were of concern to women who believed their bodies were capable of giving birth without intervention. In addition, hospitals followed practices such as separating the mother and baby after birth and little attention was given to the family's emotional or psychological needs. As a result, midwifery is now returning as an accepted, and possibly preferred, method of care in pregnancy and childbirth.