“Special Delivery” to support BC midwives

[Alyson Jones]

Hello,

I just sent a “special delivery” email to my MLA to tell them I support BC’s midwives, and I’m hoping you might do the same. What they need are letters from people in BC to get government’s attention about the fact that there are only 200 registered midwives to attend 10% of BC’s births.

Registered midwives in this province are important:

·       They are highly trained, university educated, publicly funded and regulated – that means your MSP already pays for you to have access to a midwife if you want their care

·       Studies show that midwives improve health outcomes for families

·       Because they do not need to practice in a hospital (they do home births as well), they free up hospital beds. In fact, they save the province 1.6 million annually through home births alone.

·       In addition, midwives are trained to offer personal, culturally sensitive maternity care to rural and First Nations communities, many of which are significantly under-served.

Fewer doctors are choosing to practice obstetrics in BC, but making sure midwives are treated as equal partners in providing maternity care (along with other health care practitioners and the government) can help solve this problem.

So, I’m supporting BC midwives to recognize the high quality maternity care they provide and to make sure that anyone in BC can have access to a midwife should they need their services. I hope that you will join me and participate in the Midwives Association of BC’s “special delivery” campaign to help raise awareness with the provincial government about the important role midwives play in providing maternity care.

It’s easy to help:

1.     Send a standard letter to your local MLA (http://www.bcmidwives.com/support/tell-your-friends)

2.     Send your own letter to your local MLA (Find your local MLA here http://www.leg.bc.ca/Mla/3-1-1.htm)

3.     Like the Midwives Association of BC Facebook page and follow them on twitter

4.     Share your story On the Midwives Association of BC website (http://www.bcmidwives.com/support/tell-your-friends)

Thank you for helping me support midwives and their practices throughout BC. 

Alyson

 

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Alyson Jones, RM
Willow Community Midwives
254B Ellis St Penticton BC V2A 4L6
p. 250.276.6088
f. 250.276.6101
w. www.willow-midwives.ca