Home birth with midwife as safe as hospital birth for women with low-risk pregnancies

The latest research in birth and maternal care will be presented next week at the Canadian Association of Midwives' 10^th Annual General Meeting, which focuses primarily on place of birth. The conference takes place October 6, 7 and 8 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Association of Ontario Midwives President Katrina Kilroy, RM, will be giving a presentation often used at hospital rounds to educate health professionals on the facts and biases of home birth. Contrary to a recent American meta-analysis that found home birth was associated with a higher risk of neonatal death, several large, well-designed Canadian studies have found home birth with a midwife in a regulated system to be at least as safe as hospital birth for women with low-risk pregnancies.

The Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) will also announce that Ontario midwife Anne Wilson will be taking over as president of CAM in January 2011. With more than 10 years' experience practicing as a midwife in the Burlington area and a longtime leader within the Association of Ontario Midwives, Anne is well suited to represent midwives across the country.