At-home births suspended in western Manitoba

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This article was published 25/03/2025 (216 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Prairie Mountain Health is suspending at-home birthing services in southwestern Manitoba for six months, citing a sudden shortage of midwives.

Starting April 1, the region’s midwifery unit is pausing birth and on-call services and only offering prenatal, postpartum and newborn appointments until Sept. 30.

Nurses and physicians are slated to deliver all babies from Brandon, Dauphin and surrounding communities in the hospital during that period. Midwives will continue to support birth planning.

“We sincerely apologize that we are not able to provide all aspects of care at this time. Please know this was a very difficult decision,” Jaime Burgoyne, manager of primary health care, wrote in a March 19 memo to clients.

Burgoyne noted the unit has had a reduction in staffing due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Opposition health critic Kathleen Cook tabled the letter — which was issued three months after Brandon Regional Health Centre nearly closed its maternity ward and she argued demonstrates the NDP’s pattern of failing to address insufficient staffing levels — in the legislature on Tuesday.

“Expectant mothers deserve better than this. They deserve a government that ensures they have access to the care they need during one of the most vulnerable and important times in their lives,” Cook told the legislative assembly.

Following question period, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara sought to reassure Manitobans that midwives, obstetrician-gynecologists and other professionals will remain available to safely deliver babies in the region using a “team approach.”

“The comprehensive care before you have a baby and after you have baby are in place,” Asagwara said, noting that temporary changes have been announced because one midwife is on leave.

The College of Midwives of Manitoba’s stance is that demand for its members’ services continues to exceed the current supply.

Treena Slate, chief executive officer of Prairie Mountain Health, said in a statement that recruitment efforts are ongoing in her region.

They include offering clinical training and mentorship opportunities to midwives, as well as advertising and attending the U of M career fair, Slate said.

The previous Progressive Conservative government axed a joint midwifery training program that was supposed to be delivered by the University of Manitoba and University College of the North.

While the 2016 launch never came to fruition, the U of M opened its own a bachelor of midwifery program in 2021.

The Manitoba government’s budget for 2025-26 includes a $1.1-million commitment to hire seven midwives and ensure U of M graduates immediately receive a local job offer.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca