Alberta to fund more births using midwives

The Alberta government will fund up to 400 more midwife-supported births this fiscal year, the province says.

Midwifery services, including pre- and post-natal care, labour and birth support, are funded by Alberta Health Services.

With up to an additional $1.8 million from the government, the number of publicly supported births by midwives will increase to approximately 2,774 this year, the province said.

"I'm a firm believer in the right health-care services delivered in the right place by the right health care professional, and that's exactly what midwives provide," Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said in a statement.

Alberta has publicly funded midwifery care since 2009. There are currently 94 midwives working in the province, an increase of 163 per cent over the past five years.