Association of Midwives of Newfoundland and Labrador
MISSION STATEMENT
To provide opportunities for information sharing between
midwives, and to promote the profession of midwifery and the need for
appropriate legislation so that midwives in Newfoundland and Labrador are
publicly funded to provide evidence-based midwifery care for childbearing
families in this province.(2005)
HISTORY
In 1974 an Atlantic Midwives Association was formed with the
objective of improving all areas of the midwifery care of the
mother and her baby. From 1975 to 1980 annual conferences were well
attended. Then there was a decline in membership from the maritime
provinces.
In 1983 the Newfoundland and Labrador Midwives Association was
formed, and was one of the first Associations to join the Canadian
Confederation of Midwives.
From 1983 to 1996 the Newfoundland and Labrador Midwives
Association was also part of the Alliance of Midwives, Maternity
and Neonatal Nurses of Newfoundland and Labrador. Due to a decline
in membership the Alliance ceased to exist as from December 31,
1996.
At the January 2001 general meeting of the Association the change of
name was approved, to that of the Association of Midwives of Newfoundland
and Labrador. Also approved at this meeting were a Philosophy statement
and a Code of Ethics. The design for a logo was approved and the final
drawing of this design was accepted at the September 2001 general meeting.
At the annual general meeting held in April 2001 revisions to the
Constitution and Bylaws were accepted, and the Mission statement received
approval. The Bylaws and the Mission statement were further revised in
2005.
Meetings are held three times a year via conference call to enable
all members in North America to be present. There are four Newsletters a
year and copies are placed in the reference section of the Health Sciences
Library under catalogue number WQ160N457n.
The Objectives of the Association of Midwives of Newfoundland and
Labrador (revised 1994/1999/2001) are:
1. To promote recognition in this province of the role of
midwives as defined in the "International Definition of
a Midwife" (WHO/FIGO/ICM).
2. To promote the legislation for the legal practice of
midwives, as funded and self-regulated health professionals.
3. To provide opportunity for communication among all
midwives in the province.
4. To promote total midwifery care for childbearing families
in this province:
a. by working toward continuing education through workshops,
courses, publications etc. for midwives;
b. by acting as a resource for health professionals in
maternity/obstetrical/community areas;
c. by acting in liaison with other professional and
community special interest groups;
d. by identifying areas of concern in which
improvement in care is needed, e.g. breastfeeding,
perinatal mortality and morbidity, follow-up care after
discharge from hospital, preconception and prenatal and
postnatal education, continuity of care by known
caregiver(s) from pregnancy through postpartum for
mother and baby.
5. To promote active research in the areas of maternal,
neonatal, and family care and in particular midwifery.
6. To support Canadian Association of Midwives, as it
pertains to this provincial Association.