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.

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