After reading the article “Regulation could ease doctor shortage: midwife” (the News, May 22), I am shocked to hear that the Yukon government does not view regulating midwifery as a high priority. Women make up a little over half the population; I would think their issues would be a concern to our elected officials.
As a practising birth mentor and birth and post-partum doula in Whitehorse, I can say that the issue of regulated midwifery is alive and very present in the minds of the expecting couples I see. While I am not aligned towards only one particular type of birth (home vs. hospital), I would like to see families have the same options available to them as in other areas of Canada.
On a personal level, birth and death are the most powerful, transformative events that take place in our lives. Where, when, and with whom we birth with is important, as this decision shapes our birth memories and affects family bonding. What does it say about our culture when our government does not make the time, or feel it is a priority to consider creating options for ways in which women bring new beings into the world?
Jo Lukawitski,
Whitehorse