Statement
International Day of the Midwife is an opportunity to celebrate the excellent care midwives provide and the women's rights they protect. Any woman should be free to choose the childbirth care they want and this year's theme - "Midwives: Defenders of Women's Rights" - echoes that sentiment.
As healthcare professionals, midwives play a crucial role during pregnancy, labour, birth and following birth. Midwives ensure women and their babies get the care they need in the environment of their choosing, whether it's at home, in hospital or elsewhere. As health counsellors and educators, midwives offer critical emotional support by helping mothers and their families prepare for their little one's arrival.
From pregnancy to postpartum, midwives are there for women, their babies and their families. Please join me in thanking them for their ongoing commitment to maternal health and in advancing women's rights.
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P.
