Alberta midwives say there has been a noticeable increase in requests for their services, especially for home births. According to the College of Midwives of Alberta, the province already has the highest rate of out-of-hospital births in Canada.
About 70 babies per month are delivered in a birth centre or at home. While it’s too early for official statistics, the registrar of the college believes that number has risen since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The midwives that I’ve talked to are saying… they are seeing an increase in desire for home births,” Sharon Prusky told Global News.
After birthing her first daughter in hospital and her second at home, Katie Wojtowicz was planning to deliver her third child in hospital so she could