Driven by an irrepressible gratitude for the midwives who guided them though pregnancy, two local mothers have banded together to bring midwifery to Squamish.Christine Gavin-Bartlett and Kazuko Hiroe, the founders of Midwives Now, have collected more than 500 signatures to support the change. According to Vancouver Coastal Health, it would require $850,000 to ensure an obstetrician is available round-the-clock at Squamish General Hospital, along with nurses trained in childbirth, which are required for midwives to offer services.While midwives handle much of the birthing process and have been integrated into BC Medical Services Plan since 1998, additional experts must be on hand in case of complications.Gavin-Bartlett and Hiroe said it would be money well spent. By doing house calls after childbirth, and offering the choice of at-home delivery, midwives take pressure of the health care system, they said. Besides, reliable access to an obstetrician would serve all expectant mothers, said Hiroe."We need the staff anyway whether midwives are here or not," she said, adding that Squamish is a growing hot spot for young families.Figures from Vancouver Coastal Health confirm the trend. In 2006/2007 there were 180 births at Squamish General Hospital. When the 2007/2008 period wraps up in March, the figure is expected to hit 259.It's impossible to tell how many mothers from Squamish, Pemberton or Whistler are redirected to Lions Gate Hospital in North Vancouver when going into labour during an obstetrician's absence since said those figures are not tracked, according to Vancouver Coastal Health spokesperson Viviana Zanocco. Hiroe knows firsthand why this arrangement is risky.Last September, when she went into labour to deliver her son Nash, her partner drove her down to Vancouver where she could access her midwife.Soon after she reached the city, a crate of explosives were found near Furry Creek, shutting the roadway down for several hours.Hiroe narrowly missed the delay."I know what it felt like to be in labour and I can't imagine waiting in traffic," said Gavin-Bartlett.Zanocco said the hospital is hoping to expand its services to accommodate more births locally. A decision on midwives privileges in Squamish will likely be made in a few weeks."We just got our budget numbers on Thursday or Friday so we don't know if this will pan out," she said.Gavin-Bartlett is waiting anxiously for the news.For now, she said she is holding out on having her second child until she knows she can have the support of a midwife.When describing how a midwife helped her deliver her first child, two-year-old Ayden, she quickly tears up.Because his position in the womb was posterior, she gave birth in hospital. Her midwife's support was so unremitting, Gavin-Bartlett said she had to remind her to eat."My midwife totally stood by me the entire time," she said. "She was supportive to my husband, she was supportive to me. She wouldn't leave my side."Afterwards, her midwife visited her home about four times in the first week to help her breastfeed.Gavin-Bartlett said this kind of support might be helpful to people prone to post-partum depression.Hiroe, who had her first child at Squamish General Hospital and her second with the help of a midwife in Vancouver, described the comfort of a midwife as incredible."They're very professional but also like your best friends."
