2 midwives begin service in Hay River, N.W.T.

Women in Hay River, Enterprise, and the K'atl'odeeche First Nation now have the option to have a midwife deliver their child in Hay River, instead of giving birth in the hospital in Yellowknife.

The Hay River Health and Social Services Authority began offering midwifery services this month.

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Heather Heinrichs is one of two midwives now serving the area. She says nearly all of the women who are pregnant in the area are choosing some midwife services, and about half are planning to deliver their babies in the community.

"Now with midwifery here in the community, women will have the option to deliver their babies here and won't have to leave their families and support networks to go and have their babies," she said.

Right now the two midwives are working in a room in the medical clinic. They'll have a facility at the new health centre being built in Hay River.

The health and social services authority says there are about 40 to 60 births to women from the area every year.