Access to midwifery care in New Brunswick is very limited. Currently, only one public midwifery clinic operates in Fredericton, leaving many people across the province without access to this type of care. Midwives are trained healthcare providers who offer safe, cost-effective, and personalized care during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. However, many New Brunswickers are unsure what midwives do, where they work, or whether their services are publicly funded.
This study asked New Brunswick residents about their knowledge, experiences, and opinions of midwifery care. A total of 282 people completed an online survey that explored what they knew about midwives, their past birth experiences, and their background information.
What we learned
Most participants strongly supported improving access to midwifery care—nearly all (97%) agreed it should be available to everyone who wants it, and 91% supported home birth as an option. However, very few had actually been able to receive midwifery care. Many were placed on waitlists or told they could not access services because they lived outside the Fredericton area.
While general awareness of midwifery was fairly high, there was still confusion about what midwives are allowed to do, such as prescribing medications, ordering lab tests, and providing publicly funded care. Some demographic differences also emerged: people living in Fredericton, English speakers, those with post-secondary education, and participants who identified as a sexual orientation other than heterosexual tended to know more about midwifery.
Overall, the results show that New Brunswickers want more access to midwifery care but face major barriers in getting it. Expanding services beyond Fredericton—especially into rural and Francophone communities—and increasing public awareness about the role of midwives could help ensure that families across the province receive fair, culturally sensitive, and patient-centered maternity care.