Midwifery Care Beyond the Gender Binary

Following Hamas’ attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, the Israeli military launched a devastating assault on Gaza. Many leading genocide scholars, including Gregory H. Stanton, Raz Segal, and Omer Bartov, have described the campaign as genocide, though Israel rejects that characterization.Today, Gaza’s health system is in ruins. More than 85% of the population has been displaced, and only a fraction of hospitals and primary health centres remain partially functional amid severe shortages of fuel, water, electricity, medications, blood, and sterile supplies. A 2024 Lancet analysis estimates about 180 births a day in Gaza, with roughly 15% requiring advanced care.As part of our continuing series, Midwives Critical in Every Crisis, we put names and stories to those living and working through this moment. We ask what mothers and babies are facing, what health workers have witnessed and learned, and what midwives in Canada can do now. Resources & ReferencesThe Lancet — Pregnant women in Gaza require urgent protectionhttps://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2823%2902835-0/fulltextMSF — Maternal and child health suffer under a decimated systemhttps://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/gaza-maternal-and-child-health-suffer-under-decimated-systemUNFPA — As famine looms in Gaza, pregnant women and newborns face life-threatening health riskshttps://www.unfpa.org/news/famine-looms-gaza-pregnant-women-and-newborns-face-life-threatening-health-risksUNICEF — Born into hellhttps://www.unicef.org/press-releases/born-hellMSF — Timeline: Bearing Witness to Genocide in Gazahttps://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/timeline-bearing-witness-genocide-gazaUN Special Rapporteur — Gaza Genocide: A Collective Crimehttps://www.un.org/unispal/document/special-rapporteur-report-gaza-genocide-a-collective-crime-20oct25/__We welcome feedback at [email protected] in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

En 2025, la Confédération internationale des sages-femmes souligne l’importance de leur rôle en contexte de crise. Ce premier épisode de notre série Les sages-femmes en temps de crise nous amène en Haïti, où elles continuent d’offrir des soins malgré l’effondrement du système de santé, la violence des gangs, les déplacements forcés et l’instabilité chronique.Jeffthanie Mathurin, Executive Director, ASFH (Association sage-femmes d'Haiti), témoigne de la réalité des soins maternels et néonatals dans ce contexte extrême. Son récit met en lumière la persévérance, le courage et la résilience des sages-femmes haïtiennes, et rappelle l’importance du soutien et de la solidarité internationaleThis episode is available in French only. RESSOURCES  Alo Saj Fanm : La lutte pour sauver des mamans et bébés en Haïti https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7uiF2j5UJs&list=PL4RZgETpKwaDVGF_uLwNzO9Zuj7eh58Y6&index=1  Médecins sans frontières https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/walking-hours-access-maternal-care-haiti Al Jazeera https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/11/haiti-death-toll-hits-nearly-5000-in-nine-months-as-gang-violence-spreads?  AP News https://apnews.com/article/haiti-gang-violence-killed-0a1e1adb661af1a6ed5396f0b4838fe6 Résumé du CFR (Council of Foreign Relations) https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/haitis-troubled-path-development UNICEF – Crise en Haïti https://www.unicef.org/fr/urgences/crise-en-haiti  LatAm Journalism Review  https://latamjournalismreview.org/articles/haitian-journalist-stranded-in-cuba-pleads-for-help-from-prime-minister-as-health-deteriorates/  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

« Si l’interruption de grossesse est légale, pourquoi l’accès, et même les faits à son sujet, sont-ils encore attaqués? » Bien que l’interruption de grossesse soit légale au Canada, l’accès à la procédure, sa compréhension et les perceptions sont de plus en plus façonnés par la désinformation et les discours idéologiques. Dans cet épisode, la chercheuse Véronique Pronovost nous entraîne dans les coulisses des réseaux anti-choix coordonnés qui sont actifs au Canada et au Québec. Elle montre comment ces groupes se servent du langage, du financement et de la désinformation pour influencer l’opinion publique et nous explique comment les sages-femmes, les militant·e·s et les éducateur·trice·s peuvent riposter en offrant des faits, de l’empathie et, surtout, la vérité.RessourcesRadio-Canada Avortement : un pays pas comme les autres https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/balados/11802/avortement-un-pays-pas-comme-les-autres  https://ici.radio-canada.ca/ohdio/balados/11802/avortement-un-pays-pas-comme-les-autres/920074/avortement-canada-pro-vie-communaute Constitution: Christine Fréchette pourrait retirer l’article sur l’avortementhttps://lactualite.com/actualites/constitution-christine-frechette-pourrait-retirer-larticle-sur-lavortement/Journaldemontreal.com (20 fév. 2026) — Sur le fait que Simon Jolin-Barrette retirerait la clause controverséehttps://www.journaldequebec.com/2026/02/20/constitution-quebecoise--simon-jolin-barrette-retirera-larticle-controverse-sur-la-protection-de-lavortementCollège des médecins du Québec (9 déc. 2025) — Analyse/prise de position expliquant pourquoi inscrire l’avortement dans une constitution peut être “risqué” sur le plan juridique et pratique. https://www.cmq.org/fr/actualites/pl1? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abortion is legal in Canada, but access remains uneven, and misinformation is growing. In this episode of Strength in Practice, host Monika Goodluck speaks with Frédérique Chabot, Executive Director of Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights, about what’s really shaping abortion care across the country.Together, they unpack where access breaks down (including rural/remote gaps and “patchwork” policies), how conscientious objection and disinformation can delay or obstruct care, and why Canada’s framework, treating abortion as health care under the Canada Health Act—matters. Frédérique also explains why calls for an “abortion law” can be risky, and how anti-choice tactics can enter through “backdoor” issues and narrative shifts.The conversation highlights the role of midwives in normalizing abortion as part of the full spectrum of reproductive health care—and what it takes to protect access through advocacy, collaboration, and compassionate, evidence-based support.RESOURCESSOGC HUB – Abortion https://sogc.org/en/en/content/events/HUB-Pages/Abortion.aspx?Action Canada : Abortion in Canada must be accessible — not just legalhttps://www.actioncanadashr.org/abortion-access?Abortion in Canada is legal for all, but inaccessible for too manyhttps://policyoptions.irpp.org/2022/08/abortion-access-canada/Medical abortion in Canada: behind the timeshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3883814/The Truth about Crisis Pregnancy Centreshttps://www.missinformed.ca/post/the-truth-about-crisis-pregnancy-centresCrisis pregnancy centres mislead women, report sayshttps://globalnews.ca/news/2703632/crisis-pregnancy-centres-mislead-women-report-says/The Next Infodemic: Abortion Misinformationhttps://www.jmir.org/2023/1/e42582/https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/mysterious-robocall-survey-polling-albertans-on-parental-consent-for-abortions/Sharevski et al. (2023) TikTok abortion misinformation: Rampant Content, Lax Moderation, and Vivid User Experiences https://arxiv.org/pdf/2301.05128__We welcome feedback at [email protected] in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As AI transforms health care, midwives find themselves at a crossroads: Can technology support relational, culturally safe care, or will it deepen existing gaps?  In this thought-provoking episode of Strength in Practice, we explore how AI is already shaping perinatal care. We look at decision-making tools, fertility apps, algorithmic bias, and data privacy concerns. What does AI promise for maternal health? And what risks does it pose, particularly for marginalized communities?  We speak with Dr. Sandra Multiva PhD, a midwife and researcher whose work examines surveillance, consent, and how AI might either strengthen or undermine the future of midwife-led, culturally safe care.  Whether you are tech curious or tech cautious, this episode invites you to imagine a future where AI supports, not replaces, the heart of midwifery: relational care.ABOUT OUR GUESTDr. Sandra Mutilva is the Program Manager for the International Midwifery Preregistration Bridging Program (IMPBP) at Toronto Metropolitan University. A registered midwife (Emeritus) with over 30 years of global experience, she holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership, an Executive MBA, and certifications in health leadership, risk management, and machine learning. Sandra has served as Chief of Midwifery at The Ottawa Hospital and co-founded Ottawa South Midwives. Her current work explores the ethical integration of Artificial Intelligence in reproductive health, with a focus on health equity, culturally safe care, and ensuring midwives are prepared for rapidly evolving digital health systems.REFERENCESRelated AI-driven efforts in obstetrics/labour prediction and other applications in healthcare (just the tip of the iceberg)Artificial Intelligence Models for Predicting Mode of Delivery, AlSaad et al., JOGOH, 2025Predicting Preterm Birth Using Machine Learning, Kloska et al., Scientific Reports, 2025Landmark Research from Maven Clinic on Virtual Doula Care Association Between Doula Use on a Digital Health Platform and Birth Outcomes, Karwa et al., Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2024__We welcome feedback at [email protected] in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, neonatologist Dr. Arnaud Gagneur, midwife Andrea Houle, and parent Fiona Wong, who once hesitated to vaccinate, share their perspectives on one of the most sensitive conversations in perinatal care. Drawing from the PromoVac approach and real-life clinical experiences, we unpack the roots of vaccine hesitancy, from mistrust in healthcare systems to the influence of online disinformation, and explore how midwives can respond with empathy, compassion, and evidence.You’ll walk away with practical tools to build trust, address concerns without confrontation, and support informed decision-making for healthier families and communities. Join us for an honest, authentic and often courageous discussion about the power of listening and being heard.About Our GuestsDr. Arnaud Gagneur is a neonatologist and pediatric infectious disease specialist whose research focuses on vaccine acceptance. He developed the PromoVac strategy—an evidence-based approach using motivational interviewing to address vaccine hesitancy—which is now implemented across Quebec through the EMMIE program. Dr. Gagneur collaborates with global health agencies, including UNICEF, the CDC, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, to train health professionals in effective, empathetic vaccine communication.Andrea Houle is a cisgender midwife of French and British settler descent, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Chargée des affaires professionnelles at the Ordre des sages-femmes du Québec. She’s spent more than 16 years providing midwifery care in both urban and rural communities, and now focuses on regulation, professional standards, and quality of care in Quebec. Fiona Wong is originally from Winnipeg Manitoba and now lives and works in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. She’s a mom of 3 young boys ages 7, 3 and 10 months. Fiona is a professional photographer and owns and operates Fnwngphotography.ResourcesFrom vaccine hesitancy to vaccine motivation: a motivational interviewing based approach to vaccine counsellingImpact of a vaccination promotion intervention using motivational interview techniques on long-term vaccine coverage: the PromoVac strategyProtection for you means protection for two "Motivational interviewing: a promising approach to reducing vaccine hesitancy"Motivational interviewing in maternity wards for immunizationMotivational Interviewing: a promising approach to reducing vaccine hesitancyCOVID vaccine and pregnancy__We welcome feedback at [email protected] in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an age of social media scrolls and AI-generated content, false health claims are spreading faster than ever—and midwives are often on the front lines, navigating mistrust, fear, and disinformation in their day-to-day practice. In this episode, Professor Timothy Caulfield breaks down the roots of the global “infodemic,” exploring how misinformation moves, why it sticks, and what we can do to counter it without shame or conflict. We discuss the emotional power of memes and headlines, the rise of AI-generated medical claims, and how healthcare providers—including midwives—can support clients by building trust and encouraging critical reflection. From pre-bunking to positive messaging, you’ll leave with practical tools and a fresh perspective on how to respond when clients say, “I saw this thing online…”About Our Guest:Timothy Caulfield is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. He is a leading researcher and public communicator on health misinformation, with decades of experience in law, ethics, and public health. He is the author of several best-selling books, including The Cure for Everything and The Certainty Illusion, and a co-founder of the #ScienceUpFirst initiative. His work has been featured across international media, and he serves as an advisor to governments and public health agencies on evidence-based communication strategies.References:Science Up First – Evidence-based content for countering misinformationThe Certainty Illusion by Timothy CaulfieldUnderstanding and Countering Health Misinformation (Caulfield et al.) WHO: Immunizing the public against misinformation What is Prebunking? (Google Jigsaw & University of Cambridge research)People being unable to tell the difference between AI and realGordon Penny Cook at Cornell and David Rand at MIT chat botsResearch on the power of talking about the body of evidenceOutrage and grievance fuels the algorithmsResearch debunking the backfire effect__We welcome feedback at [email protected] in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kinship, Consent, and Clinical Care: Decolonizing Health SystemsMidwifery isn’t neutral—care can be colonial. What does it mean to “decolonize health care”? In this impactful and thought-provoking episode, Laverne Gervais and Candace Neumann challenge conventional models of care and invite us to reimagine wellness through kinship, cultural safety, and HIV doula care. They share how Indigenous-led programs are transforming reproductive health with heart, humour, and healing—and what midwives and other health professionals can do to support that shift. Discover how to provide care rooted in kinship, not control.ABOUT OUR GUESTSLaverne GervaisLaverne was born and lives in Treaty 1 Territory, in the city of Winnipeg. She is a member of Peguis First Nation. Laverne has been working in Indigenous sexual wellness for over 15 years and strives to increase Indigenous led culturally safer care programming, prevention and treatment for STBBIs. She has coordinated programs for women living with HIV, facilitated sexuality education workshops for a wide age range and currently manages the Ka Ni Kanichihk’s Mino Pimatisiwin Sexual Wellness Lodge.Candace NeumannCandace is a Métis full-spectrum doula, community worker, and facilitator based in Treaty 1 Territory. She is co-founder of Zaagi’idiwin: Indigenous Full-Spectrum Doula Training and researcher for the Indigenous HIV Doula program at Ka Ni Kanichihk. A sundancer and cedar bath practitioner, Candace integrates traditional knowledge with contemporary care to support Indigenous women and Two-Spirit people. She is currently completing her Master of Social Work in Indigenous Knowledges at the University of Manitoba.__We welcome feedback at [email protected] in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode, Strength in Practice explores the experiences of nonbinary and trans clients and midwives navigating pregnancy, birth, and parenthood.Host Monika Goodluck speaks with Liam Kali, a queer, nonbinary, transmasculine midwife and author of Queer Conception, who shares decades of experience in inclusive fertility care. Liam offers both practical advice and a critical look at the barriers within midwifery institutions that continue to exclude queer and trans voices.The episode also features parents Jenna Jacobs and Eby Heller, who took the Quebec government to court to affirm their identities on their children’s birth certificates. They reflect on midwifery care, gender-affirming lactation, rural realities, and the essential role of community support.The episode concludes with a poetic and deeply reflective personal essay by midwife Jenna Bly, exploring gender, embodiment, and the ethics of care. A must-listen for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of gender-inclusive midwifery.__We welcome feedback at [email protected] in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us as we explore The Colour of Birth project with Dr. Karline Wilson-Mitchell, a leading advocate for Black midwives in Canada.Through rich historical research and personal narratives, she shares the hidden stories of Black midwives who helped shape Canadian healthcare—from those who arrived via the Underground Railroad to those who faced systemic barriers in the 20th century. Dr. Wilson-Mitchell also discusses the challenges Black midwives face today, from barriers to entering the profession to the emotional labour of mentorship. How do we ensure the next generation of midwives are supported? What role does advocacy play in addressing racial disparities in maternal care? Explore and celebrate the resilience, activism, and lasting impact of Black midwifery.About Our GuestKarline Wilson-Mitchell, who hails from Jamaica, is the first and only Black Canadian midwifery education professor. She was the director of the TMU, Midwifery department. between 2018-2024. She is passionate about reproductive justice that informs midwifery education, healthcare practice and global partnerships. She has been a registered nurse since 1984, and a midwife since 1992. She has worked as midwife in urban and rural settings in the U.S. and Canada. She’s acted as a consultant for leadership and curriculum development in education in Jamaica, Tanzania, Zambia, Burundi, Uganda and South Sudan. Her new course, Black Birthing & Health Equity, launched in January 2024. It examines African diasporic traditions around family, perinatal care, and challenges learners to develop creative ways of conceiving and recreating healthy birth environments for Black families. __We welcome feedback at [email protected] in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.