When we think of “inclusive spaces,” we often think about physical access to a building. For example, whether there’s a ramp or elevator access. But more and more health care professionals on PEI are adopting a broader understanding of making their place more inclusive to their clients—thinking beyond whether someone is able to enter the building to how they feel once they arrive.
A group of PEI midwives are the latest group of health care professionals in the province trying to change the outdated image of the “sterile waiting room” to put more clients at ease when they enter that space.
PEI’s Newest Health Care Providers: Midwives
Midwifery services are now available on Prince Edward Island. Midwives are an additional service provider that complement existing health care providers. Currently, PEI has a small number of midwives practising here; however, the province hopes to increase this number in the coming years.
Registered midwives offer a personalized approach to care for pre-pregnancy planning, prenatal care, labour and delivery, and postnatal care. Throughout their entire approach lies a dedication to client-led care and inclusivity.
“I think that there are lots of ways that you can be inclusive,” states Melissa Roberts, Program Development Lead for midwifery and a midwife practising in PEI.
Roberts goes on to talk about the various training health care workers can take (such as cultural sensitivity, trauma-informed care, and gender affirming care practises), but she also highlights that inclusivity begins as soon as the client enters the health care space—the waiting room.
Creating an Inclusive Waiting Room
“When you walk into a space, it's nice if all the visual things that you see, if there are people in them, that they're of different backgrounds, they're of different races, so that people feel welcomed and safe,” says Roberts.
In addition to ensuring that many cultures are represented in any posters or pamphlets displayed in the health care setting, Roberts also speaks to gender inclusivity.
“Sometimes it’s easy to tell that a picture is of a woman, but I think if you start to take away some of the visuals that make that incredibly obvious, then that can be really helpful too to make it feel like an inclusive space.”
Of course, this same sentiment can extend to visually representing a variety of families and not assuming that every pregnant person who enters their doors is part of a heterosexual, cisgender pair.
Roberts notes that another way to create a more welcoming space is to recognize that many people coming for appointments might be feeling anxious, and that while pregnancy is a completely normal and healthy state of being for many, that doesn’t mean that there are no nerves or anxiety being experienced by the expectant person or their support team.
“Midwifery is unique in that we're working with pregnancy, which is a very normal thing that people go through and we approach it that way. If you look around our space, you won’t see medical equipment, exam tables or tools that can be sort of terrifying,” explains Roberts. “I think if you walk into a space and all your visual cues are of the procedures that you might have to undergo or all the glaring facts about something that could be your issue, then that's not very welcoming.”
Midwives are also trained to respect every person’s history, in terms of any trauma (both medical and non-medical) they may have previously experienced. Knowing the person can help to create that client-led model of care that forms the basis of the midwifery model.
Seeing the Person Behind the Patient
Pregnancy, while a temporary state, can often be an emotional one for those experiencing it. Roberts emphasized that midwives are trained to see beyond the medical condition of pregnancy to the person who is pregnant. These unique health care providers view pregnancy as a healthy and normal state of being, and, therefore, their approach is less clinical and more relaxed. That does not mean that midwives miss possible complications—they are well trained to spot areas of concern and collaborate with, or refer someone to, an OBGYN when required. But it does mean that there’s often more time in the appointment to talk to the client and get a sense of how they are feeling overall.
“I do think it’s respectful to at least ask every person who walks into my space what are your needs that I can meet, how can I help you get the care you’re looking for, and just having that conversation really early so you can set up that foundation with them,” Roberts explains. “Yes, we’re very confined with how long appointments are, but if I can take just an extra 5 minutes to talk to someone, I can get to know people a little better, and I think it helps me provide better care.”
At the end of the day, a midwife’s role is to support a pregnant person, and that support begins with establishing a welcoming space and carries on throughout the appointment. Pregnancy can be an exciting time for many, and midwives are here to guide families through the journey. Making sure everyone feels welcomed is at the core of the midwifery model of care.
To learn more about services provided by PEI midwives.
Published date: February 2025
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