The benefits of midwifery

Midwives are quick to point out the many advantages of bringing birth back to their communities:

* less disruption, practical and financial, for families separated at the time of birth;
* maintenance of cultural traditions related to birth;
* participation of all generations in events related to the child-bearing cycle;
* continuity of care;
* less money spent in the long term on transport, boarding, medevacs, and unnecessary testing;
* more money to put into community health programs;
* more local employment and health care leadership in the community;
* care in Inuttitut, leading to better understanding and confidence;
* increased autonomy for women and the population in general;
* more emphasis on preventive care, health promotion and public education;
* spreading of common knowledge related to mother and child care throughout the community;
* fewer women going south due to preventable problems;
* possibility for women to have increased knowledge, skills, and motivation to care well for themselves and their babies;
* possible increase in self-esteem, motivation and community cohesion and fewer suicides, depression, and family violence due to strains of separations.