Vera Kevic

Doulas On Bikes
Canada

Abstract Title: Birth in the Balance: Preserving Holistic Midwifery in a Medicalised Landscape

Biography:

Vera Kevic is a Certified Birth Doula, Educator, Public Speaker, and co-owner of Doulas on Bikes in Toronto since 2014. She has taught hundreds of parents and birth workers skills and strategies for navigating the birth process with confidence. Vera holds a degree from the University of Toronto and a diploma in Teaching Adults from George Brown College. She has presented at several conferences, workshops and is a frequent podcast guest. When not attending to labouring families, you can find Vera cycling through the streets of Toronto, advocating for a more compassionate and equitable birth culture.

Research Interest:

The landscape of midwifery care in Toronto Ontario, Canada, offers a compelling case study on the intersections of midwifery, medicalization, and patient satisfaction. Drawing on personal experience as a doula and a mother who has benefited from midwifery care, this submission offers a unique perspective on the evolution of midwifery care and its implications for the autonomy of pregnant people. Ontario's midwifery care was interrupted for 100 years, providing a paradigmatic example of the consequences of devaluing midwifery care. The re-introduction of registered midwives has expanded options for low-intervention birth, but challenges persist, including equitable remuneration and hospital practice constraints. The emergence of the term "medwives" highlights the prevalence of midwives practicing outside of holistic models.

This presentation will explore the implications of the medicalization of birth, including the erosion of traditional midwifery practice, and aims to contribute to the critical discussion about the role of midwives in shaping global health and the impact of medicalization on birth experiences.

The presenter will pose critical questions about the future of birth: How can we ensure that midwifery care prioritizes patient-centered, holistic care? Will more women turn to birthing outside of the system, with non-registered birth attendants? Would a revolutionized birth centre model, integrated with L&D wards and run by maternity nurses, offer a viable alternative to traditional midwifery care? What does labour and birth look like in a world where only Obstetricians deliver  babies?

This presentation will provide unique insights and strategies for supporting pregnant people in labour and birth, promoting optimal outcomes, and advocating for the need to preserve traditional and holistic midwifery practices.