Government of Yukon provides updates on full-service midwifery care for Yukoners

The Government of Yukon is committed to supporting new parents and improving health outcomes for pregnant people, babies and families. Since full-service midwifery care resumed on February 12, 2024, the Yukon Midwifery Program has continued to demonstrate a passionate commitment to providing care in the Yukon, supporting 13 births.

In the Yukon, midwives are registered health care professionals, who specialize in providing maternity care for pregnant people and their babies. Full-service midwifery care includes comprehensive care through pregnancy, labour, birth and up to eight weeks post-partum. Registered midwives provide care in various settings depending on individual need, including at the Yukon Midwifery Clinic, Whitehorse General Hospital, in clients’ homes or virtually.

The team consists of three full-time registered midwives, a clinical manager, a medical office assistant and second birth attendants. As a publicly funded, fully integrated part of the Yukon’s health system, the program provides Yukoners with an additional option for safe, accessible and high-quality maternity care.

Each week the Yukon Midwifery Clinic offers a program called Infant Feeding Mondays. This program is facilitated by a registered midwife or registered nurse with training and experience in infant feeding. They can answer questions, provide advice and support to Yukoners who are currently pregnant or parents of infants up to 12 months of age.

In partnership with Solstice Maternity, the Yukon Midwifery Program offers free baby baskets containing essential supplies for newborns and parents. Each basket serves as a safe sleeping space for babies and includes a mattress and about 20 essential items, along with educational resources to help new parents navigate the early stages of parenthood. 

Yukoners who are approximately 28 weeks pregnant or have a baby under two months old can request a baby basket by getting a referral from any health care provider. More information is at yukon.ca/baby-basket-project.

The Government of Yukon will continue to work with local and national partners to ensure the Yukon Midwifery Program continues to offer the highest quality care for Yukoners.