Lac Saint-Louis Birthing Center

By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

The Lac-Saint-Louis Birthing Center in Pointe-Claire has marked a significant milestone, recently celebrating 30 years of pioneering midwife care in Quebec. The centre, among the first to open in the province, has been a cornerstone of maternal care in both Pointe-Claire and Côte-des-Neiges, serving as the leader for natural childbirth and women-centered healthcare.

The anniversary celebration drew dozens of attendees, including distinguished guests from the healthcare community. Notable attendees included Chantal Vincelette, Assistant Director of Birth Continuum from CIUSSS-ODIM; Helene Daniel, President of the West Island CMDP and administrator; and Amaili Jetté, President of the Regroupement des Sages-Femmes du Québec (RSFQ).

Attendees toasted the three decades of achievement. Former clients, retired midwives, and current practitioners toured the facility, sharing memories and celebrating the centre’s legacy. Among the current team, Trista Leggett serves as the first responsible midwife, following in the footsteps of Michèle Champagne, who held this role in the centre’s early days.

The Pointe-Claire Birthing Centre’s history reflects the broader story of midwifery in Quebec. Starting as an unregulated pilot project, it helped forge the path for regulated midwifery in the province. The centre’s success during its initial four-year trial period was instrumental in expanding services to include home births and establishing midwifery as a recognized profession in Quebec’s healthcare system.

“Our focus has always been on providing quality care and informed choice, empowering women to give birth in ways that feel right for them. While we’ve seen many changes over the years, our commitment to providing exceptional care to our clients remains unwavering,” Catherine Mason, a midwife at the centre, reflecting on its mission, told The Suburban.

The centre’s approach emphasizes natural childbirth while ensuring safety and professional care. “We work in collaboration with our local hospitals to facilitate consultations and transfers when necessary. We only provide care to clients with low-risk pregnancies,” Mason explains. This model of care has proven highly successful, with research showing that women with low-risk pregnancies who give birth with regulated midwives outside of hospitals often experience better outcomes than those in traditional hospital settings.

The centre stands as a testament to the evolution of midwifery in Quebec. Since 1999, when midwifery became officially integrated into Quebec’s subsidized health system, the profession has been strengthened by formal education requirements, including a bachelor’s degree specializing in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. This integration came after years of dedicated work proving the safety and efficacy of midwifery care.

The midwifery model at Pointe-Claire emphasizes continuity of care and informed choice, allowing women to choose between giving birth at home, at the birthing centre, or in the hospital. This approach has led to exceptional outcomes, cost efficiency, and high satisfaction rates among both clients and professionals.

Today, the Pointe-Claire Birthing Centre continues its tradition of offering personalized, woman-centred care, maintaining its position as a pioneer in Quebec’s birthing services. The 30th anniversary celebration not only marked three decades of service but also highlighted the ongoing commitment to providing empowering birth experiences for future generations, while preserving the fundamental principles that have made midwifery such a vital part of Quebec’s healthcare landscape. n