Soon-to-be-mothers will now have a choice about how they want to deliver their baby.

Full midwifery services are now available at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre.

Earlier this week, Debbie Mpofu joined the hospital’s maternal healthcare team.

Speaking to reporters, she says she’s already meeting with women interested in using a midwife.

“We need to review their prenatal medical history and then we need to determine what does she like to do – is she planning a hospital birth or a home birth.”

Many in the community have been trying to get midwifery services in Wood Buffalo for several years.

These specialists serve as the family’s physician when it comes to caring for them during the pregnancy and the following weeks after the baby is born.

Midwives can also deliver babies at the hospital or in a home setting.

Murray Crawford, Senior Operating Officer at NLRHC, adds the hospital is very excited that women finally have a choice in the community.

“Certainly the community is always looking for different options and different choices – not everyone wants to come to a hospital to have a baby.”

Alberta Health Services is also working on bringing more midwives to Wood Buffalo.

Meanwhile, Mpofu expects the first babies to be delivered will happen in April.

Women can now sign up online.

-With files from Steph Seidel