Mary Malebranche – The Conversation

The system of ‘birth alerts’ across Canada perpetuates the removal of children from Indigenous families begun by residential schools. Pictured here: a historical report on residential schools released by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

October 1, 2019

British Columbia’s ban on ‘birth alerts:’ A guiding light on the road to reconciliation

Mary Malebranche, University of Calgary

To make meaningful progress on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action, all provinces and territories should promptly follow B.C. and ban discriminatory ‘birth alerts.’

When newborns stay with their opioid-dependent mothers in hospital, they experience improved mother-infant bonding, greater chances of breastfeeding, less severe symptoms, less medication and much shorter hospital stays. (Shuterstock)

April 23, 2019

Hospitals must adapt so infants can ‘room‑in’ with opioid‑dependent mothers

Mary Malebranche, University of Calgary

The evidence is clear that newborn babies do better when they ‘room-in’ with their opioid-dependent mothers. So why are hospitals across Canada so slow to provide this recognized standard of care?

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