As AI transforms health care, midwives find themselves at a crossroads:

Can technology support relational, culturally safe care, or will it deepen existing gaps?

In this thought-provoking episode of Strength in Practice, we explore how AI is already shaping perinatal care. We look at decision-making tools, fertility apps, algorithmic bias, and data privacy concerns. What does AI promise for maternal health? And what risks does it pose, particularly for marginalized communities?

We speak with Dr. Sandra Multiva PhD, a midwife and researcher whose work examines surveillance, consent, and how AI might either strengthen or undermine the future of midwife-led, culturally safe care.

Whether you are tech curious or tech cautious, this episode invites you to imagine a future where AI supports, not replaces, the heart of midwifery: relational care.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dr. Sandra Mutilva is the Program Manager for the International Midwifery Preregistration Bridging Program (IMPBP) at Toronto Metropolitan University. A registered midwife (Emeritus) with over 30 years of global experience, she holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership, an Executive MBA, and certifications in health leadership, risk management, and machine learning. Sandra has served as Chief of Midwifery at The Ottawa Hospital and co-founded Ottawa South Midwives. Her current work explores the ethical integration of Artificial Intelligence in reproductive health, with a focus on health equity, culturally safe care, and ensuring midwives are prepared for rapidly evolving digital health systems.

REFERENCES

• Related AI-driven efforts in obstetrics/labour prediction and other applications in healthcare (just the tip of the iceberg)
• Artificial Intelligence Models for Predicting Mode of Delivery, AlSaad et al., JOGOH, 2025
• Predicting Preterm Birth Using Machine Learning, Kloska et al., Scientific Reports, 2025
• Landmark Research from Maven Clinic on Virtual Doula Care
• Association Between Doula Use on a Digital Health Platform and Birth Outcomes, Karwa et al., Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2024

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We welcome feedback at CAMpodcast@canadianmidwives.org

Strength in Practice is produced by the Canadian Association of Midwives, in collaboration with Bespoke Podcasts.

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In this episode, neonatologist Dr. Arnaud Gagneur, midwife Andrea Houle, and parent Fiona Wong, who once hesitated to vaccinate, share their perspectives on one of the most sensitive conversations in perinatal care. Drawing from the PromoVac approach and real-life clinical experiences, we unpack the roots of vaccine hesitancy, from mistrust in healthcare systems to the influence of online disinformation, and explore how midwives can respond with empathy, compassion, and evidence.

You’ll walk away with practical tools to build trust, address concerns without confrontation, and support informed decision-making for healthier families and communities. Join us for an honest, authentic and often courageous discussion about the power of listening and being heard.

Dr. Arnaud Gagneur is a neonatologist and pediatric infectious disease specialist whose research focuses on vaccine acceptance. He developed the PromoVac strategy—an evidence-based approach using motivational interviewing to address vaccine hesitancy—which is now implemented across Quebec through the EMMIE program. Dr. Gagneur collaborates with global health agencies, including UNICEF, the CDC, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, to train health professionals in effective, empathetic vaccine communication.

Andrea Houle is a cisgender midwife of French and British settler descent, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and Chargée des affaires professionnelles at the Ordre des sages-femmes du Québec. She’s spent more than 16 years providing midwifery care in both urban and rural communities, and now focuses on regulation, professional standards, and quality of care in Quebec.

Fiona Wong is originally from Winnipeg Manitoba and now lives and works in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. She’s a mom of 3 young boys ages 7, 3 and 10 months. Fiona is a professional photographer and owns and operates Fnwngphotography.

• From vaccine hesitancy to vaccine motivation: a motivational interviewing based approach to vaccine counselling
• Impact of a vaccination promotion intervention using motivational interview techniques on long-term vaccine coverage: the PromoVac strategy
• Protection for you means protection for two
• "Motivational interviewing: a promising approach to reducing vaccine hesitancy"
• Motivational interviewing in maternity wards for immunization
• Motivational Interviewing: a promising approach to reducing vaccine hesitancy
• COVID vaccine and pregnancy

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In an age of social media scrolls and AI-generated content, false health claims are spreading faster than ever—and midwives are often on the front lines, navigating mistrust, fear, and disinformation in their day-to-day practice. In this episode, Professor Timothy Caulfield breaks down the roots of the global “infodemic,” exploring how misinformation moves, why it sticks, and what we can do to counter it without shame or conflict. We discuss the emotional power of memes and headlines, the rise of AI-generated medical claims, and how healthcare providers—including midwives—can support clients by building trust and encouraging critical reflection. From pre-bunking to positive messaging, you’ll leave with practical tools and a fresh perspective on how to respond when clients say, “I saw this thing online…”

About Our Guest:

Timothy Caulfield is a Professor in the Faculty of Law and the School of Public Health at the University of Alberta. He is a leading researcher and public communicator on health misinformation, with decades of experience in law, ethics, and public health. He is the author of several best-selling books, including The Cure for Everything and The Certainty Illusion, and a co-founder of the #ScienceUpFirst initiative. His work has been featured across international media, and he serves as an advisor to governments and public health agencies on evidence-based communication strategies.

References:

• Science Up First – Evidence-based content for countering misinformation
• The Certainty Illusion by Timothy Caulfield
• Understanding and Countering Health Misinformation (Caulfield et al.)
• WHO: Immunizing the public against misinformation
• What is Prebunking? (Google Jigsaw & University of Cambridge research)
• People being unable to tell the difference between AI and real
• Gordon Penny Cook at Cornell and David Rand at MIT chat bots
• Research on the power of talking about the body of evidence
• Outrage and grievance fuels the algorithms
• Research debunking the backfire effect

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