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This article was published 4/1/2015 (2084 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Theresa Oswald promised to add another 20 midwives and set up a breast-milk bank for mothers, if she wins the NDP leadership in March.

"Our government has, without a doubt, made real progress in women's health. We have lots to be proud of whether it's hiring midwives, opening a birth centre in its own right and committing and building a new women's hospital... I also know clearly there is more work to do," Oswald told media Sunday.

"I know there are many women who cannot find a midwife. That is why as leader and premier I would ensure there is funding in place to hire 20 more midwives over the next two years," Oswald said.

The campaign announcement was held in the private home of one of the city's advocates for midwives.

Oswald was flanked at the announcement by the vice-president of the Midwifery Association of Manitoba, Tracey Novoselnik and by a mother and her six-month-old son born last summer at the city's birthing centre.

Little Liam Findlater stared wide-eyed in his mother's arms and didn't utter a single peep, appearing to be entirely at home facing a throng of clicking cameras and reporters lobbing questions after the announcement.

Katie Findlater said she felt more at home having Liam delivered at the birthing centre under a midwife's care than in a hospital with a doctor.

Oswald's maternal health plank, to add 20 more midwives over two years, would cost the health-care system $1.5 million. The leadership convention is in March.