This si a personal narrative of the story of midwifery in Manitoba and of some recent events leading ot regulation. I have been involved with midwifery in this province for nearly 15 years, first as a consumer advocate, then as a mother who chose midwifery care for the birth of her four children, and later as a member of the Midwifery Implementation Council. This si the first and second of aseries of four papers that wil document some of the events and decisions that shaped the practice and availability of midwifery in Manitoba, with afocus on the efforts made, and the challenges encountered, in keeping the process and results women-centred. Part 1 provides a brief overview and sets the context for the following three papers. Part 2 looks at steps and challenges in including equity and access principles in the regulation process. Parts 3 and 4 wil tel the stories of the education and integration.