Vera Berard
Registered Midwife

The power of birth and women's resilience always amazes me. Providing comprehensive maternity care to women and their families from early pregnancy, through labour and birth, early parenting until 6 weeks postpartum is a privilege I find tremendously rewarding.

I completed my initial midwifery and nursing education in South Africa in 1981. As a board member of the MABC (1995-1998), I was actively involved with the creation of the first publicly funded midwifery services contract. Since that time I have remained involved in developing BC's midwifery profession. Currently, I am completing a Master's degree in Midwifery Practice from Thames Valley University, London UK.

My present interest is in finding ways that empower women to create a community that helps them parent, and at the same time increases access to midwifery services. An approach that shows the most promise is 'Centering Pregnancy and Parenting' model of group care www.centeringpregnancy.com . In 2006, I implemented the first BC community midwifery-led group care. (More details are available by viewing information slide show attached to my practice website www.midwiferycare.ca

My practice, Midwifery Care North Shore, provides continuity of care and informed choice during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. In addition to homebirth services I have hospital privileges at Lions Gate Hospital. I view pregnancy and birth as normal states for healthy women. I promote normal birth without unnecessary or routine intervention. Sometimes, however, intervention is necessary.

Since 1998, the practice has provided services to over 350 women and their families. About 75% of women birthed in the hospital, the remaining 25% at home. Eighty-one percent of my clients experienced spontaneous unassisted vaginal birth.

Over the years, a variety of midwives have worked in Midwifery Care North Shore and will continue to have the opportunity do so. Also, the practice is a teaching practice committed to midwifery education and the promotion of women-centered health care. Midwifery students help to preserve some aspects of the traditional apprenticeship learning model. They are closely supervised by midwives, who are University of BC approved clinical instructors. While a client's right is respected to decline student involvement in any aspect of care either before or after meeting a student, clients are encouraged to participate in the vital process of preparing new practitioners to serve more of British Columbia's women. Clients benefit from the combination of experience enhanced by the freshness, energy and enthusiasm of students. Midwives continuing education is also boosted by students' recent academic exposure.

Adrienne Chow
Registered Midwife

Thank you for your interest and for reading a little bit about me…

I first became interested in midwifery while traveling to Togo, West Africa and witnessing my first birth. During my 3 month stay, I discovered the value of women's work and women's shared responsibility for the health and wellness of the larger community. After my nursing training, I entered the Nurse-Midwifery program at the University of Michigan, which I completed in 2004 with a Master's of Science degree.

Since October 2006, I have been a Registered Midwife in BC serving women in Richmond, Vancouver, and North Vancouver. I completed training as a Centering Pregnancy Group facilitator in 2004. I have been working in Midwifery Care North Shore from October 2007 and my fascination and experience with group facilitation has increased. It has also been my privilege to attend many homebirths on the North Shore. Furthermore, I have enjoyed working with Lions Gate Hospital nurses and doctors when I've provided services to MCNS clients who have chosen to have their babies in hospital. It is my intention to remain practicing full-time in Midwifery Care North Shore when Vera has completed her dissertation and to further develop my association with Vera and Susie.

Continuous learning is a passion and my most recent interests include (1) how positive thinking, self-talk and guided imagery can influence a woman's birthing and breastfeeding experience, and (2) compassionate communication for building communities. An old African saying that has been popularized in the media is "It takes a village to raise a child". As I offer my gifts to you and your family, I believe that everyone has gifts to share as they build their families and their village.

I look forward to meeting with you and join you in creating and building your village

Susie Schulz
Registered Midwife

My interest in midwifery began in high school and soon I was serving birthing women and their families as a childbirth educator and doula. I pursued advanced midwifery education through clinical and academic study in Canada and the United States, including apprenticeship with home birth midwives, supervised hospital practice and internships in a high volume birth center.

I have been working as a midwife since 1992 and it is an honor to continue to offer my knowledge and experience to local childbearing families. I endeavor to provide evidence based care with a flexible, holistic philosophy to support and empower my clients. Together we aim to create your best pregnancy, birth and early parenting experience.

As a co-founder of Commercial Drive Midwives I have enjoyed serving Vancouver clients in their homes, BC Women’s Hospital and St Paul’s Hospital. Since the birth of my daughter Maya I look forward to providing services to women in my own community of the North Shore.

Parenting, like midwifery, asks for an open mind, open heart and continuous learning. My four children, Noah (b.1990), Keira (b.1996) and Maya (b.2006) and Isaac (b.1993 d.1994) were all born with the loving assistance of midwives.

My goal is to provide safe, professional and personalized care to the women and families of this beautiful and diverse community. I look forward to meeting you!

From July, 2008, when my locum with MCNS is completed, I will be working full-time in my own practice “Mountainside Midwifery”, located in Edgemont Village. Vera, Adrienne and I will continue to provide midwifery back-up and relief services for each other’s clients and at the same time provide women with opportunities to meet the midwife and/or midwives who may provide care when we need assistance or when we are off-call.