Jane Wines
Registered Midwife

My interest in childbirth began with the birth of my first son in 1994. I trained with the National Childbirth Trust in the UK , Europe ’s largest childbirth and parenting charity, as a prenatal teacher. I also sat on hospital committees as a ‘lay’ representative, voicing both the positive and negative aspects of care for women using the services, and helping to influence change.

I very much enjoyed the relationships I had with expectant parents, and fulfilled my dream to become a midwife after the birth of my 3rd son.

I trained in the UK, earning a first class honours degree, and then worked in both the hospital and community settings, with families from varied backgrounds.

My husband and I decided to move to Canada in 2004, and whilst waiting to complete the rigorous registration requirements for midwifery in BC, I worked as a labour and delivery nurse at BC Women’s Hospital. Here I had valuable experience into the Canadian health care system, and gained insight into the options for women birthing in Vancouver.

I believe passionately in the concept of informed choice (also the slogan of the National Childbirth Trust) and believe women should be supported in making decisions that are right for them and their family. The growth of midwifery in BC will allow women a greater choice in their care and birthing options.

I have been building up a strong practice in South Delta and have enjoyed working with local families. I have privileges at Richmond , BC Women’s and St Pauls hospitals and also love homebirths. We have 3 sons, one born in hospital and 2 at home in water. All are enjoying the outdoors life and change of pace we now have in Tsawwassen!

I graduated from midwifery program at UBC in 2008. I was born in the former Soviet Union and I have been living in Richmond since 1998.

I love traveling and exploring new cultures. I am fluent in three languages: Russian, Hebrew and English.

Initially, it is the concept of working in the field of women’s health that really attracted me. However, as I started to learn about pregnancy and birth, my passion for the profession grew and developed. I discovered that I love getting to know women and their families. I love the relationship of respect, trust and partnership. I love attending births and feel privileged witnessing one of the miracles of life. However, one of my favourites is that I get to be a part of growth and transformation that women and their families undergo from the time they find out they are pregnant, to the time they welcome their new child into the world.

Thought-out the school years, I continued to incorporate my love for traveling with studies. UBC program helped me to learn about maternity issues in communities across BC as well as overseas. I was fortunate enough to spent time in East Kootnays and Northern Vancouver Island, where I learned of rural challenges in maternity care. There, I also was privileged to meet women in First Nations communities, as well as women recovering from substance abuse. I learnt about the challenges they face. These were eye opening experiences, as it was difficult to believe that women have to leave their families and communities to travel long distances to have their babies, or access other types of health care.

Last summer I spent 3 months in Africa, 8 weeks working in rural hospital in Zambia, and then traveling in the area. I worked along side of local midwives, and midwifery students. It was great to been able to share my knowledge as well as learn from them.

Although I enjoy learning, traveling and I hope to continue to do international work; I am looking forward to settling down and eventually creating my own family. I am thrilled and excited to join Jane and meeting you all, and I am looking forward working with, and learning from, you.