Andrea Brett, RM

After the birth of my son, Sebastian, in 1992, I became inspired to pursue a midwifery career. Prior to my midwifery education I served on the board of the Midwifery Task Force, a consumer based group working to legalize midwifery. In 1996, I began a three-year direct entry midwifery program at the Seattle Midwifery School, which I completed in 1999. My training included clinical internships in San Francisco, St. Lucia and Vancouver, in both home and hospital settings. I opened my midwifery practice at The Midwifery Group clinic in January of 2000 and have since become a clinical instructor for the UBC midwifery program. In June 2004 I gave birth to my daughter and second child, Avery.

I have thoroughly enjoyed caring for our many diverse clients and their families in a community-based practice. When I think back over my years of providing midwifery care I am continually delighted by how unique each woman, each family, each labour, each birth, and each precious newborn baby is. I feel that my role as a midwife is to provide education, information and guidance. One of the things I cherish most about midwifery is the satisfaction of establishing a relationship with my clients based on trust and seeing the woman and her partner as the primary decision makers in their care. I look forward to assisting you and your partner through the incredible journey toward parenthood.

"Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, for all that you have done in providing us with the most incredible experience of our lives. Throughout my labour you were my strength. I felt your support. Not only did you perform your job with competence, but with an amazing amount of care and compassion that has touched us deeply." - WJ

Julia Allen, RM

As a teenager, I began to realize there was something different about me when I noticed that while my friends were interested in the birth control chapters of our health textbooks, I was more interested in the chapters about pregnancy and childbirth. Over time, the call of midwifery got stronger and by my twenties, I had developed a habit of reading midwifery textbooks. I was passionate about examples of women taking charge of their own health, and loved the ways I saw midwives empowering women to find and listen to their own internal authority. The trouble was, I didn't think midwives existed anymore, particularly not in the quiet prairie city of Winnipeg that was my home. Midwifery seemed simultaneously foreign and ancient, and it didn't even occur to me that a midwife was something that I could be.

Eventually, I was asked to think about my calling versus my career, and in that moment all my years of reading finally made sense. I knew instantly that I was going to be a midwife. Sure enough, I soon met a woman who was studying to be a midwife, and she introduced me to the vibrant world of midwifery in Manitoba in the late 1990s. I was midway through a degree to become a family therapist at the time, so I did the only obvious thing and dropped out of school and became a doula.

I attended my first birth in 1999. It was long, hard, wild, and wonderful, and I was hooked! I went back to school and earned an Honours Degree in Women's Studies at the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my thesis on women's experiences of obstetrical care, winning the Gold Medal in my program. I worked actively as a doula and Birthing From Within childbirth educator through the cooperative I founded with three other doulas, called Birth Roots Doula Collective. I also worked as a sexual health educator and birth control counsellor at two community health clinics in Winnipeg.

After spending four years immersed in the emotional, political, and sociological aspects of women's health, I decided it was time to take the final leap into the clinical realm, so I moved to Vancouver to formally study midwifery at UBC. In the course of my studies, I attended hundreds of births in Vancouver, New Westminster, Salt Spring Island, San Luis Potosi (Mexico), and in my hometown of Winnipeg. I earned my Bachelor of Midwifery degree from UBC in 2006, and was thrilled to start off my career by catching a classmate's first baby a few weeks after classes ended.

My practice as a midwife is centered on the same beliefs that brought me to this work in the beginning: that the woman and her family are central participants in the care and decision-making; that pregnancy and childbirth are some of the female body's normal and healthy expressions; and that midwifery care should be available to all women regardless of sexual orientation, age, race, class, or ability. I feel honoured to practice this ancient art of birthing babies, mothers and families.

Candace Plohman, RM

As a child growing up in rural Manitoba, I always possessed a strong interest in pregnancy and birth (mostly as it related to cats!). As I got older, I first believed that my intention was to pursue medicine and enter into the field of obstetrics. While attending the University of Winnipeg where I completed a 4-year Bachelor of Sciences degree in Biology and French Studies, I began volunteering as a support person in the Women’s Day Surgery ward at the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg. This is where I was first exposed to my interest in and the importance of support and non-judgmental care for women in a health care setting. My passion for woman and choice-centered care then continued to grow when I became an unplanned pregnancy and birth control counselor at the Winnipeg Women’s Health Clinic. This is also where I met a midwife for the first time, and decided to indefinitely change my career goals!

I completed the UBC Midwifery program in 2007 and have since practiced as a midwife in Campbell River and Vancouver. During my studies at UBC I was fortunate to have worked with midwives, obstetricians and nurses in communities in Kamloops, Victoria and Vancouver, in addition to a 2-month term in rural Zambia, in southern Africa, where I lived and worked with local midwives.

I am excited and honoured to be working with your families in the Vancouver area!

Sarah Swartz, RM

My path to midwifery began many years ago when I was invited to attend a midwifery appointment of a friend. We heard the baby's heartbeat right away and though she took it in stride, I was moved to tears! I am very privileged to have a career where I am able to bear witness to many of those moments in other people's lives, as well as help women become further empowered through care and knowledge.

Prior to becoming a midwife, I completed my first degree with specialization in life sciences and was later involved in research at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, working with moms and new babies and studying aspects of pregnancy and early infant development. I obtained my midwifery degree from UBC, where my training took me to both rural and urban communities around British Columbia, as well as in international settings.

Originally from Ontario, I grew up in the big city of Toronto, as well as in the country just south of Ottawa. Midwifery and the beautiful landscape brought me to BC. Though I am a country girl at heart, I am happy and excited to be a part of the wonderful and unique city of Vancouver. I enjoy exploring and playing outside any chance that I am given!

Ruth Comfort, RM

It is an honour to be a midwife. I believe that fundamental to this honour is trust, compassion, knowledge and a sense of humour; pregnancy and childbirth are life changing. I feel it my responsibility to facilitate the process of birth in a positive, safe and empowering way. I take a holistic and down-to-earth approach to every element of the childbearing, and feel privileged to attend women as they experience the power and intimacy of pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood.

This philosophy, combined with a profound love of babies and a strong commitment to women's health, is ultimately what drew me to midwifery. I completed my bachelor's degree in midwifery at UBC, during which time I worked in various midwifery and maternity clinics in British Columbia and a public hospital in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. I became a registered midwife in 2006

One month following the completion of my formal education, I gave birth to my son Louis, aka my little thesis! This re-affirmed my belief in the power and ability of the human body and in birth as a transformative and empowering experience. I love being a mother, and it is my hope that every mother will have the opportunity to have positive birthing and parenting experiences.

I have worked in tandem and solo practice in Prince George, BC since January 2007. In September 2008 I will return to Vancouver to join The Midwifery Group. I look forward to meeting you!

I am extremely grateful for the wonderful, positive experience you gave us. Your knowledge is truly amazing. When I was ready to give up you pulled me through and for that thank you doesn’t seem like enough. We are eternally grateful. – Michelle, Jamie and Mischa (2008)

Wow- how do we begin to thank you for all the wonderful care and attention you’ve given all of us over the last several months? Trevor and I are so very grateful to you. You did an amazing job and your calm professionalism helped me do my best, also. I’m so please things turned out as they did- even though we didn’t quite stick to our plan! Thank you for everything. – Peggy, Trevor and Gabrielle (2008)

Kate, Jim and I are very grateful to you- your knowledge, support and care made our first baby experience just that much more memorable and happy. We will miss your visits and wisdom! Your patients are in very good hands. - Jane, Jim and Kate (2008)

Annie Marsh, RN RM BA

I trained as a nurse in Sydney Australia in 1978 and decided to do midwifery after having my two sons who are now 16 and 20 years old. I have been working as a registered midwife in Australia since 2001 and feel very comfortable working in all areas of midwifery practice. I have studied law, political science and sociology at university. I moved to Vancouver in December 2005 and have been working as an obstetric nurse in labour and delivery at BC Women's Hospital while going through the process of registering as a midwife here.