Q - Are you a Registered Midwife (RM) and is your care covered by the Medical Services Plan of BC?

A - In 1998 British Columbia regulated the profession of midwifery and I declined to join the College of Midwives. This means that I am not permitted to call myself a ‘Midwife’ and BC Medical will not cover my fees. However, it does mean that with me you will be getting the birth experience that YOU want and not the one that is within the bounds of the Province of BC.

Q - Why are you choosing not to register with the BC College of Midwives?

A - I do not agree with the policies of the College of Midwives, which include inducing healthy women after a certain length of pregnancy, administering unnecessary medications to healthy babies, and recommending that women who have a history of cesarean birth give birth in hospital. 

Q- What are the advantages of hiring a Traditional Birth Attendant as opposed to a Registered Midwife (RM)?

A- Continuity of care: most midwifery clinics have multiple practitioners. This means that there is no guarantee you will have the RM at your birth with whom you have received the majority of your care or have the most trusted connection. This is never the case with me. I am your primary caregiver and I am present for every birth.

Greater control: with no hospital ‘policies’ or RM ‘legalities’ to limit your choices, you have ultimate control over all decision making. I am here to guide you and provide evidence-based research so that you make informed decisions. You have the final say in your care including which tests, scans, procedures etc that you choose for you and your baby, if any.

More opportunity for home birth: women in BC are increasingly being refused care at their home birth because RM legislation prohibits them from attending a woman at home who is deemed ‘high risk’. These laws leave little room to take into account a more holistic picture of a situation ie. given the unnecessarily high rate of cesarean section in BC (over 30%!) not every woman who has had a previous cesarean should be considered ‘high risk’.

More quality of care: unlike RMs, I am not obligated to take on a heavy case-load and therefore can offer more quality of care and time with my clients.