About
Birte Paschen
My path to midwifery started in 1998 when I entered a 3 year midwifery program in Berlin, Germany, at a high volume women’s hospital. After my training I worked as an employed midwife in two large, high-risk maternity wards in Berlin, with up to 3500 births a year. When not working in the hospitals, I did post partum support in women’s homes.
A few years later I followed my Canadian husband to BC where I completed the ‘PLEA’ registration process (bridging program for foreign trained midwives) and became registered in BC in 2007. I have worked and locumed in a variety of places and models in BC: in Duncan, Revelstoke, Abbotsford, Kamloops and Vernon.
I opened Revelstoke's first Midwifery Clinic in 2009, Mountain Midwifery Revelstoke, and was a solo practitioner there for 8 years.
Our two children, Nika and Oscar, were born during that time. In 2016 our family made the move to Vernon.
One of my special interests and strengths is my breastfeeding support. As a new mother I struggled for the first month with breastfeeding, which made me aware of how hard it can be, and how alone a new mother can feel, without good, professional support. I have just started my training to become an IBCLC, international Board Certified Lactation Consultant. I am also a volunteer with ‘The Safe Motherhood Project’. With a very small group of healthcare providers I travel to Guatemala annually to train traditional birth attendants (midwives with no formal training) in birthing skills, risk assessment and emergency skills, in rural areas.
Since 2020 I am an NRP instructor (Neonatal Resuscitation Program) and on the MoreOB Core Team at VJH.
About
Julia Bailey
As a child and teen, I was fascinated and amazed by pregnancy and babies. That hasn’t changed. In high school I dreamed of becoming a family doctor; until I learned what a midwife was and never looked back!
I am a midwife because I believe in pregnant and birthing people’s right to safe, holistic and
compassionate care which respects choice in pregnancy, labour and postpartum. My favourite parts of my job are hearing people say, “I did it!” after giving birth, and supporting families in their own homes postpartum (with all their families, pets and “There’s a new baby here” messes).
I’ve been working in Vernon and Kelowna, BC for almost three years now. My training at UBC’s
Midwifery program took me all over the province, from Haida Gwaii to Vancouver, to Victoria, and to Uganda.
Before becoming a midwife, I worked as a Level 3 First Aid attendant, a seniors Care Aide, the
cherry harvest staff manager on a farm, and as a server. I attended the first year of UBCO’s Registered Nursing program while I was getting my prerequisites for midwifery school.
When I am not catching babies, I love travelling, knitting, yoga, making pottery and backcountry camping.
About
Vanessa Samur
Discovering midwifery came as a surprise to me back in 2010 while on a bike tour through rural communities in Oregon, Northern California, and later the Maritime provinces. My husband and I were traveling in search of farmland but also in the midst of exploring ideas of professions that would compliment our dream of a pastoral life. During the trip, I encountered many young families choosing to have unattended home births because they could not access midwifery care. With many hours on a bike to contemplate the possibilities, I came to the decision on a highway in California that midwifery was it and I've never looked back.
As a 2015 graduate of the UBC Midwifery Program, I've had the privilege of attending the births of many families in Vancouver, Vernon, Kelowna, and Uganda. I've spent the last seven years serving the families of Kelowna, BC. My husband, Jordan, and I are so excited to be moving to Vernon with our two boys, Levon and Auggie, both of whom were born with the help of Vernon midwives.
When not midwifing, there’s a pretty good chance I am indoors baking, outside exploring or listening to the elaborate tales of little boys.
In 1998 Midwifery was fully integrated into the BC Medical System. Since then pregnant women get to choose whether to receive care from a family doctor OR a registered midwife. No referral needed and with no additional cost as Midwifery is covered by your MSP/ BC Health Care Card.
As primary care providers to pregnant families in BC, your midwife can order any lab, screening and diagnostic tests - including blood work and ultrasounds. Midwives can also prescribe medications when necessary.
Midwives work collaboratively with other health care providers including your family doctor for issues not related to pregnancy and with other specialists such as obstetrician and paediatricians if you develop any complications.
BC Midwifery is an autonomous profession regulated for your safety by the BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)
Midwifery Care in BC is about choice. Women want the opportunity to be supported in experiencing the normal physiological process of birth under the guidance of someone they trust won’t interfere. They want protection of someone trained to recognize when intervention becomes necessary. At the heart of midwifery care is the respect and support provided to each client so that they may give birth safely, with power and dignity.
The research is clear - families who choose midwifery led care are less likely to have interventions and are more satisfied with their birth experiences.
At this time, BC has the highest number of births assisted by midwives across Canada.
Midwives recognize birth as a normal physiologic process with a profound impact on all aspects of a parent’s life. We know you are trusting us with one of the most important events of your life and therefore we provide a client-centred model of care assessing physical, social and emotional needs.
Midwives recognize their clients as the primary decision makers. We educate, support and advise providing evidence-based information to allow you to make informed choices about all aspects of your care - including tests, procedures and even choice of birth place.
Midwives recognize the importance of building relationship and continuity of care. Relationships are built through longer appointment times and only meeting a small number of midwives, who are committed to being present for you throughout your birthing year.
There is always a midwife directly available to the clients at all times to address urgent concerns.