Honeycomb Midwives

---

I first became interested in midwifery during the mid-90s because of the positive experiences of a family friend. I was fascinated and started researching midwives. I came to believe that midwifery is the best way to provide care to pregnant women. About a year later I entered the Bachelor of Nursing program at the University of Alberta and graduated in 1998. I worked as an obstetrical nurse for nine years in Alberta and Arizona. While in Arizona, I witnessed midwives in a hospital environment for the first time. Their approach was woman-centred, non-interventive, gentle and safe. I completed my Master’s degree in Nurse-Midwifery in 2005. Since then I have been blessed to have had two children of my own, and have been practicing midwifery in Calgary in 2008.

Pronouns: she/ her   

  My midwifery journey began in 1996 when I had the pleasure of attending my first birth of a beautiful little girl. It was a life altering experience! I received my Midwifery Degree from Ryerson University in 2003 and had had the privilege of helping bring new life into the world in both Ontario and Calgary. I returned to Calgary in 2007 to be closer to my family and have the opportunity to watch my niece Aliya grow up. Midwifery makes my heart sing – it is an honour to help women and their families bring new life into the world. I am fortunate to work with a fantastic partner, and I look forward to meeting you on your journey. 

  My journey through Midwifery has been mixed with real-life experiences as a child, as a mother, a daughter and as a student and subsequently as a midwife. From my childhood, I had a passion for healthcare. Growing up in Zimbabwe, I was surrounded by strong, hardworking women who walked with a purposeful gait and birthed babies with the same fortitude, in a place where there were hospitals and clinics in urban areas, and midwives in rural places. My maternal grandmother was a rural midwife who took women into her own home for birth or travelled to them for not much more than gratitude and at times a bundle of vegetables. 

After a career in Corporate Communications and three children, I discovered my own journey towards midwifery and joined program at Mount Royal University. I graduated in 2022 and have now entered my New Registrant year as a midwife.

Midwifery to me represents passion. Passion for healthcare. Passion for pregnancy. Passion for women and families. I am excited to become part of an amazing community of women dedicated to improving pregnancy and childbirth in Alberta. I am excited about choices for women, knowledge and information regarding their bodies and their babies. I continue to meet more and more midwives as well as other women in careers surrounding midwifery, and the one thing they have in common is the smile on their faces – the joy of serving expectant families and being part of the birth of a child. Midwifery is more than a job and a career. 

 Meet Erin, a final-year midwifery student at Mount Royal University. With a passion for providing patient-centered care, Erin is dedicated to supporting families throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. As a born and raised Calgarian, Erin is looking forward to serving her community by working with populations who are LGBTQ2S+ and under-resourced individuals. In her spare time, Erin enjoys spending time outside with family and friends. With her final year of studies coming to a close, Erin is excited to begin her career as a midwife and make a positive impact on the lives of families in her community.

While attempting to find my place in the helping professions for over a decade, I discovered midwifery when my sister recommended midwifery care to me with my first pregnancy. The midwifery model of care aligned completely with my birth philosophies, but mostly what sealed the deal was that I could have my baby at home.

The care I received was absolutely second to none and since then I have had 2 beautiful children with the wisdom and guidance of midwives, including a successful vaginal breech delivery. The care I was provided by my midwives inspired me to become immersed in birth work. I became a birth doula in 2014 and was trained in placenta encapsulation. After supporting only a few births, I knew it wasn’t enough. I needed to become a midwife.

I graduated from the Bachelors of Midwifery program at Mount Royal University in 2019. My favourite thing about midwifery is that I get to form close connections with families and hold space for them in the precious moments on their journey through pregnancy, birth, and becoming parents. I revel in what a privilege it is to witness that journey. Every birth brings new learning and midwifery continues to teach me the importance of advocacy, empowerment, informed decision making, and woman-centred care.

 I have always been fascinated with pregnancy and childbirth but I never imagined that this fascination had the potential to turn into a career. My post-secondary journey began with a degree in business but it didn't take me long to realize that the business world wasn't for me. After working in marketing for a few years I decided to take some time off to start my own family and was blessed with three amazing kids. It was during this time that my passion for pregnancy and birth was reignited and I began to reevaluate my career options and pursue a degree in Midwifery. After graduating from the Midwifery program at Mount Royal University in my home city of Calgary, I spent a few years working in the Edmonton area but I always knew that Calgary was where my heart belonged. Not only do I get to work in the city that I love, but I get to return to Honeycomb, the clinic that I did my first placement at as a student.

When I'm not busy catching babies I enjoy taking part in outdoor activities including skiing, hiking and golfing, while evenings are reserved for Latin dancing, karaoke, or just relaxing at home with a good Netflix series. 

The road to parenthood is one of the most memorable times in a person's life and I feel truly honored for the opportunity to be part of your journey.

Prior to pursuing midwifery I studied and worked as a kinesiologist in the Okanagan, where I was continually amazed by the design and capability of our bodies. My passion for midwifery was ignited when I joined a research project promoting reproductive health in rural Ghana. The relationships and experiences I gained during that opportunity solidified my desire to care for families throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

During my midwifery training I had the privilege of working with skilled midwives, many of whom are here at the hive! They instilled in me passion for informed choice, evidence based practice, and person centered care. These elements are core to how I approach midwifery. My goal is for clients to be informed, respected in their choices, and feel well supported. 

Supporting families during such a transformative time is beyond a privilege. I am deeply grateful to the families that have allowed me to share in their journey, and am excited to welcome and walk with future families! 
Pronouns: she/ her   

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to work alongside and support birthing people in some capacity. I attended the University of Calgary and graduated with a science degree in 2018 with my primary focus being biology and chemistry. Near the end of my studies I came across this wonderful world of midwifery and was fortunate to begin my training at Mount Royal University shortly after. To me, midwifery extends far beyond a profession – it has shaped the way I take in the world and the way I want to be present in the lives of others. Inclusion, bodily autonomy, evidence-based care, informed choice, and consent are at the forefront of my approach to midwifery. I also recognize the privilege that encompasses an invitation into a birth space, and I feel profound gratitude to be able to develop collaborative and trusting relationships throughout each individual parenting journey.

 Most of my free time outside of midwifery is spent with my dog Charlie, but you can also usually find me drinking a coffee in the sunshine, enjoying a walk in the woods, or getting out to the mountains to camp as much as possible. Thank you for including me in your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. I look forward to getting to know and share so many incredible experiences with the birthing people and families of Honeycomb!