I am proud to say I grew up in a European country where births attended by midwives was and still is a normal, safe and natural practice in helping women through the child birth experience. Here in my new home of Canada I am privileged to support and help women experience the most loving, intimate, and rewarding acts of love solely “childbirth”. I graduated in Croatia in 1980 and served as a Registered Nurse-Midwife in a busy urban maternity hospital in Zagreb. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree and completed one year of biomedicine before immigrating to Canada. I became a Registered Midwife with the College of Midwives of Ontario

in 2000 and was practicing in Hamilton and Oakville area, until I recently moved to Vancouver where I will continue my intense support for women seeking a more personal, intimate, positive, safe birth experience. I have been very fortunate to be a living part of the best possible maternity and newborn care in B.C., Canada and world wide.

While the practice is building, all midwifery visits during your pregnancy and six weeks after delivery are currently done in the comfort of your own home. The birth is attended either at hospital or home. The care to the clients outside the geographical catchment areas (West and North Vancouver) are modified by their commitment to come to the clinic for the visits.

In general, women are seen once a month until the 28th week, every two weeks from then to the 36th week, and weekly thereafter until labour begins. Appointments are lengthy and informative, giving you opportunity for informed decision making process. Six weeks after the birth, mother and baby are discharged back to their family physicians.

All women, regardless of socio-economic circumstances, have a right to accessible, comprehensive midwifery care and can self-refer themselves to the midwife. B.C. care card or B.C. Medical Service Plan covers the midwifery care.

Midwives respect the woman’s right to choose both her caregiver (family physician, obstetrician or midwife) and place of birth in accordance with the Standards of Practice of the College of Midwives of BC. The College has a list of medical and pregnancy/labour conditions that require consultation or transfer a care to obstetrician and/or pediatrician. While midwife remain in supportive role and resumes the care back after consult.