Vera Berard
My name is Vera Berard. I am fortunate to love my work as a midwife. I am founder and owner of Midwifery Care North Shore. My colleagues and I feel privileged to be a part of the life process of growing, birthing and early parenting another human being and are committed to assisting each woman have a beautiful and empowering experience.
My journey with birth, childbearing women and their families began approximately 30 years ago when I completed my initial nursing and midwifery education in South Africa. I immigrated to Vancouver, Canada in 1982 where I worked as a nurse, childbirth educator, and a midwife at BC Women’s Hospital. I was also one of the founding midwives responsible for negotiating BC’s first midwifery contract and for establishing BC Women’s Midwifery Department. I am a strong advocate for women having informed choice during childbearing and for supporting the physiological processes of labor, birth and breastfeeding, including mother and baby-friendly initiatives.
I have been registered as a BC midwife since 1998 and during this time I have mentored a number of BC midwives that are now practicing independently at various locations on the North Shore and throughout the province. I have a Master’s of Midwifery Practice from Thames Valley University, London, UK and an assistant clinical professorship from the University of British Columbia’s Midwifery Education Program. I have been an active member of Lions Gate Hospital’s medical staff for over 19 years and an associate member of BC Women’s Hospital. For over a decade, I have participated in provincial and Vancouver Coastal Health women-centered and baby-friendly activities, including the North Shore annual breastfeeding celebration that promotes support for breastfeeding babies and mothers in the community.
I attribute my practice’s success to the women that we have been privileged to serve; my colleagues and office staff who have worked with me, as well as the collaborative support of Vancouver Coastal Health’s multi-disciplinary team (nurses, midwives, family doctors, counselors, lactation consultants and specialists) at Lions Gate Hospital and in the community; my own persevering, warm and enthusiastic nature and the loving support of my husband, daughter and our family dog. I also appreciate the compassionate example of sustainable living that Quayside Village Co-housing Community provides and I am pleased to share these values with women and their families.
In 2019, I am delighted that VCH LGH OB Department and Division Midwifery has demonstrated support of continuity of care for women and provider work-life integration by enabling a midwifery hospital privilege category that allows established midwifery services to work share and provide care within a team. This provision and the work flow support LGH Division members also provide to each other, ensures a women’s provider can be well rested and that women have 24/7 coverage for their care needs.
This change makes me happy, as my clients’ can now get to know their two midwives throughout pregnancy and be reassured that when they go into labour, the midwife on call will attend their birth. A team of two midwives also means that rescheduling of appointment days is likely to become a rare event. This support is an improvement in service and a reduced stress for clients, midwives and our office assistant.
Erika Mitchell
Vera is excited to welcome Erika back to MCNS and to work-share with her, as she starts her career as a registered midwife. Erika’s bio will be posted soon.
Liz Bodner
Hello my name is Liz Bodner. I look forward to meeting you and am honoured to be part of your journey with pregnancy, birth and parenting. As a new parent myself, I am keenly aware of the intensity and sweetness of this period of life. As a midwife, I aim to warmly and skillfully accompany families as they navigate the medical and social challenges of pregnancy and birth. I believe there is power in informed decision making and culturally informed care. Outside of my work, I enjoy all that the outdoors has to offer, especially hiking, biking and cross-country skiing. I take seriously and personally our generation’s responsibility to seek truth and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.
I have worked as a Registered Midwife in BC since 2016. I have worked primarily in New Westminster and have also worked as a locum in the remote community of Powell River, where I live. Prior to immigrating to Canada, I worked in a free-standing birth center in rural Texas, near the border with Mexico; our clients often had complex medical and social needs. I have also worked as a Nurse Practitioner in Bellingham, Washington, where I provided primary care, gynecology, family planning, gender confirming hormone therapy and other sexual health services. Prior to my work as a Nurse Practitioner and Midwife, I worked as an ICU and transplant nurse in Seattle for 5 years. I work well in a multidisciplinary team environment, given my background in bedside nursing. I speak Spanish.
Jazzmin Nagy
Jazzmin’s relationship with MCNS began almost 13 years ago when she was first pregnant, Vera and team were her midwives that assisted with the birth of her two sons. In 2015, Jazzmin became MCNS trusted part-time office assistant. She is now moving on… Vera found June 2020, to be a bitter, sweet month, as she first, appreciated Jazzmin Nagy for consistently providing MCNS administrative services, despite juggling her family and other work commitments. Then wished Jazzmin and family well, as they relocate to the interior of BC to establish a more rural way of life, enjoying our province’s wonderful back country. Jazzmin is intending to focus on growing her doula service and to continue to offer office support to midwifery practices in the area surrounding her new home. Vera is pleased to recommend Jazzmin Nagy and her services. They will be missed on the North Shore…
For the time being, Vera and her midwife colleagues will be undertaking MCNS frontline office and administrative work. MCNS will likely orientate a replacement office assistant in 2021.
In the meantime, we ask for clients patience and understanding, as we may sometimes be challenged to promptly return calls and email.
STUDENT CORNER
Christina New
MCNS is pleased to mention Christina New that joined our team from January 2020 until the end of February 2020 to undertake her 3rd year UBC midwifery degree clinical placement. Midwifery students bring enthusiasm, caring and current academic knowledge that is appreciated. We thank Christina for her contribution and wish her well as she continues her midwifery journey.