JoanMargaret (JM) Crossman RN, IBCLC, BScM, CPM, RM
When I was a young girl, I was drawn to caring for women and their babies; it was this calling that led me to pursue a career in nursing. My husband Bill and I moved in 1979 to Northern B.C. where I worked on a maternity ward. While being there with midwives from a variety of countries, I realized that midwifery was actually the perfect description of what I wanted to do. There were no midwifery programs in Canada so I considered traveling to Britain to study but decided to put my desire to become a midwife on hold and gain some personal experience first.
The most fulfilling experience of my life has been becoming a mother - our sons Richard and Douglas were born in 1981 and their sister Roberta was born in 1985. Raising them has been an amazing experience; they are insightful adults with diverse interests and I still love spending time with them. I'm very grateful they chose me as their mother.
When they were young and I was home-schooling, I maintained involvement in the birth scene by teaching prenatal classes, attending the births of friends, being an active member of ASAC and eventually becoming a Doula and Lactation Consultant. As my children became more independent, I returned to nursing in small rural hospitals, in community health, in home care, and as a lactation consultant.
When my daughter entered university in 2002, I enrolled in the Midwives College of Utah. During my midwifery training, I had the privilege of working with Joanna Greenhalgh and Noreen Walker in their private practices as well as at the Shared Care Midwifery Program in Stony Plain, AB. I completed my midwifery program in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science in Midwifery, and became a Registered Midwife in Alberta in 2005. I began working then as a midwife at Stony Plain while continuing my own private practice as well. In 2006, my husband's work brought us to Calgary. Since moving here I have had the honour of meeting many wonderful birthing women, and I look forward to meeting many more!
When I'm not caring for moms and babes I enjoy hiking, biking and generally being in the mountains or staying at home to create herbal remedies. I love to travel internationally and volunteering in developing countries has become an important and fulfilling experience for me. I've learned to help in whatever capacity is needed - sometimes this involves midwifery, sometimes nursing, sometimes running errands.
I believe the most significant thing I can do for humanity is to help women to have a satisfying birth experience. Being with women confirms for me the calling I had when I was a young girl. I love what I do.