Sivan Bar-Sever, RM, BMw (Bachelor of Midwifery)
It is a pleasure and privilege to introduce myself to the community as a member of the Birth Partnership Midwives.
I have always been passionate about women's health, particularly woman-centred care and self-empowerment through one's health, and my discovery of midwifery seemed to encapsulate all these core beliefs and philosophies.
I began answering my calling to midwifery in Montreal, Quebec where I trained, worked privately and volunteered as a birth doula. I was involved with a non-profit organisation which focussed primarily on providing services to marginalized and new immigrant populations. I was then fortunate enough to work as a midwives' assistant in a birth centre, as homebirth was not yet legal at the time in Quebec.
The University of British Columbias Midwifery Program opened in 2002, and I was part of the first two classes to be accepted. The Program is a four year bachelor degree, based out of the Department of Family Practice, Faculty of Medicine. Combining academic and experiential, apprenticeship-style learning, it includes a wide range of placements in rural and urban settings, with healthcare practitioners including midwives, obstetricians, nurses, pediatricians, and family doctors. I also participated in an international placement in Zambia at a rural hospital that served as a referral centre for a large surrounding area. It was extremely busy and a very insightful experience. I look forward to doing more international work in the future.
After caring for many mothers, babies and families through their birth experience, I finally had the opportunity to experience midwifery care firsthand with the birth of my son Eli in March of 2007. Becoming a mother has only strengthened my beliefs about the importance of an empowering birth. I look forward to being involved in your care and thank you for the opportunity.