Tahereh Barmi, Registered Midwife

I trained as a midwife in Iran in 1996, and worked in a birth center for the following year, delivering many babies.  I then moved to Canada in 1998, and took part in the International Midwifery Pre-registration Program at Ryerson University for 1.5 years.  Graduating in Canada in December 2003.  As a part of this program, I also spent three months at a midwifery practice in Thunder Bay.  I received my Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 2006 from York University.  Previous to joining Cambridge Midwives I worked with St. Jacobs midwifery practice. I started working at Cambridge Midwives in November of 2005.

 

Melanie Lavers, Registered Midwife

I was born in Hamilton, Ontario, five minutes before my twin sister, Melicent.  I have lived in many parts of Ontario as well as Quebec.  My interest in midwifery started from an early age.  Because of my interest, the first birth I ever attended was that of my little sister, Cristelle, when I was twelve years old.  During high school I became a doula and participated in a midwifery co-op.  I began my midwifery studies in 2001 at Laurentian University through the Francophone stream.  During the program, I worked with the Hamilton Midwives, Midwives Grey Simcoe and Countryside Midwives in Milverton.  My community placements were done in Oakville and Pointe-Claire, Quebec.  I graduated in April 2005 with a BSc of Health Science in Midwifery (Cum Laude).  As midwifery is a universal profession, I traveled to Guatemala for five weeks after graduation in the summer of 2005 to experience childbirth in another culture.  I learned Spanish for two weeks in Antigua and proceeded to participate and teach in both home and hospital births.  I have a definite plan to travel back to Central America in the future.  In my spare time I like to learn languages (being fluent in French and having already learned German, and Spanish) and love to practice sign language.  I completed my New Registrant’s year with Midwives Grey-Simcoe, the largest rural practice in Ontario.  Having done deliveries at three hospitals and balancing clinic in three locations, I look forward to being back in my home town of Cambridge.

 

Diana Doe, Registered Midwife

I was born in Hamilton Ontario and grew up on the escarpment in Stoney Creek with my parents and older brother.  I have always had a deep interest in biology and an enthusiasm for social wellbeing and empowerment.  When I learned of midwifery during high school, I decided to pursue a co-op placement in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at McMaster to gain a better understanding of the professions surrounding pregnancy, birth and pediatrics.  After my placement had finished, I continued to work as a summer student in the NICU for the following two summers, during which, I learned a lot about midwifery care.  I felt the profession combined the things I was most passionate about and I couldn’t imagine a more fitting career than seeing women through their pregnancy, empowering them to take an active role in their health care, and being able to regularly witness the incredible process of birth.  Thus, I applied and was accepted into the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University.  Throughout my degree, I spent two of my midwifery placements in Hamilton with the Community Midwives of Hamilton, learning to practice to the full extent of our profession.  I then went on to spend a month with a labour and delivery nurse in McMaster’s labour and delivery unit, followed by a one-month placement with an obstetrician in Burlington. I was then fortunate enough to travel to Galashiel, Scotland, where I not only met my extended family, but spent a month in Melrose Hospital and in the community midwifery practices, learning in an environment where midwifery care was the norm for low-risk pregnancies.  I spent the last year of my degree with Cambridge Midwives and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Following graduation I was hired on with Cambridge Midwives and am ecstatic to be working in this community.  I am honoured to be a part of this challenging and rewarding profession and look forward to guiding you and your family through pregnancy, labour and birth, and the beginnings of parenthood.

 

Cathy Grant, Registered Midwife

I was born and raised in Etobicoke, Ontario, and have been interested in women’s and children’s health for as long as I can remember.  My post-secondary education began at McMaster University in Women’s Studies and Anthropology.  At the same time, I took a course at Mohawk College called Breastfeeding for Health Professionals.  I spent time in hospital breastfeeding clinics, including that of Dr. Jack Newman, where I learned a great deal about helping women learn to breastfeed, and problem-solving in the first days and weeks postpartum.
By becoming a Registered Massage Therapist, I began my pursuit of providing care for women and children, graduating from the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy in 1999. I took specialized training from Trimesters Massage Education for Pregnancy Massage, Labour Support and Infant Massage Education in order to focus my attention as a Massage Therapist on pregnant women, providing prenatal and postnatal massage, working as a doula, and teaching families about Infant Massage and the importance of touch in the developing newborn. When I became involved with a volunteer program in Etobicoke for pregnant and parenting teens called Welcome Baby, I was matched with a new teen mom and assisted her very closely with breastfeeding and parenting for the first year of her baby’s life. As my focus has always been working with healthy families, it was only natural that I train in Homeopathics for Pregnancy, Birth, and the Childbearing Year. I now incorporate this knowledge into my midwifery practice. I was accepted into the McMaster University Midwifery Education program in 2001.  I had clinical placements in Toronto, Hamilton, and Brantford.  Graduating in 2006, I began my New Registrant’s year with a small practice in Dunnville.  I am now very pleased to be part of the Cambridge Midwives team, continuing my passion of caring for healthy women, babies and families.

 

Stephanie Gingerich, Registered Midwife

I was born I grew up on a farm outside of Kitchener with my parents and three older sisters. Following high school I travelled to the Netherlands for a year on an exchange program. It was here that I was first exposed to midwifery as the norm for maternity care.   During my subsequent studies at the University of Waterloo I took many courses in women's health and sexuality, and my interest in women's health continued to grow. It was at this time that I also had the opportunity to experience the births of my sister's children with midwives. I couldn't believe the care that they received, and couldn't imagine a more fascinating career. After graduating from U of W in 2002, I traveled to China where I taught English to preschoolers for 2 years. During this time I tried to find everything I could about midwifery and my interest continued to grow.   I applied to the midwifery education program at Laurentian University in Sudbury and came home from China to begin my midwifery studies. The combined art and science of midwifery care continued to impress upon me the importance of a more balanced health care model for low risk healthy women. I was intrigued by the kind of profession that combined strong clinical competence with compassionate care and respect for the diversity of women's experiences. As a student I had the opportunity to do clinical placements with the Mennonite communities in Millerton and St. Jacobs, as well as obstetrical and nursing placements in K-W and London. I also did an elective placement at a women's sexual health clinic in Toronto where I was once again affirmed in the amazing work that midwives are doing in Ontario at bringing choice and respectful care to women's health and lives. 
I did my final clinical placement at Cambridge Midwives, and was honoured to have been hired on by the practice following graduation. I continue to love to travel and explore the world around us, as I did in the summer of 2008 when I traveled to Nepal and got an interesting view of maternity care in a developing country. I am so happy to be part of Cambridge Midwives and contributing to maternity care in this great community! 

 

Michele Juniper,

 Practice Administrator

             Michele Juniper is the practice administrator and will most likely be the first contact you have with our practice.  Michele graduated from the Health Office Operations program offered through Conestoga College in June of 2000 prior to joining our practice in August, 2000.

Tricia Gooding, Administrative Assistant

Tricia Gooding is Michele’s administrative assistant and works Mondays and Tuesdays in our clinic. Tricia graduated from the Executive Office Administration Program at Fanshwe college in London prior to joining our practice in September 2006.

 

I was born and grew up in Simcoe, Ontario.  After my last year of high school I was still unsure about what direction I would take career-wise so I decided to travel for a year.  It was during my travels that I met a well-known midwife in Tennessee who, though she literally had to explain to me what a midwife was, inspired me to become a midwife.  At this time, there was no recognized midwifery education available in Canada, so I began my studies joining a midwifery study group in Vancouver, BC and completed by doula training.  I was able to attend births in Vancouver apprenticing with a midwife, and started my own prenatal and postpartum doula service.  Years later, I returned to Ontario to apply to the Midwifery Education Programme at Laurentian University, in Sudbury, Ontario.  I was able to complete placements in Hamilton, Cambridge, and Niagara.  Upon graduation, I accepted a position with the Community Midwives of Hamilton and completed my New Registrant year.  In October 2009, I was extremely pleased to have the opportunity to join the Cambridge Midwives, and feel that I have truly found my new home.

Leigh Sheppard, Registered Midwife

I was born and raised in Fergus, Ontario.  With a strong passion for health and wellness, particularly in women’s health, I made the decision to pursue midwifery at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario. 
While attending Laurentian University I was presented with many opportunities to gain the experience I required working in various capacities throughout the province of Ontario.  Working in Guelph at Family Midwifery Care, and The Midwifery Group of Ottawa I was able to refine my skill set and begin my career as a midwife.
Returning to Sudbury, Ontario I continued to work in the field of health and wellness.  Working on the labour and delivery floor of the Sudbury General Hospital as well as with an Obstetrician and Gynecologist in the community I was able to continue my pursuit of becoming a midwife.  While expanding my knowledge in sexual and reproductive health I had the opportunity to work closely with the nurses at the Sudbury Health Unit in the Sexual Health Clinic.  This is where I developed my skills in counseling both men and women of all ages about their own sexual health and wellness.  During my final year of school I completed my final placement with Cambridge Midwives where I was an integral part of their day-to-day operation.  During this time I was able to hone the knowledge and experience required to work in this field.  Upon my graduation I continued to work with Cambridge Midwives as a registered midwife.  Cambridge Midwives provides you with the experience, knowledge, and comfort you will require throughout your entire pregnancy.  I look forward to meeting you and being apart of your Midwifery Experience.

Kylene Cawthra, Registered Midwife

Cambridge Midwives

Complete Pregnancy and Birth Care

The Midwives

Alison Lavery, Registered Midwife

I was born in Northern Ireland and lived and worked there, first as a Registered Nurse and then as a Registered Midwife until 1980 when my family and I immigrated to Canada. My husband, Gerry and our two sons, Stephen and Christopher, then 7 and 3 years old, moved to Thunder Bay. Ontario. We now have four children: Stephen, Christopher, David and Victoria. Initially, I worked as a Graduate Nurse in the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital in Thunder Bay, and then after achieving registration as a Registered Nurse in Ontario in August 1981, I was employed as an obstetrical nurse, on a full time basis, in the Maternity Unit of the Port Arthur General Hospital (now the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital). I became Nurse Manager of the Labour and Delivery Unit and the Family Birthing Centre in 1988. Midwifery was finally recognized as a profession in Ontario with the passing of the Regulated Health Professions Act in 1992. I then applied to enter the Prior Learning and Experience Assessment Program, of the College of Midwives of Ontario, which was being developed and became one of the first graduates of that program in November 1996. I became registered as a midwife in Ontario in January 1997. During my first year as a registered midwife I worked with midwives and clients in the Thunder Bay area. In January 1998, we moved to Waterloo Region and I have been practicing midwifery in the Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge area providing Midwifery care to clients and their families in accordance with the philosophy, standards and regulations of the College of Midwives of Ontario since then.
There has been a steady increase in client demand for midwifery care. In response to this, in January 2000 my colleague, Lisa Morgan and I opened an independent midwifery practice, Cambridge Midwives, with the support of our Transfer Payment Agency, Lang’s Farm Village Association, as well as the other midwifery practices in the region. All the midwives have privileges to practice midwifery at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

 

Lisa Morgan, Registered Midwife

I was born in Oshawa, Ontario and lived in the area until 1987 when I left to attend my first year of college as an exchange student in France. I returned from France to join the Canadian Air Force and attend university at Royal Roads Military  College in Victoria, B.C.  After one year of studies, I left the Air Force and completed a Bachelor of Science, Food Science at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.  I continued to fly during the school year for the local air cadets and during the summer, at a fly-in fishing camp in the Yukon.  I married and had two children, Kyra and Lia, prior to finishing my degree and moving to Manitoba. I returned to Ontario after a short stint of horticultural work in the Costa Rica rainforest, where my mother-in-law resides.  I worked in food design and quality control for several companies while attending night school at Humber College to get my Childbirth Educator's certificate.  Upon completion, I ended my daily Toronto commute, to start my own business based out of Erin, Ontario, called Family Choice Birth Services.  I offered prenatal classes, labour support and postpartum doula services in the surrounding areas.  I trained in reflexology, aromatherapy and herbolism, which evolved into Yemaya Holistic Products.  I formulated herbal products for Moms and babies. I was accepted into the Midwifery Education Programme at McMaster University in 1996.  My clinical placements included St. Jacob's Family Birthing Home Midwives, Headwaters Hospital in Orangeville, the office of Dr. Grace Morrison in Guelph, an OB/GYN clinic in Jackson, Wyoming, and Guelph Midwives.  I graduated in 1999 and am fortunate to be working with Alison Lavery as one of the "Cambridge Midwives".  I have privileges to practice Midwifery at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.

 

To contact us:

Phone: 519-624-9708

Fax: 519-624-1493

E-mail: cmidwives@bellnet.ca

Elleana Hoekstra, Registered Midwife

I grew up in the small town of Coldwater, Ontario where I first became interested in midwifery when I witnessed the birth of my brother at home with midwives at the age of nine.  At the time I was homeschooled along with my two other brothers and my sister which meant that I was very involved in all aspects of the midwifery care my mother received during her pregnancy.  This included me coming to all prenatal visits, asking a million questions and of course “helping” the midwife whenever she would let me.  My excitement for the process of pregnancy and birth never wavered after that experience and I entered the midwifery education program at Laurentian University in September, 2004.

During the midwifery education program I was exposed to many different learning opportunities and environments which have shaped my passion and love for this profession.  I did clinical placements in Barrie, Toronto, and Ottawa as well as my final year in Guelph with the Guelph Midwives.  I was also able to travel to Tanzania, Africa for my six week elective placement where I participated in the process of labour and birth in a drastically different culture.  My experience in Tanzania impressed on me the reality of the inequalities faced by women of every culture today.  This experience has allowed me to be filled with a sense of purpose that is driven by the thought that women are entitled to take an active role in their experiences of pregnancy, labour and birth.   My love for midwifery has evolved from being not only a childhood pursuit but a calling to want to care for women and their babies throughout this magical time in their lives.

I am very excited to be joining Cambridge Midwives and working within this growing community.  With privileges at Cambridge Memorial Hospital, I look forward to caring for you and your family during your experience of pregnancy and birth!