Team-based Midwives

Amanda MERCADO, rm, BScN, CPM, IBCLC

When people ask why I became a midwife, my answer is “it chose me”.

I was deeply impacted during a time in my life when I was doing some volunteer work with midwives in West Africa. From the moment I saw my first birth, I knew this was something I wanted to do in my life. I was passionate about women’s access to health care and safety during pregnancy and childbirth. I was (and still am) fascinated with the miracle of pregnancy and the incredible phenomenon of childbirth and beyond.

I took a long, interesting and winding path to get to where I am today. I went to UBC for my Bachelors degree in Nursing and worked as an RN (here on the Sunshine Coast) on and off while pursuing my midwifery path, and continued to volunteer internationally. I ended up apprenticing as a midwife in Bali, Indonesia while volunteering at a birthing clinic there. After that, I went to Ryerson University for the IMPP program which integrates foreign-trained midwives into the Canadian health care system.

Once I obtained my license in 2009, I practiced midwifery in rural Ontario for a year, in a community mostly serving Amish and Mennonite families. I then practiced in Vancouver for 8 years before returning to the Sunshine Coast as an uninvited guest on the lands of the Sechelt and Squamish Nations. What drew me back here was a love of nature, an appreciation for a slower pace which allows me to devote more time to families in my care, and the wonderful fellow care providers I get to work with here. My practice is based out of Sechelt. I recently obtained my license as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, so all families I work with have the added advantage of my extensive knowledge and support with lactation.

Lehe spiegelman, rm, msc

Bio coming soon - please check out her website www.suncoastmidwifery.com