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 second Bachelors degree in Nursing (after I already had my BSc in Biology) 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 renowned American midwife in Bali, Indonesia while volunteering at a birthing clinic there. After that, I went to Toronto Metropolitan University (under its previous name) 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 Roberts Creek.

I also have 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 and infant feeding. I have taken numerous courses in the lactation field to enhance my skills, including tongue tie assessment, diagnosis and alternative treatments, a certification in Infant Craniosacral Therapy and evidence-based breast pump flange-fitting (based on the FITS flange guide) for proper breast pump use - having proper flanges can revolutionize a pumping journey. I am constantly digging into new topics as I find lactation support fascinating and compelling.

Lehe spiegelman, rm, msc

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