SARAH HILBERT-WEST

Hello, my name is Sarah Hilbert-West and I am a
member of the UBC Midwifery Class of 2010. 

First and foremost, I am a mother of three:  Jacob
is 10, Hannah is 6 and Isaac is 3.  My partner, John,
is currently a full-time stay-at-home dad/student,
while I am at school.  My family is living in my home
town of Quesnel, BC, in our family home, while I
attend UBC and am on clinical placements

I came to birth and midwifery through the journey of birthing my own children.  After Jacob’s birth in Victoria in 1998, I took the Douglas College Doula training, Childbirth Educator Training and Breastfeeding Counsellor Certificate training.  As well, I spent nine years working as a political staff person at the parliament buildings in Victoria.  I left that position at the end of 2002, and returned to Quesnel for the birth of my daughter, Hannah.

After returning to Quesnel, I spent lots of time mothering and also worked as a Parenting Educator at the Aboriginal Family Centre and as a prenatal educator for the Northern Health Authority.  I co-facilitated a support-group and offered phone support for moms with post-partum depression.  As well, I served as the chair of the Hospital’s Perinatal Committee.  After the birth of Isaac, I applied for and was accepted to the UBC Midwifery program. 

My Midwifery 205 placement was spent with Pacific Midwifery in Vancouver with Midwives Elizabeth Ryan, Patti Thompson and Carolyn Saunders.  My Midwifery 300 and 315 Placements were with Northern Midwifery Care in Prince George with Midwives Jane Hedges, Judy De Freitas and Elizabeth Andrew. Over the summer of 2009, I went to Uganda, Africa, as part of my Midwifery 305 interprofessional placements.  I worked in a large hospital in Kampala and in a smaller, rural hospital in Masaka.  It was an amazing experience.

My goal is to practice in Quesnel in what will initially be a solo practice to offer midwifery care as an option for the women of my rural community.  I also have an interest in Aboriginal Midwifery, as my family has connections to the local aboriginal community and I am a member, through my mother, of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma.

I look forward to meeting you and supporting you through your journey through pregnancy and into parenthood.