It's free - midwifery services are covered by BC Medical Services Plan.
It's your choice - we deliver in hospital or home.

We are a diverse group of Registered Midwives with a shared goal to provide you with care that is informative and empowering from conception to six weeks postpartum, including complete labour and birth care. Our vision is based on a dynamic, fun and woman-centered approach to pregnancy and beyond. Currently, we offer our services to women in Vancouver, Burnaby and the North Shore, with privileges held at BC Women's, St. Paul's and Burnaby Hospitals. At Pomegranate, we promote collaboration with a variety of other health care practitioners for optimal outcomes.

In this vibrant community, we feel privileged to provide our services to women of many different social and cultural backgrounds. Between us, we speak five languages and strive to bring midwifery care to women at large. We are joined by instructors, facilitators and other health care practitioners who share our vision for high standard maternity and newborn care.

click our pictures for our bios

 


Allison | Beth D


Lehe | Janice | Kat


Amy | Beth E | (Shannon)
     
PRENATAL CLASSES & MOTHERING CIRCLES
DANCING STAR BIRTH
BIRTHING FROM WITHIN Prenatal Classes
BIRTHING AGAIN Refresher Classes

MAMA RENEW
MOTHERS UNFOLDING Newborn Mother Circles
MAMA RENEW Experienced Mother Circles
SARAH JULIUSSON I feel deeply blessed by the opportunity to bring Birthing From Within Prenatal Classes & Mothers Unfolding Circles to Pomegranate Community Midwives. My practice is built on over fifteen years of experience with pregnant and birthing families, having served as a Childbirth Educator, Doula, and Maternity Nurse, and trained as a midwife. I am a Certified Birthing From Within Mentor, a Certified Doula, and have a Masters in Parent-Child Nursing. I am the mother of two beautiful boys—Galen, born in December 2001, and Zekiah, January 2004.
JENNIFER-LEE KOBLE Jennifer-Lee has been serving in birth and postpartum since 1999, and is a Birthing From Within Mentor, Breastfeeding Counsellor, and Doula. Jennifer-Lee is the mother of three children ~ her two girls, born in 1998 and 2003, and her stepson.   Learn more about Jennifer-Lee's doula care at www.thevancouverdoula.com
BREASTFEEDING CLASSES, LACTATION CONSULTING
more info
RENEE HEFTI-GRAHAM has been helping women and new parents for over two decades in her capacity as a Lactation Consultant. After teaching breastfeeding classes at BC Women’s Hospital for the past 7 years, Renee is now bringing her wealth of experience and knowledge to Pomegranate. Her two-hour breastfeeding is designed so that expectant parents can access practical, useful information about breastfeeding and newborn health. She is also available for private lactation consultant appointments, both prenatally and postpartum.
NUTRITION - preconception, prenatal, postpartum
VITALIS NUTRITION
Stephanie Hodges
BA, RYT, RHN
I am thrilled about the opportunity to bring nutrition education to Pomegranate Community Midwives.  Since my youth, I have always believed in the power of food to support health, build strong communities and families.  Today, through my nutrition practice, I empower my clients to embrace the goodness of whole foods, listen to intelligent rhythms of the body, cultivate a critical mind when it comes to modern foods and simply enjoy life – the best tool for good digestion.

I am a graduate of the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition and The University of Victoria. I am Registered Holistic Nutritionist, a Registered Yoga Teacher and co-founder of Vitalis Nutrition Designs.  I continue to study traditional knowledge, yogic philosophy, dance, alternative medicine and nutrition science, all of which infuse my approach to healing and living yoga.
YOGA - prenatal & postpartum
LYNETTE STOCKNER-HILL Pregnancy is a time of amazing transformation and prenatal yoga is a fantastic place to nurture your changing body and growing baby. Gentle stretching, strengthening poses, and breathing exercises will increase your confidence for birth and provide helpful insights for how to become as comfortable as possible in your pregnancy. Beginners welcome. Suitable for all stages of pregnancy. Mats provided.
Lynette is a certified Prenatal Yoga teacher, and is also a certified Hath Yoga and Power Yoga teacher. She ahs been practicing yoga for over a decade and has taught at Innter Sanctum in East Vancouver and also does private classes. She is the joyful mother of her 17-month old son, Felix, and 2-year-old dog, Kaya. Her current meditation - yoga is a flexible mind.
SIBLING PREPARATION CLASSES
SARAH WAITE & BONNIE JARVIS
www.doulamamas.com/sarah
www.doulamamas.com/bonnie
INFANT SIGN LANGUAGE

SELENA LOHAN created Mimic Baby Sign Language in 2003 when she began teaching baby signing in community centres in her hometown of Vancouver, Canada.
Selena has been signing ASL (American Sign Language) since 1995 when she met her husband-to-be Max Fomitchev who is a internationally known Deaf Mime "Max-i-mime".
In 2002 the couple welcomed their first child together. Their son (who is hearing) was just 7 months old when he started signing back to them; it was inspirational.
It was right then that Selena knew she would find a way to share this amazing parenting tool with families everywhere.
Selena and Max used their experience with sign language, acting, writing, and parenting to develop a teaching program with the right baby-centric vocabulary. Soon after, they started production of the first Canadian Edutainment DVDs on Baby Sign Language. Now in stores across Canada in the US, their Mimic Me DVDs are encouraging early communication and closer family bonds.

CLOTH DIAPERING 101
Karen Randal
INFO NIGHTS
more info
 
A variety of information evenings are offered throughout the year. Many of these are lead by the Registered Midwives and midwifery students of Pomegranate. Others involve various speakers and panelists from the community.

 

MASSAGE THERAPY

Kristin Waddell
RMT
Kristin graduated from the Okanagan College of Massage Therapy in June 2005.  In February 2007 she became a Doula and is passionate to work with pre and postnatal patients. She is a sensitive therapist with your unique healing process by incorporating specific therapeutic techniques including, myofascial release, craniosacral therapy, muscle energy, stretching and Swedish massage. Her purpose is to promote relaxation, relieve muscle spasms, improve blood and lymphatic circulation and most importantly enhance a woman's ability to focus on the infant within. If you have any further questions she can be reached at kristinwaddellrmt@gmail.com.

Kristin is available at Pomegranate on Tuesdays. To reserve your appointment, please call her at 778-558-0743.

ACUPUNCTURE & CRANIO-SACRAL THERAPY

Gabrielle Steinberg
R.TCMP Craniosacral Therapy, R.Ac, RHN
My passion for the healing arts stems from a core belief that health is a primary source for peace and happiness from the individual to families and to communities and the planet.  I have a keen interest in working with people in all life stages from the beginning while in utero and through all of life’s transitions and changes. I am certified in acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, Craniosacral therapy, Shiatsu, nutrition, Doula work. My diverse knowledge and skills enable me to give each individual the most suitable treatment for his/her condition and needs. I focus on Chinese medicine, both acupuncture and herbs, and often incorporate massage, Craniosacral therapy and nutritional advice into the session.  I also enjoy working as a doula while incorporating knowledge from all my schooling for a healthy pregnancy and birth.

 

Pomegranate is excited to a preceptor site for midwifery, medical and nursing students. We find that teaching keeps our skills sharp, and demands that we are always up to date with the latest maternity-care research. In return, our students teach us from their own life experience, and infuse our practice with new energy. In the case of our midwifery students who are with us for one or more semesters, they provide an even deeper level of continuity to our clients.

MIDWIFERY STUDENTS
2008 (current): Sara Grundle - 2nd Yr, Seattle Midwifery School
2008: Ashley Kruse - 2nd Yr, UBC Midwifery
2008: Amy Braunstein - 2nd Yr, UBC Midwifery
2007-08: Celina Laursen - 3rd Yr, UBC Midwifery
2007-08: Kara Bonkowski - 1st Yr, Midwives College of Utah
2007:
Marijke de Zwager - 2nd Yr, UBC Midwifery
2006-07: Christy Raynolds - 3rd Yr, UBC Midwifery
2006: Anne-Marie Cayer - 2nd Yr, UBC Midwifery

MEDICAL STUDENTS
In their third year of school, which is when medical students are exploring what area(s) of practice or specialty appeals to them, they are offered the opportunity to follow a midwife through her clinic day. They are also able to take classes with midwifery students, and be part of the Maternity Care Club which involves midwives and GPs teaching hands-on obstetric skills.

Stephanie Hodges
OFFICE MANAGER
Anne-Marie Laplante
ON MAT LEAVE
it's a boy!