When she was ten years old, Jess and her aunt navigated to the obstetrics section of a medical encyclopedia CD-ROM where Jess discovered a video of a natural birth. Jess remembers the clear impression, “When I grow up, I am going to be the person catching the baby!” In the video that person was an obstetrician, but realizing in her teens that medical school was not the right path, Jess began to doubt her initial call to work in the field of pregnancy and birth. Halfway through her first undergraduate degree, Jess watched another film about midwives, The Business of Being Born. Again the impression was clear and the message was certain: “You are going to be a midwife.” Jess was determined from that moment that she would pursue a career in midwifery. After graduating with a Combined Honours in English and Biology from the University of Windsor (Ontario), she was accepted into the Midwifery Education Program at McMaster University, graduating in 2019.
Jess was first registered as a midwife in Ontario and practiced in Windsor until 2022. Jess moved to Alberta in December 2022 to begin working as part of the team at JoySpring Midwifery. She and Rob have one little boy (so far) and are very happy to be calling Alberta home. They spend their time together working on their farm, enjoying camping trips, and having frequent fellowship with their church family. Very occasionally, Jess is 'Sound Person Extraordinaire' at parties or events.
Jess believes her role as a midwife is to be alongside her clients, helping each woman understand the information, recommendations, and evidence so families can make their best informed decisions. She believes it is everyone's responsibility to make careful choices and does a lot of teaching as a midwife in order to facilitate and protect autonomous decisionmaking. The teaching part of being a midwife has been one of the most pleasant surprises and satisfying aspects of her work.
Jess looks forward to meeting you and providing care through your pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.