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510 Chesterfield Ave

North Vancouver, BC V7M 2L9

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February 2026 Update -North Shore pregnant residents, who are due in June 2026 and beyond are welcome to complete Vera’s postpartum intake form. Newly pregnant North Shore residents with a last menstrual period (LMP) of April 10, 2026 onwards are also welcome to submit a prenatal intake form.

February 8, 2026

Practice Availability & Scheduling Information

Vera looks forward to reviewing completed intake forms and responding to prospective clients regarding enrolment in her practice’s May 2026 capacity and beyond.

TEMPORARY CLOSURE – MARCH, APRIL 2026

Vera’s partial part-time consultant practice is closed in March and April 2026 for both prenatal and postpartum clients, as she will be away visiting family in South Africa.

April 2026 — Limited Administrative Availability

In April 2026, Vera will resume responding to emails and will begin enrolling:

  • Afterbirth (postpartum) clients with due dates from June 2026 onward

  • Early-pregnancy prenatal clients with a last menstrual period (LMP) of April 10, 2026 or later, with expected due dates from January 2027, onward

Remote consultation visits (telephone or video) will be scheduled in late April and early May 2026.

Regular in-person office visits will resume starting the week of May 18, 2026.

In-Person Visits & Office Locations

Most in-person office visits take place at:

  • Shipyards Health
    88 Lonsdale Avenue
    Wednesdays, 2:00–8:00 pm

Occasional ad-hoc in-person office visits may also be scheduled at:

  • Quayside Village
    510 Chesterfield Avenue (office or Dome room)

Vera’s 7-day availability (9:00 am–11:00 pm) will resume from May 13, 2026 onward.

Scope & Time-Limited Nature of Care

Vera has found that her availability and capacity are well-suited to time-limited MSP-funded phases of midwifery care:

  • Prenatal care during the first trimester and/or second trimester, typically provided over an 8–9 week and/or 16-week period, before transfer to ongoing prenatal, labour, and birth care with another provider.

  • Afterbirth (postpartum) care, beginning with a third-trimester pre-birth consultation focused on postpartum recovery, infant feeding, and early parenting, followed by a 6-week MSP-funded postpartum care period after discharge home from hospital.

Visit Modalities

Care within Vera’s partial part-time practice is provided through a combination of:

  • Remote visits (telephone or video conference)

  • In-person home visits

  • In-person office visits

MCNS September 2025 UPDATE

September 15, 2025

 Vera Berard RM is currently booking Postpartum clients, who are due in November, 2025, December 2025 and January, 2026.

Vera’s postpartum capacity is closed for February, March and April 2026  

She is glad to book postpartum clients with due dates from May 2026 onwards.

Vera is currently accepting Early Pregnancy clients for  initial care, whose last menstrual period is in August-September-October-November 2025  and who are due in May-June-July-August  2026 onwards.

I am happy to report that since January 2022 and January 2025 my partial practice has provided approximately 280 families, averaging 93 families per year with:  1st, 2nd trimester and occasional 3rd trimester prenatal care;  prebirth prenatal postpartum recovery and infant feeding preparation consultation visits, phases of afterbirth midwifery postpartum care that began in a client’s home in the first day or two,  after they were discharged from hospital with their baby/babies and ended with a closure visit at my office in Shipyards Health, 88 Lonsdale Ave, North Vancouver around 6-7 weeks postpartum. 

In these past 3 years, I have also journeyed with  families, who have sadly experienced pregnancy loss.  A few returned to my prenatal care with another pregnancy, went onto have a doctor provide their birth care and then also came back to my after birth postpartum service,  where I had an opportunity to meet their rainbow baby and journey with them through their first six weeks postpartum. 

It took me awhile to fully settle into a part-time partial practice, as I grieved the loss of providing labor and birth services. August 15, 2021 was the last labor and birth that I brought garden flowers into the labor room and attended a birth of a client having her second baby.  Her first had been a fast labor.  Before meeting at  hospital, we played cards.  Such a lovely memory that I cherish, along with many others.  

Last garden flowers brought to an LGH LDR Aug 2021

In 2021, besides putting 24hr/7d birth services on hold. I also had to let go of Quayside Village office on Chesterfield, where I provided my full-service, full-scope community practice for 20 years with other midwives, an office person and the support of Quayside Village cohousing community.   It was a big change getting  into a rhythm of undertaking all the clinical and administrative  work of my partial practice on my own and from different sites, remotely from my home office, or in person either in a client’s home, or in the office that I now rent in Lower Lonsdale.  I had to get used to lot more driving in congested roads. 

In the beginning, I was unaware that 2021 would be the last year that I had a full scope practice providing labor and birth services. I only knew I had to responsibly take a break from 24hr/7d coverage.  Since BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) allows registrants a 3 year break from full scope work.  I took the opportunity to reduce stress in my life, while  continuing providing the book ends of my established practice: prenatal, postpartum, early infant feeding, development and parenting services.  At the same time, I was uncertain that establishing a partial part-time practice was the way to go, if there was a need, or if the services that I am able to continue to offer would be supported by my colleagues. 

Forming a partnership with each client in care enabled me to keep and catch all the balls that I had in the air.  Including navigating the increased traffic and difficulty parking on the North Shore. I have appreciated my clients’ understanding and their kind words.

Today, I am confident there is a need for the services that I can provide and that my services are valued.  I have a part-time practice that is well integrated into the healthcare system, supported by my colleagues and is financially viable.  Besides being good for my overall health,  no longer having to undertake 24hr/7d labor and birth coverage has enabled me to develop an improved work-life balance and to affirm that I love what I currently do! 

Consequently, this year I officially embraced retiring from 24hr/7d labor and birth services in June 2025.  I now confidently provide an alternate midwifery consultant practice that focuses on early prenatal and afterbirth postpartum recovery, early infant feeding, development and parenting that offers other professional and personal opportunities.  

I value and am grateful for:

  • The collaborative support that I have received from Lions Gate Maternity Clinic doctors, who accept the transfer referrals of my early prenatal clients that either desire physician labor and birth services, or who have been unable to access ongoing midwifery prenatal, labor and birth care. Their collaboration has formed the foundation of the collaborative, alternate practice plan that I submitted to BCCNM.
  • The support that I have received from Lions Gate Hospital Division Midwifery, Department Obstetrics and Medical Staff Administration to retire my almost 3 decades Lions Gate Hospital active 24h/7d admitting and discharge privileges, in lieu of consulting privileges.  Consulting privileges allow me continued access to VCH electronic health care platform in order to provide care to my partial practice clientele and to keep on participating in medical staff professional committee work and educational activities in order to keep connected and continue life-long professional development.   Regularly connecting with nursing and medical staff enables me access to community resources and specialist services in a timely manner and to expand the team around a client or their baby, to a higher level of service when needed. 
  • The support I have received from Dr Jolene Kennet ND and team in Shipyards Health, where I rent the office that I use for in-person appointments on a Wednesday afternoon, early evening.
  • All the prenatal and postpartum families I have been honored to partner with for a short while during their early pregnancy and their postpartum for 6 -8 weeks after the birth of their babies.
  • The opportunity to remotely work for and learn with Interior Health Kamloops Early Pregnancy Triage Clinic team, led by Joanna Norman RM.
  • The chance to participate in VCH Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee work where I continue with life long learning to become a more present, compassionate, inclusive human being living in Turtle Island on the unceded territory of the Squamish, Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. 

  • The ability to plan my part-time practice capacity ahead of time and make known when I have availability and when my capacity is closed.
  • Being able to form partnerships with clients in care around their needs and for their understanding of my limitations.
  • Over a decade of Mike Carroll’s website hosting and update assistance.
  • Many occasions to enjoy playing pickleball, undertake art projects, walk, swim, chant and spend time with family and friends
  • The support I have received from colleagues, family and friends  as I transitioned to having the life that I now live

I am excited to carry on living in the moment to the best of my ability and with Grace!

MCNS NOVEMBER 2023 UPDATE

November 16, 2023

Currently booking Postpartum clients, who are due in January, 2024 onwards and Initial Early Pregnancy clients, whose last menstrual period is September- October-November, 2023 and who are due in June- July -August 2024 onwards.

What’s a midwife to do when 24 hour/ 7 day labor and birth work is no longer feasible?   

Look forward to connecting with as many  postpartum families after the birth of their babies and/or to newly pregnant folk, as my part-time capacity allows!

Initial Early Pregnancy Care and After Birth  Postpartum and Newborn Care: are the 2 services I now offer. 

Each service  is a phase of care that has a mixture of scheduled and unscheduled remote and in-person visits, along with email communication. 

Currently, I am booking pregnant folk, whose babies are due in January, 2024 onwards into my postpartum practice.   

I have capacity at this time for folk, who have just discovered that they are pregnant, who had their last period in

September- October-November, 2023  and who are due in June- July -August  2024 onwards. 

I am  grateful for over 1000 + babies and families that my full-service practice was privileged to participate in their journeys from 1998 until 2021. While I miss attending birth, I am delighted that midwifery experience and the other skills that midwives have outside of  labor and birth are now recognised within our healthcare system and utilized as part of a hospital and health region’s team-based perinatal services approach.   Consequently,  I am excited to confidently launch my part-time consultant practice, which offers two MSP covered midwifery primary care services: Initial Early Pregnancy Care and After Birth Postpartum and Newborn Care.

Folk can either self-refer during their pregnancy or be  referred by other providers.

My postpartum services  include: lactation, infant feeding and development, c-section recovery, contraception and early parenting support. 

I am grateful to Dr Jolene Kennet ND, who has provided me an opportunity to grow my new venture out of her lovely office clinic space in Shipyards Health  lower  Lonsdale.   

You will find me there undertaking sceheduled  initial early prenatal and postpartum in-person office appointments  two Wednesdays a month between 2-8 pm.  As my capacity grows, so my Wednesday shifts will grow to three or  four a month. 

(more…)

MCNS March, 2023 UPDATE

March 14, 2023

It’s been just over a year since Midwifery Care North Shore has ONLY been offering partial midwifery services in the form of early pregnancy care and postpartum services. While it has been a change, it has also been a natural progression.

Vera Beard RM has embraced the many joys of providing services to folk just pregnant and to those, who have birthed and are now on an early parenting journey for the first time or more, with either one or two babies. Since November, 2021 her partial midwifery services capacity has been steadily building. During this time Vera has provided services to over 50 postpartum folk and their families. Half of her clientele started out in her early pregnancy care, were referred to Lionsgate Maternity Clinic for ongoing care and returned to her postpartum practice after the birth of their babies. The rest were referred to her by Obstetricians on the North Shore and in Vancouver during their pregnancies. A few were referred by Lionsgate Hospital Perinatal Services Coordinator and pediatrician after the birth of their babies when Vera had capacity. Many of Vera’s early pregnancy clients connected with her after being helped to conceive via Reproductive Medicine. Vera has appreciated and enjoyed feeling the support and respect of her colleagues for the services that she provides. (more…)

MCNS UPDATE FOR WOMEN DUE FROM NOVEMBER 2021 ONWARDS – We are offering primary care postpartum services only, until further notice…

June 12, 2021

MIDWIFERY CARE NORTH SHORE 24hour-7day services are temporarily on-hold to potential clients that are looking for labor and birth services the end of 2021 onwards.

We are waiting for VCH LGH to post midwifery hospital privileges and for midwives interested in working in an individual and group care model to be able to join Vera Berard RM’s team. Vera Berard RM is away in September and October, 2021. On her return in November 2021, she is welcoming women and their babies, who are due to be born in November, 2021 onward and is offering midwifery postpartum services to folk that live on the North Shore and who, are interested in receiving midwifery care after the birth of their baby. Vera gives priority to folk residing within the City of North Vancouver. MCNS full postpartum services are offered to women, who have a doctor that only provides prenatal, labor and birth services, or who have a midwife/doctor that practices out of the area where a client lives. (more…)

MCNS REFLECTIONS ON OVER A YEAR IN A PANDEMIC

March 9, 2021

Despite COVID challenges MCNS current 2020-2021 team of two, Vera Berard and Erika Mitchell have been delighted to be with laboring folk, attending their births and welcoming their babies.

Life continues, folk get pregnant and babies get born… between February 2020 and March 2021, Midwifery Care North Shore has provided care to approximately 58 families.

Our gratitude extends to the doulas, our midwifery colleagues, student midwives, our nursing and physician colleagues that assist us meet our individual clients’ needs: – 66% of babies were born via a spontaneous vaginal birth – 51% occurred in hospital and 15% at home. Our team expanded to include LGH specialist obstetrical, paediatric and anesthetic services for approximately 34% of our clientele. 12% of babies were born via an assisted vaginal birth and 22 % via a C/Section, of these 2.5% were elective and 19.5% were in labor. (more…)

MCNS Team Update

June 27, 2020

We are happy to reiterate that Vera and team continue to welcome clients into a partnership of care, despite now needing to live with COVID pandemic processes, as a part of daily life. We are currently welcoming clients looking for midwifery services that are due from December 2020 onwards.

Please look at our update below this one, to find information about MCNS COVID processes. Remember as BC moves into Phase 3 of our COVID pandemic that we need to all remain mindful of how we are feeling; isolating when we feel unwell, continuing with sanitizing our hands, physically distancing and wearing our masks when we are in crowded spaces inside or outside.

We are delighted to have Erika Mitchell RM join MCNS team to work-share with Vera Berard RM. She will be joining MCNS team in September 2020.

From the fall onwards, Liz Bodner RM will be working more on the Sunshine Coast and providing occasional locum services on the North Shore.

We are also thrilled to share some other practice news since our last update. In the fall last year, during BC’s annual breastfeeding week celebration (1-7 October, 2020), when Vera was in South Africa. North Vancouver City’s Mayor, Linda Buchanan, presented Bean-around-the-World-Cafe-on-5th-Street and Quayside Village Co-housing, a North Vancouver City Baby Feeding Welcome Sign in rainbow colours, to display on the outside of the building. This signage is recognition of the Café, Quayside Village and MCNS inclusive support of new families and their breastfeeding babies. (more…)

MCNS Covid Update – What to Expect

June 22, 2020

Winter and spring certainly have brought much change and uncertainty for all of us. Our world on the North Shore and elsewhere is different.

We are happy to say that Vera and team continue to welcome clients into a partnership of care, despite now needing to live with COVID pandemic processes as a part of daily life.

(more…)

Welcoming Change in March 2020

March 6, 2020

Liz Bodner RM
MCNS team consists of midwives who are passionate about birth and family-centred care. Liz Bodner RM is now work-sharing with Vera Berard RM.

Charlotte Dahle is moving to Alberta. She is appreciated for the services that she recently provided and is wished well, as she continues her life’s adventures.

Besides years of midwifery experience, Liz brings a current and fresh view to MCNS clients, as she is returning to work from being on maternity leave with her firstborn son.

We aim to provide warm and respectful care that responds to each person’s individual needs.

Vera Berard RM
Midwives Liz Bodner and Vera Berard welcome you! We are booking new clients from June 2020 onwards…