Meet Our Team

team quince

The Quince tree is the tree of love, fertility and unity. Also referred to as the "golden apple", quince represents rebirth and new beginnings. Quince flower aligns willpower with heart power--important for the birth and parenting journey ahead.

Meet the
Midwives

Terra Nova Midwifery is comprised of four wonderful midwifery care teams:Team Quince,Team Willow,Team Hemlock and Team Larch.

Team Quince is a shared-care team of midwives; Jenny, Jessi, Avital & Hania. Team Willow is solo midwife Nancy. Team Hemlock is solo midwife Wendy. Team Larch is postpartum-only care with midwife Sharlene.

Our clinic is rooted in the Steveston village neighbourhood of Richmond. We care for families living in Richmond and South Delta. We offer prenatal, birth and post-natal care, all covered by MSP. You can self-refer to our clinic, meaning you can contact us as soon as you know you are pregnant. We can order all necessary early pregnancy testing and ultrasounds - you do not have to see a doctor before contacting our clinic. We have limited spaces each month and tend to book up quickly so get in touch soon to avoid disappointment. Occasionally we have spots that open up so do reach out to see if we have space even if you're past your first trimester.

The population of Richmond just increased by FOUR today.jpe

team quince

OFFERING FULL MIDWIFERY CARE

JENNY EMERSON

Registered Midwife

she/her

Being a midwife is everything I’ve ever wished to be—a facilitator of healthy, thriving families with an emphasis on women’s health. I strive to support pregnant people in carrying and birthing their babies with integrity and empowerment. Service, creativity and compassion are three values I highly regard. How perfect it is to find myself as a Registered Midwife—a profession I believe upholds these values.

I completed my Midwifery training with UBC, Faculty of Medicine in 2015. Clinical practicums took me to work with women in Vancouver, Victoria, a rural community in Uganda and Kelowna. After graduation, I settled into practicing Midwifery in Kelowna for just over a year, but the coast called me home. I have been practicing at Richmond Hospital since 2016.

I am excited and fortunate to have the opportunity to continue to serve families in my community. I look forward to meeting and working with you all!

JESSI HAMM

Registered Midwife

she/her

I took the scenic route to finding midwifery. After years of working with and supporting families in different settings, it was at my first birth as a doula, witnessing a baby born into a midwife’s outstretched hands, that I knew I’d found what I was meant to do. My previous work as an art therapist, and infant development consultant has made me a passionate advocate for equity and self-agency. I love that midwives can put these values into practise everyday to provide family-centred care and reproductive justice.

I completed my Midwifery degree through the University of British Columbia’s Faculty Medicine where I completed clinical placements throughout the province including Vancouver, Prince George, and Haida Gwaii. These experiences in both urban and rural settings gave me an appreciation for the importance of a well-integrated health care system while being awed by the body’s innate ability to birth.

I grew up in Steveston and worked with families in Richmond for 10 years prior to my midwifery degree. I am thrilled to be offering care in a community that means so much to me. I am honoured to share in the life-changing journey of pregnancy and birth with Terra Nova families.

AVITAL KLINE

Registered Midwife

they/them

Birth work is in my heritage – my grandmother was a labour and delivery nurse, and my mother was a doula, so I grew up hearing birth stories at the dinner table. These stories, along with the experience of witnessing the birth of my sister when I was four years old, shaped me from a young age to understand that bodies are powerfully capable of bringing new life into the world and that birth can be exquisitely beautiful and sacred.

Before becoming a midwife, I spent years working with families as a doula, La Leche League Leader, Child Passenger Safety Technician, pre & postnatal program facilitator in an Indigenous community and a midwifery clinic administrator. All these roads led me to where I am today and created a foundation for my midwifery career that values supporting families in a holistic way, rooted in community.

In all my work, I prioritize consent-oriented, trauma-informed care. I recognize that pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period is a tender and transformative experience, and I know that it is a great privilege to be trusted with providing care during this time.

When I'm not at the clinic, doing home visits or running to a birth, you’ll find me at the beach with my three kids, who range in age from 8 to 17 years old, or in front of my spinning wheel or loom, where I love to make fibre art.

HANIA ELHENIEDY

Registered Midwife

she/her

My calling to midwifery came through many small elements. It was founded in a love for community and client-centered care. It was strengthened by discovering the beauty of informed choice and learning the evidence behind what many people do intuitively. Seeing it all in action hasn’t failed to amaze me.

I am grateful to have graduated the Midwifery Program in Ontario at Mcmaster University. It was a privilege having been welcomed into so many pregnancies, births, and post-partums in Hamilton and Windsor. I found lots of joy in exploring a new province, and have made lifelong connections, but I always knew I would move back home to BC. I have a special place in my heart for Steveston. I spent a lot of time there, whether it was volunteering in the community, exploring new areas, or enjoying the many sweet treats Steveston had to offer!

I have many passions; I love to do hands on creative activities like sewing, painting, knitting, and so on. It is exciting to dabble a little bit in everything, but ever so rewarding to reach a point of real confidence in a skill.

team willow

OFFERING FULL MIDWIFERY CARE

The willow tree gives us hope, a sense of belonging and safety. It symbolizes fertility and new life. It has a profound ability to bend around obstacles without breaking--it's flexible and adaptable while maintaining strong roots. This tree is almost always found near water, and is connected to the moon like no other tree. The willow embraces the depths of our emotions and subconscious in all its phases and rhythm.

NANCY TSAO

Registered Midwife

Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by birth. I still have vivid memories of waiting by the curtain for my mother to finish her ultrasound exam and later walking with her to the hospital while she was in labour and about to give birth to my little brother.

I am always in awe of the strength and power clients show during pregnancy, labour and birth and feel privileged to accompany and care for them through this very special time of their life.

I graduated from the UBC Midwifery Program in 2016. Throughout my training and practice, I have attended births in Calgary, Richmond, Vancouver, Penticton, Comox, and Mission. I also attended more than 70 births during my international practicum in Uganda. Working in the Ugandan hospitals was a life changing experience and I hope to return someday.

I grew up in Taiwan and came to Richmond with my family when I was 15 years old. I am fluent in English and Mandarin. In my spare time, I enjoy knitting, reading and taking long walks in Steveston.

team hemlock

OFFERING FULL MIDWIFERY CARE

The hemlock tree symbolizes protection and healing. These trees are found in old growth forests and remind us to embrace our life experiences. If left undisturbed, hemlock trees can take over a whole forest. These trees can grow over 270 tall feet in wet, adverse conditions.

WENDY TSE KA YI

Registered Midwife

I first trained to be a Midwife in Hong Kong, and then completed the UBC International Midwifery Bridging Program. My journey to becoming a midwife began when I was introduced to obstetrics and pregnancy care during my studies in my Nursing education. I was fascinated by pregnancy and birth. I endeavoured to become a Midwife and offer holistic care to pregnant people on their journey to welcoming new life. After training in Hong Kong as a Midwife, I worked in two busy hospitals there for 10 years, providing care in antenatal, birth and postpartum units for both low and high risk pregnancy cases.

I came to Canada to pursue training in Midwifery here and to launch a new career working in community and hospital based settings. I enjoy building relationships with clients through the course of pregnancy and enjoy the continuity of care we can provide here. My passion is to empower and share knowledge with clients so they feel safe, well informed and compassionately supported through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. It is a privilege and and honour to to witness and support birth. I am in awe and humbled at every birth I attend.

I moved to Richmond from Hong Kong last year with my partner and my son. I am excited to be a part of the Richmond community and enjoy contributing to the Terra Nova Midwifery community as well. I look forward to meeting you, and supporting you on your journey to become a parent.

ACCEPTING CLIENTS FOR POSTPARTUM-ONLY CARE

team larch

OFFERING POSTPARTUM-ONLY MIDWIFERY CARE

The larch tree is a symbol of rest, connection and recovery. It invites us to connect to our core for inward reflection, contemplation, deep rest and guidance. Larch trees offer support and shelter—nurturing us as we learn and grow confidently into remembering ourselves and our innate abilities.