Meet the Team

Emily Baxter

Registered Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
she/her

My name is Emily and I am a mother to three amazing children.

I am a Registered Midwife and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant providing care to families in Victoria and surrounding areas. With gratitude, I am living in Colwood British Columbia; a second-generation settler residing on the traditional lands of the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) and Lekwungen (Songhees) ancestors and families.

I discovered the incredible power of birthing people and my passion for this line of work while volunteering in Uganda in 2005. Following this experience, I worked as a birth and postpartum doula for 15 years. I gained so much experience as a non-clinical support person providing emotional and physical support to birthing families and with infant feeding challenges. I decided that providing clinical care for families was important to me, and pursued my Bachelor in Midwifery through UBC. After becoming a Registered Midwife, I spent the first years of my career in Vancouver at BC Women’s and St Paul’s Hospital, before coming back home to the island.

I am honoured to serve families with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. Our practice is inclusive and provides catered care for Indigenous families; queer families; newcomers to Canada; solo parent families; surrogate birthers and more.
I love working in the midwifery model because it allows us to spend time bringing clinical care and a holistic approach to the support we provide, catering to a family’s specific needs.

Outside of midwifery I enjoy spending time outdoors enjoying the beach; cold dipping year-round; hiking through the beautiful trails; camping with my kids and tending to my garden.

Jessica Ross-Howkins

Registered Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
she/her

My name is Jessica (she/her) and I am delighted to join the team at Earthside Birth as a Registered Midwife and Lactation Consultant.

I am a settler of scottish and western-european ancestry, and I am privileged and grateful to work on the traditional and unceded territories of the Xwsepsum (Esquimalt), and Lekwungen (Songhees) peoples. After completing my degree through UBC Midwifery,

I had the pleasure of working in the West End of Vancouver on a francophone midwifery team and I will have spent the last year in northern BC, caring for families in Prince George and its surrounding communities.What I love most about being a midwife is supporting each person’s unique experience of their pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period. I strive to provide care that is individualized, family-centred, and trauma-informed.

My hope is that by meeting people where they’re at, I can empower clients to be active participants in their care. I believe in the transformative power of birth. There is nothing quite like witnessing a client summon all their love and strength to bring their baby into this world. I am honoured to help safeguard this process.Thank you for choosing Earthside Birth, I look forward to meeting you and being part of your parenting journey!

Michaela Smith

Registered Midwife
she/her

My name is Michaela Smith (she/her) and I am a settler of European ancestry who was born and raised on the traditional and unceded ancestral territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples here in Victoria.

Prior to midwifery, I completed a degree in Sociology at UVic and worked as a research coordinator at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research for 5 years. My research work focused on the lived experiences of people working in the sex industry across Canada. While my time in research was fascinating and rewarding, I knew that I was not cut out for office work long term. Fortunately, I happened to stumble across midwifery and had an immediate sense that it would suit my personal interests and values, as well as keep me on my toes! I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the UBC Midwifery program in 2018, and my journey to becoming a midwife officially began!

Midway through my midwifery education, I took a year off to do some “experiential learning” as a first time parent after giving birth to my daughter with help from a lovely team of midwives. Experiencing pregnancy, birth and postpartum firsthand gave me a different insight and appreciation for the immense highs and lows that can accompany this transition in life. My hope going forward into practice is that I can be a steady source of support, empowerment, and compassion to you and your family as you navigate your own way through this transition.

In my off-call life, you can find me spending time with my daughter, partner and dog in our neighbourhood of Cook St Village. When not chasing a toddler around, I unwind by doing puzzles, reading, crocheting, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.

Charlotte Dahle

Registered Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
she/her

Hello! My name is Charlotte. I am a UBC trained Registered Midwife who graduated in 2017. I love being a part of women’s births. Birth is a normal process that can be life changing. It can be very empowering for women and involving women in their care and respecting their choices is one way I strive to facilitate birth being as positive an experience as possible. Breastfeeding support is something I feel very passionate about and I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.

My journey to become a midwife started with 12 years of University in various healthcare adjacent degrees and certificates. I have done volunteer and work experience as a Fire Fighter, Paramedic, Doula, Coroner, Doctor’s Assistant and Crisis Line Worker. After graduating from my first degree I moved to the Northwest Territories where I provided Doula support to local moms as well as mothers travelling to Yellowknife for their deliveries. I quickly realized that I loved being a part of helping women feel informed and supported in their pregnancy and labor.

When not studying or volunteering, I can be found spending time with my family of 4, teaching aerobics, kiteboarding, baking, oil painting, surfing, hiking or choreographing dance classes.

Thank you for choosing Midwifery Care. I am honoured to be able to do this important work on the unceded territory of the Lekwungen People, also known as the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations communities. I look forward to getting to know you and your growing family!

Bryanne Isdahl

Registered Midwife
she/they

Hello! My name is Bryanne Isdahl (She/They), I am a first-generation settler of Norwegian/Welsh descent, and I was born and raised here on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ peoples. I honour the families and original keepers of these lands and waters with deep respect, as I work to dismantle colonial perspectives and practices.

I am drawn to Midwifery for its integrated approach to community care and feel my strength rests in meeting families in a collaborative and non-judgmental way. I am strongly committed to social, racial, and reproductive justice and believe that the role of a healthcare provider is to advocate for the dignity and agency of their clients. My aspiration is to lower barriers to healthcare equity for all people.

Previous to Midwifery, I spent many years building diverse experience in healthcare settings as a Patient Care Aide working with BC Cancer, and in the Emergency Department. In that time, I felt humbled to share in some of the most intimate healthcare contexts with my clients and their families.

When I’m not midwifing, I can be found puttering in my garden or exploring this beautiful land. When the weather isn’t cooperating, I’m typically drawing or crafting fabrics using natural dye. Both mediums demand attention to specific processes, and an ability to let go of perfectionism in the creation of unique and messy beauty. I approach birth work in much the same way, with calculated attention to detail and process, but leaving lots of space for the magic to happen.

I continue to be in awe of the courage of birthing families as they approach and overcome the unknown to meet their babies. Being present for these powerfully intimate moments in the lives of others is humbling and I am honoured to participate in your care.

Emilie Oullette

Registered Midwife
she/her

Hi, I’m Emilie. I’m a graduate of the UBC Midwifery program and am so grateful to be joining the team at Earthside Birth as a registered midwife. I live and work on the unceded ancestral lands of the Lekwungen People and aim to continually decolonize my perspectives and practice.

My own experiences with pregnancy triggered a passion for midwifery care and deepened my conviction in the power of informed choice. Originally from eastern Canada, I have called British Columbia home for the past twenty years. Before midwifery, I led teams of tree planters and planted for many seasons, work that strengthened my skills in leadership, collaboration, and quick decision-making. Years of travel and studies in health and social issues reinforced my commitment to equity and justice. Raising my two children as a single parent has taught me patience, empathy, and resilience.

When not working, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family and friends, nurturing a love of the outdoors and creating connections in my community. It is a lovely privilege to walk alongside families during such a powerful time, and I look forward to meeting you and supporting your growing family.

Ams Sweiger

Registered Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, MA
they/them

Hello, my name is Ams (they/them), & I am a first generation settler with German roots.

I am humbled to be able to live and care for parents and babies on the territories of the Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ people, in Esquimalt and Victoria.

I am a Registered Midwife originally from Ontario and have worked throughout my training and career in busy downtown Toronto, territory of the Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee and Mississauga of the Credit River.

Before Midwifery I was a counsellor and a front line harm reduction worker. Harm reduction is a core part of my practice still as a midwife and true harm reduction means prioritizing informed choice free from judgement about you healthcare.

As a queer and non-binary midwife I hope to provide safer, respectful, and welcoming spaces for other queer and trans people choosing to have children. This call deepened as my chosen families began growing. Midwifery is an especially community based and client centered approach to reproductive health care and it called out to me as a way to provide evidence based care in a supportive and liberatory framework. Midwifery has been all this and more.

I’m am also a International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and am deeply passionate about lactation and feeding support. I look forward to hearing and supporting any of your feeding goals for your babies.

When I’m not at work you’ll find me beach combing for sea creatures, hiking, or trying to garden.

Ella Anvari

Registered Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
she/her

I have always been passionate about supporting families through pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. I started out as a doula in 2014 and worked for a year before starting midwifery school at McMaster University. Though I enjoyed doula work, I felt that I would have more impact as a primary care provider. After graduating in 2019, I worked in the Abbotsford Mission area. I enjoyed working with families in urban and rural settings.

I also went on to have two children of my own who are now three and one years old. After my own postpartum experiences, I felt drawn to becoming a lactation consultant and focusing my work more on that period. The first week postpartum is such a hugely transformative time and the support that midwives offer is very valuable and unique. I am an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and enjoy helping families with infant feeding support as well as general postpartum care.

When I am not working, you will find me with my family, likely at a coffee shop or doing something outdoors. We love Victoria and feel very lucky to call it home. I look forward to supporting you on your parenthood journey.

Jenny Jackson

Office Manager and Medical Office Assistant
she/her

My name is Jenny (she/her) and I am delighted to be part of the Earthside Birth administrative team!

My educational background is primarily in geography and environmental sustainability. However, a few years after completing my Bachelor’s degree in Victoria, and following a couple of seasons managing the office at a fruit packing plant in the Okanagan, I made the decision to pursue training in medical office administration. This shift in directions — becoming a certified Medical Office Assistant — has allowed me to build quality connections, be of service to those around me, and experience a deep sense of fulfillment in my career. Prior to joining Earthside, I worked at a fertility clinic in Victoria and a midwifery clinic in Vancouver. I have also provided remote administrative support for two other midwifery practices.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to support and learn from such a skilled and caring group of midwives, to serve our clients with compassion and efficiency, and to work in this beautiful, quiet corner of town!

Outside of work, I can often be found tending to my small jungle of houseplants, making plans and lists for my next travel adventure, collecting handmade ceramic mugs (I love a good strong cup of tea!), reading historical fiction novels, or soaking up the beauty of the West Coast.

Victoria Van Weert

Medical Office Assistant
she/her

My name is Victoria (she/her) and I joined Earthside Birth earlier this summer! I moved to Vancouver Island to begin studying Social Work, on the path to a career in counselling. After living in Australia for 4 years, I returned to Canada and started working in medical clinics. This is where I realized I felt passionate about working with vulnerable people and having the chance to improve someone’s experience with the healthcare system, even in a small way. I love talking to our patients and try to be a welcoming face when someone comes in for maternity care. When I’m not at work, you can find me biking around the city, walking my dog by the ocean or testing new recipes in the kitchen!