About Marijke

North Island Midwives was founded by Marijke de Zwager in 2019. About a year later, Isabelle Gelineau joined her in the beautiful North Island until March 2023. Marijke will remain as a sole Midwife providing care to the North Island with the help of locums (midwives who come here for short times).

She strongly believes that midwifery care has something to offer to anyone expecting a baby. She is passionate about rural midwifery and feels people should not have to travel to get the care they want. Informed choice, choice of birthplace, home visits after baby is born are just some of the things that make having a midwife a pretty special thing. She aims to provide culturally safe and trauma informed care to all. To meet all the needs of the community, Marijke will be also working closely with some of the Primary Care and Public Health nurses.

North Island Midwives are part of the Kwakwaka’wakw Maternity Program. This program provides assistance with health coaches who work closely with the midwife.

Marijke is happy to provide prenatal care to people who want to birth in the North Island but also to people who chose to birth down island. If clients are planning to birth down island she will work as a team with other care providers when needed or appropriate to make sure you get the best care, either with a midwifery practice down island or GP maternity groups like the Campbell River Maternity Clinic