OUR PHILOSOPHY
Pregnancy and birth are inherently safe and normal.
Midwifery care promotes growth, and empowerment through education and encourages clients awareness of their strengths.
Midwives honour the journey of becoming a parent as caring, supportive, and non-intrusive guardians of birth.
Birth is a profound and transformative experience that requires respect, attention, and compassion.
Clients have the right and responsibility to make informed decisions for themselves and their baby.
OUR HISTORY
West Country Midwives is honored to be continuing the wonderful service that Blessing Way Midwifery has been offering in this community for decades.
Barb Bodiguel is a pillar of midwifery in Central Alberta. Her influence and mentorship have shaped midwifery in Rocky Mountain House and led to the robust practice of midwifery that we see in the community today. West Country Midwives will be forever grateful for her contributions to the world of midwifery and her faithful services to the families in the community.
"In 1984 my journey to becoming a midwife began with an invitation to apprentice with three wise, brave women. Sandra Botting, Evonne Smulders and Susan Dowell were providing midwifery care and homebirth services to a determined group of families in Calgary. It was a privilege to learn to care for mothers and their babies with these “modern day pioneer midwives”. Our most important lessons came from the women themselves as we supported their choices and assisted at their amazing births.
Several years later, upon completion of a Registered Nursing program, I was employed on a busy Labor & Delivery Unit. My profound faith in the strength and power of women to birth their babies was an anchor in a challenging environment. There were many opportunities to learn from other practitioners and develop skills that further shaped my midwifery practice.
So now, for more than 25 years offering midwifery care in rural Alberta, I am grateful to this community and to the families that have allowed me to share in this wonderful part of their lives. In 2008 the Rocky Primary Care Network began a Shared Care Maternity program and invited a midwife to join. This has evolved into midwives providing prenatal care to women in two First Nations communities west of Rocky Mountain House, and being with them as they birth in our rural Hospital. What a gift of growth and learning this continues to be for me!
It has been a special joy to mentor many aspiring midwives during my career. I am so proud of the strong, skilled women that are now providing care in Central Alberta.
Throughout this journey I have been sustained by the love, prayer and unwavering encouragement of family and friends. Marcel, my husband, has been a constant support, including harrowing drives on snowy rural roads to deliver me safely to another middle of the night birth. Our four sons, Joel, Jordan, Stefan and Keelan, have also been part of this adventure: growing into kind and capable men. Their flexibility and generosity with their “midwife mother” made my life so much easier. I am indeed blessed."
- Barb
OUR ROCKY MIDWIVES
Nicole Matheson
RM, RN, MScN
Team 1
855-552-4784 ext 1
Willa Wang
BHSc-Midwifery
Team 2
855-552-4784 ext 2
Our Students
My name is Christie, I am a 3rd year midwifery student at Mount Royal University, and I am thrilled to be joining West Country Midwives for my Fall 2026 semester!
I grew up in Okotoks and now call Cochrane home. I had the privilege of doing my first placement in Red Deer with the amazing midwives there, who spoke very highly and fondly of their Rocky Mountain House midwife colleagues.
I felt called to midwifery at a very young age, and my training and experiences have confirmed that this is exactly where I should be. The continuity of care and relationship building not just with the client but with their families as well, is really beautiful to me.
Throughout my educational experiences I have continued to appreciate how important informed choice is, individual care, and the benefits of a trusting relationship. Some strengths I bring are a kind, calm presence, an attentive listener and question asker, as well as a love of learning and wanting to soak up as much as I can from this opportunity.
My first placement gave me an amazing opportunity for both home and hospital births, and my goal is to continue growing my competence and confidence in the skills of midwifery while I am in Rocky Mountain House.