As registered nurses and certified childbirth educators, we are trained in pregnancy, birth, and newborn care. We understand the psychological and spiritual nature of birth while also recognizing the medical and physiologic aspects.
What We Believe
- We believe that birth can be a positive and enriching experience whether it occurs vaginally or by caesarean section, in a home or in a hospital.
- We believe in the innate power of a woman’s body and spirit to carry, birth, and nurture their children.
- We believe in the integral role a woman’s partner plays in supporting and advocating for her and their children.
- We believe that empowering parents with knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions will lead to greater satisfaction with their birth and new parenting experiences.
- We believe that knowledge and skills are both intuitively known and learned and optimal learning occurs when both are actively engaged in the learning process.
What We Hope to Do
Empower women and their partners with knowledge and skills to trust their intuition and make informed decisions about pregnancy, birth, and parenting.
What Does Samara Mean?
“I’ve always been drawn to the image of a tree as a powerful symbol of family. Starting a family feels like laying down roots – building a foundation that will grow into something beautiful, connected, unique, and sacred. The Elm tree perfectly embodies this concept for me.
Elms are known for their strength and resilience, much like a pregnant woman; they possess an inherent wisdom and intuition that guides them through this incredible journey. Just as Elm trees come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, so too do families. Every child is unique and precious. And like the interlocking grain within Elm wood, which resists decay, the bond between a mother and child is profound and enduring, weaving a strong and resilient family unit.
The Elm tree became a powerful symbol for the kind of company I wanted to create. This led me to the name “Samara,” the winged seed of the Elm tree. Like a baby is the fruit of a mother’s journey, the samara represents new life. The name “Samara” also holds deep meaning in Hebrew, translating to “protected by God,” reflecting the sacredness of this transformative experience.
For me, Samara symbolizes the creation of new life from strength and beauty, a process that transcends individual will. It’s my hope that Samara Birth Services will empower you to recognize your own inner strength and trust your intuition as you navigate this incredible journey.
Congratulations on your pregnancy! We look forward to sharing this special time with you.”
Amanda Kelloway
-Owner, Educator
Amanda Kelloway
RN, BScN, MN, IBCLC, LCCE
Owner, Educator
I grew up in Edmonton and thought I would spend my life there. I married my high school sweetheart and became a registered nurse in 2003 and though I felt I had found my place in paediatric nursing, I realized that sometimes in life your path has already been decided for you. Perinatal nursing (caring for mothers and babies) chose me in 2004. I was immediately drawn to the miracle and intimacy of sharing births with families. My husband and I have been blessed to be able to experience this joy for ourselves twice! The births of my two boys were empowering, life changing experiences that affirmed for me what I had already been taught by the many mothers I had the pleasure of working with; women are incredible, powerful, capable, and forever changed by their birth experiences.
Nursing has given me the opportunity to learn in many places and situations. I have worked as a nurse (mainly in perinatal health) throughout the western provinces and the United States before finally settling in Vancouver. When I am not teaching prenatal classes I can be found at the British Columbia Institute of Technology where I am faculty in the Perinatal Specialty Nursing program. I am a self professed super geek about birthing and breastfeeding holding a Master’s degree in Nursing with a focus on teaching. Additionally, I have credentials in childbirth education, lactation, neonatal resuscitation and fetal health surveillance. Personally, I love spending time with my family, being outside, playing board games, watching movies, weightlifting, and pretending to be a yogi.
I love being a part of births and helping people make the transition into their new roles as parents. I am constantly in awe of the strength of women and humbled to be able to share this joyous occasion with them. I have seen that for many families pregnancy, birth, and new parenting can be exciting, but also overwhelming and often unknown territory. I created Samara in the hopes of sharing my passion and knowledge with new mothers and families and to help encourage and empower them as they enter this new phase in their lives. I look forward to working with you and becoming a small part of your path to your new family.
Samara Birth Services 