Happy International Day of the Midwife! It is 6:15 am, and your phone rings. You reach for it, knowing that it has to be urgent because it is your, “GET OUT OF BED — someone is having a baby!” ringer. It is a blocked caller, a fellow midwifery colleague likely. “Hello?” “Hey, it’s me, can you come […]
International Day of the Midwife Read More »
“So, what do you do?” This is the question we often get asked as midwives when we are off-call and out with friends. We smile because this question is likely going to lead to one of two outcomes. The first involves intense questioning for thirty minutes on the safety of a midwife. The second involves
Why Choose a Midwife Anyway? Read More »
With both my previous pregnancies ending before 40 weeks (36w and 37w) everyone thought this baby was going to follow suit, but he had other plans. At 42 weeks, Nikki, my husband and I went into the hospital to begin my induction. The process was smooth, I had gone in wanting an un-medicated birth and
Bowman Birth Story Read More »
I woke up around 1am to what would be the start of random contractions, but I was in denial so I kept playing it off and tried to fall back to sleep. Except that with each new one I could tell that they were different than baby just practicing it’s stretches: I had to breathe
Home Birth Story – Baby Reggie Read More »
My name is Sarah and I am so excited to be moving into my senior year of the Midwifery Education Program with Talbot Creek Midwives. I completed my honours BA in Child Health at Brock University. This program allowed a lot of freedom in my research where I found myself continuously returning to the topic
February 11, 2020 Our plan was to have a hospital birth and there was no consideration that the seven minute drive would be too far. On February 11th, two weeks before my due date, I went to the gym as part of my early morning routine before work. The day took an unexpected turn when
Birth Story – Michelle Read More »
As a first-time mother, my experience with Talbot Creek Midwives (TCM) was very positive and I received more pre- and post-natal care than I expected. From the beginning, I felt at ease in the TCM office. Throughout each stage of pregnancy, my midwives gave detailed explanations of what to expect. They listened with understanding to any questions and concerns. With the onset of the COVID19 pandemic, which would have been stressful for them, they did not waver in continuing to offer their warm care and selfless support.
I didn’t have a specific birth plan or a definite idea of how I wanted things to go. As my very long labour progressed, it became clear that I wanted to aim to have a vaginal delivery with minimal interventions and, if possible, no pain medication. During the later stages of labour, my midwives were clear in communicating the various options to me without being pushy, while keeping me focused on what was best for my baby. My midwives were attentive and encouraging, like coaches. Despite never having met the secondary midwife, I felt completely comfortable and so appreciative of her honest and compassionate approach. Although there were a few minor interventions, my midwives were committed to helping me labour my way and to deliver as I had hoped, even if it took a long time! My husband and I were so impressed by their care and the fact that both midwives stayed until the very end, showing their genuine concern for their mothers and babies. After I delivered our baby boy, it felt like they were celebrating right along with us!
The advice, support, and reassurance we received after the birth was invaluable. After 6 weeks we were sad to say goodbye. The midwives provided service that was beneficial for my physical health and mental health as well. I would highly recommend the Talbot Creek Midwives
When I found out I was pregnant, I knew that I thrived with one on one emotional care and needed that in my pregnancy journey. Talbot Creek Midwives did exactly that, but far more than I could have ever expected. Their love, encouragement and patience made my pregnancy, birth and postpartum journey such a dream. They truly feel like my family and I cannot imagine having any other support in my future pregnancies!
I had originally planned for a non-medicated hospital birth and to labour at home as long as possible. During Covid, my curiosity for home birth grew and my midwife Michelle helped me have immense peace about it, sharing statistics and the flexibility I could experience at home. I knew I felt most comfortable in my home and that is where I would thrive. Michelle was my cheerleader and made me feel like I was invincible and could have my dream birth!
I gave birth to our rainbow baby in March 2020 after laboring for 7.5 hours and pushing for 20 minutes. It was an amazing feeling getting to have snuggles with my son in the comfort of our own bed after delivering him, showering in my own shower after birth, and having the midwives visit us bedside in the postpartum period for appointments. It was wonderful.
I have been fortunate enough to have Talbot Creek Midwives for both of my pregnancies. My first pregnancy was considered high-risk and Talbot Creek went above and beyond in ensuring that my pregnancy was properly monitored, and they helped to ease a lot of my anxiety as a first-time expecting Mom.
Two years later when I became pregnant with my second daughter, I knew right away that I needed Talbot Creek by my side. The quality of care and knowledge that this team of midwives possess is unmatched.
I was fortunate to have two successful unmedicated labours and deliveries and smooth recoveries — I attribute all of this to the care that I received from my incredible midwives who will always have a special place in my heart. Our second labour and delivery totalled 2 hours, we got to the hospital right in time to deliver her and I was so at ease once I saw my team.
If you are considering having a midwife, I would highly recommend Talbot Creek. You can be assured that you and your baby will receive the best care by a team of professional, compassionate, and dedicated women. I genuinely cannot imagine going through my pregnancies without these amazing midwives by my side.
There aren’t enough words to describe my experience with Talbot Creek Midwives.
This was my first time having midwife care during my pregnancy and it was exceptional. I had an OB with my first two pregnancies and my biggest regret is wishing I had had a midwife during those first two times. From the moment I walked into Talbot Creek something felt different. The care I received was so professional and personal. I felt like family.
They supported me through my own wants and expectations for my pregnancy and allowed me to have a voice. Being able to have access to call them 24/7 saved me from any unnecessary hospital or doctor visits and calmed any fears or anxieties.
It was so nice to have the postpartum care at home while I was recovering and resting after my delivery. I will be forever grateful for the midwives that took care of me and my sweet little baby during my pregnancy.
They will always be some of the most dearest and special women in my life and not to mention some of the hardest working people I know.
The midwives at Talbot Creek are super amazing, not many people know that if you get moved from midwife care to an OB due to complications, that they can and will stay on for support and postpartum care.
I was so excited to get into Talbot Creek and meet Meg and Nikki after 2 previous Births with a regular OB and no complications. I was planning a home birth, however at 30 weeks discovered through a routine ultrasound that I had a complete placenta previa. I had no symptoms what so ever and was completely devastated. I called Kelly to let her know that I would not be needing the midwife services, but I received a call from Meg letting me know that she was still able to be there for me during my c section. On December 13 at 36 weeks 2 days, I had an emergency c section and Natalie was there to help. She talked us through the procedure and made sure I was ok and checked up on the baby. He had to be in the NICU and she showed me how to hand express colostrum for him. She also had them wheel the hospital bed from recovery into the NICI so I could have a small amount of skin to skin because she knew it was important to me. During our stay I had the support of Meg and Natalie and I can’t say enough of how great and reassuring that was. When we were able to go home on the 17th, they visited us at the house and gave amazing guidance. Through breastfeeding and slow weight gain to emotional well being, these ladies are the best!
I was in the care of the Talbot Creek midwife team in 2013-2014. The care I received from the team throughout my pregnancy was nothing short of exceptional. My unwavering trust in my midwife, Meg and her student, Allison, allowed me to have a home birth that can only be described as magical. We feel so blessed that the first touch our beautiful daughter felt, was the hands of our incredibly gifted midwife. Thank you!
Kristi, Michele, Beth and everyone at Talbot Creek Midwifes, were amazing in helping me achieve the pregnancy and natural and unmedicated birth I had always wanted!
Prenatal appointments were relaxing, educational, and confidence building. They were so much more then just preforming the necessary checks to keep myself and baby healthy. They included chats about life, common interests that we shared, and reassuring conversations about what I really wanted for my labour and delivery.
When the big day came I felt prepared and confidant, even when the unexpected happened and my daughter was born at home, unassisted, before my team, or even the EMS, were able to get there. When Kristi arrived she walked into a home of complete chaos and brought an encouraging and comforting calm. She made us feel at ease and took care of our every need. From making sure I was fed and hydrated, to helping clean up the mess we had not prepared our home for, she thought of everything!
Postpartum care was better and more involved then I had even imagined it would be. The whole team helped us to celebrate and enjoy the arrival of our little girl. They helped us to debrief and mentally process our crazy labour and birth, and answered every question (no matter how small)! Thanks to resources they had provided and conversations that had happened prenatally, we felt prepared and equipped and were able to start off on the right foot with minimal hiccups.
I would highly recommend Talbot Creek Midwives to anyone! Their professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine interest in all of their patients not only exceeds the standard of care, but your greatest expectation!
So thankful to my midwives for giving me this experience (having an emergency c-section) with both of my boys I was sad that I wouldn’t get that skin to skin right away, my midwife Meg made it happen for both of my births!! Can’t thank you enough!!
Having a midwife for both of my births made it so special and memorable in a good way!!
My oldest boy still talks about our mid-wife’s lol
Choosing to have midwives support me during my pregnancy and birth was the best decision my husband and I made!
With multiple midwifery clinics in London, we struggled with deciding which one to pick. I had heard many positive things about Talbot Creek Midwives in Komoka from friends and decided we would send our application in there. When I got the call that there was a spot available, I was thrilled!
The first appointment was surreal, we heard our babies heartbeat for the first time. Each appointment we always looked forward to. Beth, Michelle and Kristi were wonderful and made us feel so welcome! Every appointment was so personal, there was always adequate time and our questions were always answered. I loved how each one of our midwives always seemed just as excited to listen to our babies heartbeat as we did! Part way through my pregnancy, appointments became more challenging due to COVID. Some of the appointments were over the phone, although this was disappointing, we understood. Each midwife we talked to was always so thorough and made it feel like a real appointment. They always made the most of the situation.
My birth story was nothing like I had pictured it would be. My delivery ended up being an unplanned C- Section. Without the amazing support of Beth and Meg, I truly don’t know what I would have done. Although they were not the ones who delivered my baby, they stayed by my side until the very end. They reassured myself and my husband through the whole process and talked us through everything that was happening.
The follow up visits were such a blessing. While recovering from a C- Section it was so nice to have our midwives come to our house and not have to worry about leaving for appointments. They were always so thorough with myself and our little baby. At our six week discharge appointment, I was so sad to say goodbye but also so thankful to have had such an amazing experience! We can’t wait to see the wonderful ladies at Talbot creek Midwives for our future babies!
After a difficult hospital delivery with my first child, I reached out to TCM when pregnant with my second. I knew I wanted a birth experience that could support a natural delivery and help me feel empowered to do what my body was designed to do. I couldn’t have been happier to have the incredible support and care I received from TCM. Although my second baby came very fast, Natalie made it in time to deliver my daughter at home. I cannot emphasize how much better my postpartum experience was with a home birth. I healed quickly, baby nursed successfully, and we had few complications compared to my first. When pregnant with my third, I again contacted TCM. Michelle, who was part of my previous team, supported me through another home birth, which was intense, but also a relief and comfort to be at home during Covid. I strongly recommend TCM to any expecting moms if you’re looking for supportive, well informed health care professionals to assist you in your pregnancy, delivery and postpartum journey!
I can’t think of more momentous and miraculous occasions in a woman’s life than pregnancy, birth, and the journey into motherhood. These wondrous events are forever ingrained into my memory; the joy of discovering we were pregnant (twice), the beauty of the progression of pregnancy, the anticipation of birth, the disappointment of having to be induced (twice), the pain of labour, and the devastation of both of our births ending in emergent Caesarean sections.
It is without hesitation that I can say that none of those things would have been the same if it weren’t for the care of our midwifery teams. Every appointment felt like a visit with a dear friend as they celebrated with me, laughed with me, and cried along with me. The prenatal care that you receive from your midwives goes unrivalled but it was also important to us to have care as we navigated the post partum period. Our midwives exceeded our expectations in every way.
We went through some particularly challenging post partum experiences; c-section recoveries, breastfeeding struggles, tongue/lip ties, postoperative infections – one of which landed me back in the hospital for a week when our first baby was 3 weeks old. Suffice it to say, I don’t think we would have made it through all of that without the support and love from our midwives.
Thank you to the remarkable team at Talbot Creek Midwives. Thank you for the time you took, the love you showed, the empathy you displayed, and the passion you so obviously have for caring for women during their most vulnerable and precious times. Each one of you involved in our care will forever hold a special place in our hearts whenever we think back on the two days that changed our lives forever and for the better.
I had such a wonderful pregnancy, and such a great start to labour, although sometimes you get dealt with surprise situations as a first time mother with things that may not have been in your original birth plan.
After many hours of labour, it was clear and inevitable that our little busy James was playing far too much “jump rope” in my belly and got himself into a complicated and tangled situation. My midwives were my most calming and supportive focal point.
Someone who has walked with you through your entire pregnancy, stood with you in your most vulnerable and significant moments in your life, and holds your hand until they know your child is safely in yours, is the kind of person you want by your side while you bring a child into this world. Thank you Meagan Furnivall and Michelle Lewington!
The decision to have midwives take care of us has brought some amazing women into our lives. There are not enough words to explain how grateful I am for these wonderful ladies. Even through uncertainty about birth during covid-19, they always made me feel safe, confident, positive, and so much more. Our home birth was such a memorable experience and I will never forget how supportive they were to our whole family. Our midwives were a constant source of encouragement even though it was maybe a little crazy. A fast delivery late at night with 5 older kids watching in our little bedroom and all the while we were attempting to facetime with family who wished to be there. I’m so glad we had a home birth and all of you at Talbot Creek will hold a special place in my heart!
I’m certain that one little blurb cannot accurately sum up just how I feel about the amazing ladies at Talbot Creek Midwives. I had the privilege of using them with all three of my pregnancies, and I’m so lucky I did. Each of the midwives brings something amazing and beautiful to prenatal, labour and postpartum care. Meg and Michelle in particular have a very special place in my heart. They walked with me through a scary post-birth experience, comforting me, reassuring me, but still allowing me to feel. I am quite certain that I was the most miserable, anxious and annoying over-paging client TCM could have ever had but they are all so kind in assuring me I was not. And while I am not sure I believe it, I’m even more convinced of how amazing they are because they showed me the most kindness and gentleness when I needed it most and they still do. My birth experiences and pregnancies, as difficult as I perceived them, were made so much better by these amazing women, and I’ll never forget the important roles they played in bringing my boys earth-side. There is a special place in my heart for all of you. Thank you, for all you do.
After being unable to have a chance at a VBAC after a complication from my 1st c-section, I came to Meg with the idea of a “Gentle C-Section”. She immediately ran with it and made it possible. I am forever grateful that she was such an amazing advocate for moving forward with my wishes to make my c-section: a birth, and not just another surgery. Also, so thankful that Michelle was able to document such a beautiful moment. Talbot Creek Midwives will be forever etched in our hearts bringing both of our beautiful boys safely into this world.