Montreal Prenatal Classes
Montreal and Laval Prenatal Classes

February Virtual Group Prenatal Classes
During the covid-19 pandemic we will be offering our prenatal classes live via Zoom. We will be breaking up the class into four 3 hour classes. February Class ...

March Virtual Group Prenatal Classes
During the covid-19 pandemic we will be offering our prenatal classes live via Zoom. We will be breaking up the class into four 3 hour classes. March ...
Our Montreal Birth Essentials Team

Lesley Everest
Welcome! I am the founder of MotherWit Doula Care and MotherWit Doula Training. My company expresses our collective heart-felt vision, which is to create and facilitate spaces that our community of pregnant and new parents can gather safely within.
As a doula since 2010, I use my background as a drama therapist, homeopath, and lifelong educator on my mission to observe, listen, and gently hold women/couples as they find their voice during the process of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Having given birth to two children, I have come to know as a woman, mother and Doula that there is no one right way to become “family”. Every way is perfect and unique. It is with this in mind that I support families through the perinatal period in an unbiased and non-judgemental manner. Trusting women supports the unfolding of an empowering birth experience in which the birthing family feels choice is always present, lived fully in the moment consciously and with awareness. My children’s presence injects me with sunshine every day. I have a supportive partner whose grace among all the women constantly in his home amazes me. When I am not doula-ing families, I love to train postpartum doulas, make music with my daughter and friends, cook, knit, read, and go into Nature as much as I possibly can.
– Millie

Millie Tresierra
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator

Laurel Tidman
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator
As a mother of two and a doula since 2010, I draw upon my background in psychology and family therapy, along with eight wild years as a stay at home mom, to guide families through birth experiences I do my best to keep safe, sacred, and memorable. Doula work was an obvious choice for me following my own experiences of birth which were both different and amazing.I am regularly humbled to witness the enormous sense of power parents gain when they understand what is going on around them during and leading up to their baby’s birth. Working with families is a shining light for me in an often disconnected world, and for that I am ever thankful. I love being creative and making things with my hands, be it food, crafts, or knitting projects. I am happiest when I am surrounded by the simplicity of the great outdoors, am off camping, and taking epic road trips with my family.
– Laurel
A doula since 2010 and a mother of an awesome son, I have a background in psychology. With my deep belief that birth matters, my mission is to guide new families through this very special time in their lives by helping them to clarify their preferences, making sure they know what their options are, and always supporting them in their informed choices about pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. My own personal experience with giving birth showed me how incredibly powerful a woman can be, and at the same time, incredibly vulnerable. Working with so many families has taught me to be very flexible in my approach, figuring out what my clients’ individual needs are, how I can help them achieve what they are looking for, honouring their uniqueness. Birth is a transformative journey, and I am privileged to undertake it with the families I serve. When I’m not running off to a birth, I enjoy reading, spending time with family and friends, exploring the nooks and crannies of our fabulous city (and others, when I can find the time to travel!), and I plan to take up knitting. Water is incredibly restorative for me and I love to be in it or near it–which explains my son’s water birth twelve years ago!
– Megan

Megan Tolbert
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator

Barbara Hitchko-Thompson
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator As a mother of four adult children and a certified chef, I know well the difference love and nourishment can make to any situation. Through listening, trust, and nurturing the body, mind, and soul, it is my mission to encourage connection to the inner strength each new family possesses. When there is a baby around, I am in my happy place. I was drawn to doula work in 2013 when I observed that the extended family unit, once there to teach, support, and care for the new family, was no longer the norm in our society. I decided to switch careers and fill the need there is to serve birthing and new families in a loving and empowering way. I enjoy gardening and woodworking. Making things with my hands and watching things grow brings me peace. When I am not at a birth or snuggling a new baby in the middle of the night while his parents sleep, I am supporting my children through the labyrinth of adulthood or in my garden tending to my organic vegetables. I have volunteered for a palliative care centre for over a decade, and provide meals to seniors. I can usually be found in my kitchen or in the kitchen of friends, where I find the most enriching gatherings to be had.
– Barbara
I’ve been fascinated with pregnancy and childbirth for as long as I can remember. Having closely followed the pregnancies of dear friends and family, I was witness to the incredible changes that occur during this remarkably powerful, yet vulnerable time; I simply knew that bringing support, comfort, and peace during these precious moments was where I needed to be. I draw upon my 12+ years working with families in a childcare setting to guide me as I provide individualized, nurturing, and attentive care to my clients. I do this by listening to and appreciating your preferences, nourishing you deeply and wholly, and by equipping you with accurate, evidence-based information so that you may navigate these new waters more confidently. I’ll encourage you to breath out tension and fear, and to listen to your intuition, as there is so much deeply-rooted knowledge in the body. And I’ll still be here to help as you come into your own as parents, encouraging you in all your magnificence (and feeding you banana bread!). When I’m not at a birth or reading up on all things birth-related, I’m probably rock climbing, adventuring (either in the city, or to far-off places), getting lost in nature, or perfecting my morning latte. I also love cooking, and am happiest when I’m sharing a heartwarming meal with the people I love.

Steph De Sousa
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Sibling Doula
Our Montreal Birth Essentials Team

Lesley Everest
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator
Founder and Director MotherWit As a mother of four and a doula since 1993, I draw upon my experience as a bodyworker, counsellor, educator, and lifelong learner of the healing arts to reduce tension and fear throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. I facilitate connection to one’s inner-strength and wisdom in my mission to help families birth and parent like rock stars. I have always loved babies and been fascinated by birth. At the tender age of 14, I found myself bitterly disappointed that I had missed the birth of my cat’s kittens. I vowed to witness the mystery and miracle of birth someday. When I became a mother to my first (now adult) child, I realized how powerful a medicine feeling supported and upheld throughout birth and early parenting on one’s own terms can be. I also witnessed the emergence of my own motherwit, which is now a powerful tool that serves me well. I committed myself to the doula path in order to professionally honour and support the important transition into parenthood. Over two decades later, I am still fascinated to witness birth: birth of motherwit, birth of babies birth of families. I am passionate about writing, teaching parents, training doulas, and storytelling (usually about birth). Long walks in Nature, spa, and brunch with friends are my favourite self-care rituals. My journey of healing from cancer has nourished my belief in the power of love and trust in one’s motherwit. As an interspiritual minister and hospice volunteer, I also provide doula care to those at the end of life. Besides hanging out with family and friends and working with birthing families, I’m happiest when I’m dancing.
– Lesley

Millie Tresierra
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator
As a doula since 2010, I use my background as a drama therapist, homeopath, and lifelong educator on my mission to observe, listen, and gently hold women/couples as they find their voice during the process of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Having given birth to two children, I have come to know as a woman, mother and Doula that there is no one right way to become “family”. Every way is perfect and unique. It is with this in mind that I support families through the perinatal period in an unbiased and non-judgemental manner. Trusting women supports the unfolding of an empowering birth experience in which the birthing family feels choice is always present, lived fully in the moment consciously and with awareness. My children’s presence injects me with sunshine every day. I have a supportive partner whose grace among all the women constantly in his home amazes me. When I am not doula-ing families, I love to train postpartum doulas, make music with my daughter and friends, cook, knit, read, and go into Nature as much as I possibly can.
– Millie

Laurel Tidman
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator
As a mother of two and a doula since 2010, I draw upon my background in psychology and family therapy, along with eight wild years as a stay at home mom, to guide families through birth experiences I do my best to keep safe, sacred, and memorable. Doula work was an obvious choice for me following my own experiences of birth which were both different and amazing.I am regularly humbled to witness the enormous sense of power parents gain when they understand what is going on around them during and leading up to their baby’s birth. Working with families is a shining light for me in an often disconnected world, and for that I am ever thankful. I love being creative and making things with my hands, be it food, crafts, or knitting projects. I am happiest when I am surrounded by the simplicity of the great outdoors, am off camping, and taking epic road trips with my family.
– Laurel

Megan Tolbert
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator
A doula since 2010 and a mother of an awesome son, I have a background in psychology. With my deep belief that birth matters, my mission is to guide new families through this very special time in their lives by helping them to clarify their preferences, making sure they know what their options are, and always supporting them in their informed choices about pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. My own personal experience with giving birth showed me how incredibly powerful a woman can be, and at the same time, incredibly vulnerable. Working with so many families has taught me to be very flexible in my approach, figuring out what my clients’ individual needs are, how I can help them achieve what they are looking for, honouring their uniqueness. Birth is a transformative journey, and I am privileged to undertake it with the families I serve. When I’m not running off to a birth, I enjoy reading, spending time with family and friends, exploring the nooks and crannies of our fabulous city (and others, when I can find the time to travel!), and I plan to take up knitting. Water is incredibly restorative for me and I love to be in it or near it–which explains my son’s water birth twelve years ago!
– Megan

Barbara Hitchko-Thompson
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator As a mother of four adult children and a certified chef, I know well the difference love and nourishment can make to any situation. Through listening, trust, and nurturing the body, mind, and soul, it is my mission to encourage connection to the inner strength each new family possesses. When there is a baby around, I am in my happy place. I was drawn to doula work in 2013 when I observed that the extended family unit, once there to teach, support, and care for the new family, was no longer the norm in our society. I decided to switch careers and fill the need there is to serve birthing and new families in a loving and empowering way. I enjoy gardening and woodworking. Making things with my hands and watching things grow brings me peace. When I am not at a birth or snuggling a new baby in the middle of the night while his parents sleep, I am supporting my children through the labyrinth of adulthood or in my garden tending to my organic vegetables. I have volunteered for a palliative care centre for over a decade, and provide meals to seniors. I can usually be found in my kitchen or in the kitchen of friends, where I find the most enriching gatherings to be had.
– Barbara


MotherWit West Island Moms' Meet-Up
Every Friday morning
10:00-Noon
aMuze
Plaza Pointe-Claire
269 Blvd. St. Jean
Pointe-Claire QC
H9R 3J1

MotherWit Montreal Postpartum Depression Support Group
Birth Essentials Montreal 5726 Sherbrooke W Suite 214 Montreal QC 514-237-0737
Would you like more information?
Have questions about any of our services or classes? Please send us an inquiry and we will get back to you as soon as we can!