514-237-0737 / 613-518-1060 info@MotherWit.ca
Meet Our MotherWit Montreal Doula Care Team
No event found!
Load More
Lesley Everest MotherWit Doula Montreal Image by www.AdorroImpressions.com

Lesley Everest

Founder and Director MotherWit
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Sleep Educator, TummyTime!™ Method Instructor

Welcome to MotherWit! It is an honour to have you here! 
 
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.  We meet you as you are, and strive to ensure you feel included and supported, no matter what your values around birth and parenting are. 
Our work has always been about connecting people to their inner and outer resources. It is a privilege to bear witness to the birth and thriving of Family.  
Our prenatal classes and doula care focus on supporting you in witnessing yourself as a powerful birth giver and worthy steward of the next generation, no matter what that looks like.  We believe in the deep nourishment that loving and attuned connection can provide in transitional times that are fraught with uncertainty and challenge.  We know professionally and personally that a birth and postpartum experience parents can feel good about (or at least make a powerful meaning of) can contribute to a happier parenting experience.  It is important for parents to feel good about themselves!  This supports the bonding of parents and babies, which is at the root of a child's secure attachment, serving as a building block of optimal family health.  Birth and the weeks afterwards are peak transformational times for families.  Evidence shows that doula support can contribute to more positive early family life experiences.
I have personally been accompanying families through the intimate transitions of birth, early parenting, and loss for nearly three decades. As a mother of four and trainer of a large percentage of the English speaking doulas in Montreal and Ottawa, I draw upon my experience as an educator, trauma-informed bodyworker, transformational coach, inter-spiritual minister, infant/family sleep supporter and lifelong learner of the healing arts to inform my work.  I seek to reduce tension and fear throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period by facilitating connection to one’s inner-strength and wisdom (motherwit) in my mission to support birthing and new families in feeling triumphant about their efforts (even when things don’t go as planned). 
In the last decade it has been an honour to teach about "the deeper curriculum" of birth not only to the general population and doula trainees, but also to nursing schools, medical institutions, and conferences/birth and parenting organizations throughout North America 
 
My journey of healing from cancer as well as sitting at the feet of Birth as its faithful student for so long has nurtured my belief in the power of love and trust in one’s motherwit.  My family is my heart. Writing, long walks in Nature, spa visits, singing badly to eighties music, and brunch with friends are my favourite self-care rituals. I’m probably happiest when I’m dancing.

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 Tolbert MotherWit Doula Montreal

Megan Tolbert

Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator
Barbara Hitchko-Thompson MotherWit Doula Montreal

Steph De Sousa

Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator

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.

 

Iliana is a compassionate Birth and Postpartum Doula and Childbirth Educator, known for her calming presence and dedication to supporting families through transformative experiences. Her passion for birth work began early, learning from mentor Lesley Everest and shaping her approach to care.

With a focus on adaptability, surrender, and trust, Iliana believes in the profound change that pregnancy, birth, and postpartum bring. She offers steady support with a grounded, regulated presence, complementing clinical care with her empowering, non-medical role.

Her "little sister" energy creates a safe, non-judgmental space where families feel understood and supported. A self-proclaimed "birth nerd," Iliana is a trusted guide on the journey to parenthood.

 

 
Laurel Tidman MotherWit Doula Montreal

Iliana Marino

Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator

Barbara Hitchko-Thompson MotherWit Doula Montreal

Barbara Finck-Beccafico (she/they)

Birth Doula, Yoga therapist & Birth photographer

As prepared as I thought I was, my childbirth experience was challenging. Coming out of this experience, while discovering what being a mom in the day-to-day really meant, I felt drawn to helping change the birth paradigm. Supporting families in their birthing journey, helping them see success in every birth, even when things don’t go exactly as planned became a passion.
As a life-long learner, I have dedicated years of my life training to becoming a 360-support person for birthing people, as a Birth Doula of course, but also as a Holistic Coach (certified Yoga therapist and Energy worker). Parents have also enjoyed my experience as a photographer, allowing them to preserve their safe birthing place from extra presence, while holding on to life-long souvenirs of this unique adventure.
Making a point of defending empowered birth for ALL is essential to me, having supported parents with many different birth wishes, from home-birth to planned c-section. Protecting autonomy for families by providing them with judgement-free evidence-based information is what I centre my practice around.
When I am not with birthing people, I spend my time composing music and creating contemporary art pieces. I love inviting my friends over to cook and care for them.
Being the witness of birth is a real privilege, so I thank you for letting me in.
(Languages: native French, fluent English, moderate Spanish)

 

 

My path to postpartum doula work began with a firsthand understanding of how isolating and overwhelming the early weeks can feel—especially when feeding and sleep aren’t going smoothly. I now support families through postpartum recovery with steady, practical care and compassionate presence, helping parents feel less alone as they find their rhythm.

I offer postpartum doula support alongside babywearing education, with options for 1:1 guidance and group workshops. I’m also a certified elimination communication and potty training consultant, supporting families with both workshops and individual consultations to help make the move away from diapers feel clear, doable, and aligned with your child’s temperament and your household.

As a longtime pre- and post-natal yoga teacher, I also offer yoga classes and private sessions that emphasize gentle, nervous-system-supportive movement, breathwork, and mindfulness—so you can care for your body while caring for your baby, and feel more grounded through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.

Laurel Tidman MotherWit Doula Montreal

Lisa "Dee" Perusse

Postpartum Doula, Pre and Post-natal Yoga Teacher, Elimination Communication Consultant

Laurel Tidman MotherWit Doula Montreal

Becky Gradek

Postpartum Doula, Overnight Doula

Hi, my name is Becky.  I’m a mother of two wonderful children.  My kids describe me as loving, flexible and kind.  We have been living in Montréal for the last decade. I have proudly recently become a Canadian citizen.  Before that I lived and worked as a Registered Nurse in New York City. 

I have spent the last 30 years caring of people in my personal and professional life.  I started babysitting at 11.  I have worked as a nurse in rehab facilities, nursing homes, clients' private homes, elementary schools and group homes for adults with physical & developmental disabilities.  I have a bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN).  Even though my background is rooted in modern medicine, I am also drawn to holistic modalities.  I love practising Reiki because of the relaxation and healing it brings.

My winding and sometimes unplanned path has led me to my greatest joy which is caring for newborn babies and new parents as a doula!  I know what’s it’s like to struggle with a new born baby while having fluctuating postpartum moods, with lack of sleep, with breastfeeding and more.  I also know what it’s like to not have extended family around.  I have the personal and professional experience to flexibly help support people through the beautiful and challenging time of postpartum.  

When I’m not caring for someone, I love being outside by the water or discovering new parks.  Montreal’s botanical garden is my home design inspiration as I try to stuff my house with as many plants as possible!  

No event found!
Load More
Lesley Everest MotherWit Doula Montreal Image by www.AdorroImpressions.com

Lesley Everest

Founder and Director MotherWit
Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator, Sleep Educator

Welcome to MotherWit! It is an honour to have you here! 
 
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.  We meet you as you are, and strive to ensure you feel included and supported, no matter what your values around birth and parenting are. 
Our work has always been about connecting people to their inner and outer resources. It is a privilege to bear witness to the birth and thriving of Family.  
Our prenatal classes and doula care focus on supporting you in witnessing yourself as a powerful birth giver and worthy steward of the next generation, no matter what that looks like.  We believe in the deep nourishment that loving and attuned connection can provide in transitional times that are fraught with uncertainty and challenge.  We know professionally and personally that a birth and postpartum experience parents can feel good about (or at least make a powerful meaning of) can contribute to a happier parenting experience.  It is important for parents to feel good about themselves!  This supports the bonding of parents and babies, which is at the root of a child's secure attachment, serving as a building block of optimal family health.  Birth and the weeks afterwards are peak transformational times for families.  Evidence shows that doula support can contribute to more positive early family life experiences.
I have personally been accompanying families through the intimate transitions of birth, early parenting, and loss for nearly three decades. As a mother of four and trainer of a large percentage of the English speaking doulas in Montreal and Ottawa, I draw upon my experience as an educator, trauma-informed bodyworker, transformational coach, inter-spiritual minister, infant/family sleep supporter and lifelong learner of the healing arts to inform my work.  I seek to reduce tension and fear throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period by facilitating connection to one’s inner-strength and wisdom (motherwit) in my mission to support birthing and new families in feeling triumphant about their efforts (even when things don’t go as planned). 
In the last decade it has been an honour to teach about "the deeper curriculum" of birth not only to the general population and doula trainees, but also to nursing schools, medical institutions, and conferences/birth and parenting organizations throughout North America 
 
My journey of healing from cancer as well as sitting at the feet of Birth as its faithful student for so long has nurtured my belief in the power of love and trust in one’s motherwit.  My family is my heart. Writing, long walks in Nature, spa visits, singing badly to eighties music, and brunch with friends are my favourite self-care rituals. I’m probably happiest when I’m dancing.
Megan Tolbert MotherWit Doula Montreal

Megan Tolbert

Birth 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!

 

 

Barbara Hitchko-Thompson MotherWit Doula Montreal

Steph De Sousa

Birth and Postpartum Doula

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.

 

Laurel Tidman MotherWit Doula Montreal

Iliana Marino

Birth and Postpartum Doula, Childbirth Educator

Iliana is a compassionate Birth and Postpartum Doula and Childbirth Educator, known for her calming presence and dedication to supporting families through transformative experiences. Her passion for birth work began early, learning from mentor Lesley Everest and shaping her approach to care.

With a focus on adaptability, surrender, and trust, Iliana believes in the profound change that pregnancy, birth, and postpartum bring. She offers steady support with a grounded, regulated presence, complementing clinical care with her empowering, non-medical role.

Her "little sister" energy creates a safe, non-judgmental space where families feel understood and supported. A self-proclaimed "birth nerd," Iliana is a trusted guide on the journey to parenthood.

 

 
Barbara Hitchko-Thompson MotherWit Doula Montreal

Barbara Finck-Beccafico (she/they)

Birth Doula, Yoga therapist & Birth photographer

As prepared as I thought I was, my childbirth experience was challenging. Coming out of this experience, while discovering what being a mom in the day-to-day really meant, I felt drawn to helping change the birth paradigm. Supporting families in their birthing journey, helping them see success in every birth, even when things don’t go exactly as planned became a passion.
As a life-long learner, I have dedicated years of my life training to becoming a 360-support person for birthing people, as a Birth Doula of course, but also as a Holistic Coach (certified Yoga therapist and Energy worker). Parents have also enjoyed my experience as a photographer, allowing them to preserve their safe birthing place from extra presence, while holding on to life-long souvenirs of this unique adventure.
Making a point of defending empowered birth for ALL is essential to me, having supported parents with many different birth wishes, from home-birth to planned c-section. Protecting autonomy for families by providing them with judgement-free evidence-based information is what I centre my practice around.
When I am not with birthing people, I spend my time composing music and creating contemporary art pieces. I love inviting my friends over to cook and care for them.
Being the witness of birth is a real privilege, so I thank you for letting me in.
(Languages: native French, fluent English, moderate Spanish)

 

 
Laurel Tidman MotherWit Doula Montreal

Lisa "Dee" Perusse

Postpartum Doula, Pre and Post-natal Yoga Teacher, Elimination Communication Consultant

My path to postpartum doula work began with a firsthand understanding of how isolating and overwhelming the early weeks can feel—especially when feeding and sleep aren’t going smoothly. I now support families through postpartum recovery with steady, practical care and compassionate presence, helping parents feel less alone as they find their rhythm.

I offer postpartum doula support alongside babywearing education, with options for 1:1 guidance and group workshops. I’m also a certified elimination communication and potty training consultant, supporting families with both workshops and individual consultations to help make the move away from diapers feel clear, doable, and aligned with your child’s temperament and your household.

As a longtime pre- and post-natal yoga teacher, I also offer yoga classes and private sessions that emphasize gentle, nervous-system-supportive movement, breathwork, and mindfulness—so you can care for your body while caring for your baby, and feel more grounded through pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.

Laurel Tidman MotherWit Doula Montreal

Becky Gradek

Postpartum Doula, Overnight Doula

Hi, my name is Becky.  I’m a mother of two wonderful children.  My kids describe me as loving, flexible and kind.  We have been living in Montréal for the last decade. I have proudly recently become a Canadian citizen.  Before that I lived and worked as a Registered Nurse in New York City. 

I have spent the last 30 years caring of people in my personal and professional life.  I started babysitting at 11.  I have worked as a nurse in rehab facilities, nursing homes, clients' private homes, elementary schools and group homes for adults with physical & developmental disabilities.  I have a bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN).  Even though my background is rooted in modern medicine, I am also drawn to holistic modalities.  I love practising Reiki because of the relaxation and healing it brings.

My winding and sometimes unplanned path has led me to my greatest joy which is caring for newborn babies and new parents as a doula!  I know what’s it’s like to struggle with a new born baby while having fluctuating postpartum moods, with lack of sleep, with breastfeeding and more.  I also know what it’s like to not have extended family around.  I have the personal and professional experience to flexibly help support people through the beautiful and challenging time of postpartum.  

When I’m not caring for someone, I love being outside by the water or discovering new parks.  Montreal’s botanical garden is my home design inspiration as I try to stuff my house with as many plants as possible!  

Would you like to meet with a MotherWit doula or learn more about doula care?

If you are interested in working together, send us an inquiry and we will get back to you as soon as we can!
Contact Us