Learn More About Our Midwives
In October 2011, Ottawa South Midwives was born to help serve growing families in Ottawa. We are a team of dedicated primary health care professionals who are experts in maternal and newborn care. We believe that pregnancy and birth are a healthy, normal part of the life cycle. Recognizing that complications do arise, we work closely with doctors, nurses, lactation consultants, doulas and other health professionals as needed.
Midwives at our practice hold privileges at The Ottawa Hospital – Civic Campus for all hospital births and offer out-of-hospital birth to low-risk clients both at home and at the Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre.
If you are pregnant and interested in midwifery care, please fill out our intake form as early in your pregnancy as possible.
Meet Our Team
Our dedicated team of primary health care professionals have a passion for maternity and newborn care.
We love getting to know you and walking with you as your family grows.
Val Albrecht, RM
Hello! My name is Val and I moved from North Bay to Ottawa in 2013 to join Ottawa South Midwives. I lived in this lovely city as a teenager and am very happy to have moved back and become a part of the community again. I have been involved in midwifery and birth in one form or other since 1992, as a doula, a second attendant, and finally as a midwife. I can think of nothing more fulfilling than to be part of a family’s transition to parenthood.
I have 3 grown children, the youngest of whom was born at home with midwives. When not catching babies I love spending time at the cottage or doing anything outdoors.
Helen Guenther, RM
I came to midwifery as a second career. What really drew me to midwifery was the unique connections that are formed with individuals and families as they journey to meeting their new baby. Having spent a number of years in a research setting, I found myself wanting to branch out to a space where I could use my natural preference for the scientific field in a way that would also allow for connection with others. Through this process, I researched social sciences, nursing and midwifery. I was blessed to meet some wonderful midwives over this course of exploration, as well as clients who had received midwifery care, and found that their stories deeply resonated with me, compelling me to become a midwife.
My goal as a midwife is to provide research-based, client-centred, and individualized care. I seek to understand the preferences and values of the clients I serve, and to help them achieve their goals throughout pregnancy, birth and post-partum.
Nicole saucier, RM – ON LEAVE
Born in Vancouver and raised in Ottawa, I first pursued my studies in the field of neuroscience, earning a degree from Acadia University in Nova Scotia. Later, time spent travelling internationally and living in the Rockies brought me into the world of birth, reproductive choice, and midwifery. I soon earned my midwifery degree from McMaster University, and have been privileged to have had learning experiences with diverse populations in Toronto, Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo, Hamilton and Haida Gwaii, BC.
I feel passionate about providing evidence based, family centred care that highlights choice and honours respect, learning, and empowerment through health teaching. I am currently pursuing masters level studies in Midwifery to expand my clinical and professional skills.
I look forward to working with you and your family!
Xiaojuan yan, RM
“Joanne” was trained and worked in China as an obstetrician (OB) for more than 15 years. She was a senior OB of a Level III and baby friendly hospital, as well as a university professor. In Ontario, she completed the International Midwifery Pre-registration program and has been practicing in Ontario since 2011.
Christi Baker, RM
With a background in biology and women’s studies, it’s no surprise that I pursued a career in midwifery. The holistic nature of midwifery, it’s evidence based practice, and dedication to human, reproductive and sexual health rights makes me proud to be a part of this work.
I studied (mostly science and nursing) and trained through much of Ontario and finally settled in Ottawa and joined Ottawa South Midwives in 2016. I live with my supportive partner and 2 sons (caught by midwives over a decade apart!) When I’m off-call, you can find me being active or creative in one way or another.
I look forward to collaborating with you on this exciting journey of pregnancy and parenthood.
Liliane Dacmeta, RM
I am originally from Douala, Cameroun (Central Africa) where I was raised and did most of my studies. As the mother of three children, my own childbirth experiences informed my decision to pursue midwifery as a meaningful career path. I have seen that having a knowledgeable and caring professional attending to people throughout pregnancy, birth and postpartum can make a positive impact in the lives of families and communities.
Before entering the Midwifery Education Program at Laurentian University, I worked as a Nurse in Montréal, Québec. During my midwifery training, my clinical placements took me to many cities in Ontario including Toronto, Ottawa and Winchester, and I am proud to offer my services in English and French. I have worked at Midwife Alliance, Toronto, since graduation and it is with great joy that I am becoming a part of the wonderful team of Ottawa South Midwives!
I’m an active volunteer with the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM) for the project Midwives Save Life (MSL) in RDC (Republique Democratique du Congo).
libby ormond, RM
I am a graduate of the International Midwifery Preregistration Program (IMPP) at Ryerson University. I obtained my midwifery education in the United States, during which I resided in both Maine, and Seattle, WA. After completing my midwifery training in 2015, I travelled to Nepal for a midwifery internship to experience maternity care in a different setting. I am passionately committed to providing high-quality client education and care while building strong relationships with expectant families during their transition into parenthood and beyond. Originally from Hamilton, Ontario, I am very excited to provide care with Ottawa South Midwives and further get to know the wonderful community of Ottawa.
In my spare time I enjoy trying new recipes, yoga, beekeeping, and spending time with family.
charlotte toogood, RM
Born and raised in Northern Ontario, I grew up surrounded by midwifery. I have always felt a strong connection to the time-honored traditions of providing pregnant people with quality, holistic, culturally sensitive and professional care.
I focused my career path and academic pursuits on gaining unique midwifery experiences. My passion for birth and travel led me to participate in health and maternity services in Guatemala for 5 years, where I worked with a variety of health care providers including midwives, obstetricians and traditional birth attendants.
When I am not delivering babies, I tend to my creative side by crafting, cooking, gardening and enjoying peaceful nature settings!
GaËlle Nyamushara, RM
I was born and raised in the small country of Rwanda and moved to Canada in 2008. My love & appreciation for midwifery is rooted in faith, compassion & family. I have been fortunate to work with diverse communities, including IBPOC, immigrant, and refugee populations. I am fluent in English, French and Kinyarwanda, and it would be my pleasure to provide care in all three of these languages. Working at Ottawa South Midwives has left me feeling joyful to have the opportunity to serve this community alongside strong and capable midwives.
Melissa lepp, RM
My name is Melissa (she/her). I became interested in midwifery because of its dedication to equity, respect, autonomy, and choice. I continue to ground my work as a midwife in these foundations. Before coming to midwifery, I studied theatre and worked briefly in drama education and community arts, primarily with young women and 2SLGBTQA+ youth. I studied at Toronto Metropolitan University and worked with a diverse community of clients in downtown Toronto. I look forward to providing culturally safe and supportive care to clients here in Ottawa and feel especially proud to support clients from the 2SLGBTQA+ community. Outside of midwifery, I spend my time with my daughter, wife, and dog, exploring the city, dancing in our living room, and enjoying nature. It is an honour to help families welcome their new baby and I look forward to working with you and your family!
sarah tucker, RM
I grew up in a very small town south of Ottawa and I am a graduate of the MEP at Laurentian University (2016) and have now been practicing for 7 years. My interest in midwifery began in my college days, but my time spent up north solidified my desire to be a midwife. I really saw a gap in care when women were having to be flown in from outlying communities to have their babies, most often without support and for extended lengths of time.
Since graduating from the MEP, I have been fortunate to have worked in communities including Ottawa (as a student), Cornwall, and Peterborough. The clients I served in these communities were incredibly diverse, but I especially found it both challenging and rewarding to work with a large population of teen moms.
When I’m not midwifing, I’m crafting anything and everything while binge-watching shows on Netflix. You can also find me in the garden! P.S. Ask me what I did before becoming a midwife!
Sarah Mcilwham, RM
Sarah was drawn to supporting pregnant people and their families following the birth and postpartum experiences with her own children. Sarah has a background in science and previously worked for the federal government as a microbiologist in research and policy. Her passion to support pregnant people led to her to work as a doula in Ottawa for several years, and then to pursue her dream of becoming a midwife. Sarah loves integrating her scientific background with her experience as a doula to provide evidence-based information for clients and to support them in their pregnancy, birth and postpartum experience. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her partner, two children and dog, enjoying the outdoors and all that our great city has to offer!
ola levitin, RM
Committed to protecting the right to choose in pregnancy and birth, Ola first worked as a Doula, and then completed the Midwifery Education Program at Ryerson. She has worked as a Midwife in Toronto and Ottawa. Ola is known in the community for her support of VBAC and is on the QA committee at the Civic Hospital. When she is not catching babies, she enjoys gardening, knitting, kayaking and figure skating. Ola is fluent in English, French and Russian.
Beth galster, RM
Maternal health has always been my passion, and I am grateful to be serving the families of Ottawa in a way that aligns with my dedication to comprehensive, trauma-informed care.
I began my journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Outdoor Education and an Emergency Medical Responder license in Alberta. Over the next decade, I acquired numerous birth-related certifications while working as a doula, birth photographer, and clinic manager. During this period, my husband and I welcomed our children—first, our micro-preemie son and later, our daughter at term. These personal experiences reinforced my belief in the importance of informed choice and continuity of care for families. Midwifery brought us back to my birth-province of Ontario and we are thrilled to be in Ottawa.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family, biking, skiing, sewing, and savoring sunny days with a coffee. I am thrilled to join the dedicated team at Ottawa South Midwives and look forward to being a part of your care.
Student Midwives
Raesa is a fourth year student midwife following Christi.
“Becoming a midwife was always a passion of mine as I always wanted to have a career that involved women and children care, having continuity of care with clients and being able to understand client’s issues and needs. I was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and migrated to Canada with my family at a very young age. Growing up as an immigrant child and coming from a war-torn country, I always had a passion to give back to the community and help those in need. I have also graduated from York University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Global Health. Thank you for accepting me and giving me the opportunity to learn.”
Neige (she/her) is a fourth year student following Liliane.
“I was born and raised in Ottawa and love this community. I am passionate about women’s health and strive to learn about different cultures and practices. I love to read, be outdoors and hang out with my dog. I look forward to meeting you all.
Salut! Je m’appelle Neige (elle) et je serai votre étudiante sénior sage-femme pour 2024-2025! Je suis née ici a Ottawa et j’aime bien cette communauté. Je suis passionnée par le domaine de la santé des femmes et je m’efforce d’apprendre différentes cultures et pratigues. J’adore lire, être dehors et jouer avec mon chien. J’ai hâte de faire votre connaissance!”
Administrative Team
Whether you call our office or come in, you’ll be greeted by a member of our amazing administrative team. Both Franca and Tanya help to keep our clinic days running smoothly, and help facilitate any connections you need to make within our practice. If you’re in the office frequently, you might also catch a glimpse of Leslie, our Practice Administrator. Leslie works to keep our busy clinic functioning well and making sure we have everything we need to care for you and your baby.