Kensington Midwives
15 reviews 340 College St Suite 450, Toronto, ON +1 416-928-9777 kensingtonmidwives.ca suggest an edit
22 January 2024 18:30
I have very complex feelings about my experience with Kensington Midwives.
It’s been nine months since giving birth and I needed that time to process.
I started with 3 members on my team but it went down to two and I was never informed until after that who I thought was my lead midwife was no longer on the team.
So that is not good. Mistakes happen, not the worst part.
Half of what was left of my team ended up being amazing and the other half….
well they made what was a traumatizing experience worse with their awful communication, poor bedside manner and general lack of sensitivity.
I can recommend Kayla, and Kay with all my heart. Emily will be an excellent midwife once she finishes school.
Jamal in my opinion is best avoided at all costs.
Myself and my newborn child were discharged in a ten second phone call by Jamal. Without making sure there was a proper transition and transfer of care.
St Joseph’s were trying to desperately get in contact with him for days because there still was an important role that the team could fulfil for us.
I have been told the poor communication between St Joe’s and Kensington is on the hospital side.
I don’t care, if that is the case then it would have been even more important for Jamal to properly stay in touch and keep up to date.
What’s more I absolutely did not appreciate the private conversations made of loud whispers with Emily the Midwife student in front of me and my partner. Clearly there was a big concern but it was not shared with me at the time.
But beyond the health concerns for my newborn I believe I was flagged by Jamal for possible child neglect. So after being correctly sent back to St. Joe’s I was under surveillance by the nurses. Yeah that made things extra fun. And by fun I mean traumatizing. I was exonerated and I received several apologies from nurses. I got none from Jamal.
I know if there is a concern it should definitely be flagged but the lack of open dialogue and emphatic whispering was not the right path including being wrongly and insensitively discharged.
I don’t know how that should have been handled, but not like that!
Kay and Kayla went above and beyond to make up for Jamal’s shortcomings. If they were the only ones involved I wouldn’t have a bad word to say.
If my I had not had a baby born with a rare condition I would have likely not have much to complain about either.
But the fact is not all births go to plan not all babies are born healthy but when things go sideways mother and babies still deserve compassionate and caring care.
I sincerely hope that Jamal finds success in another field. I don’t think he should be a midwife.
I really don’t want to speak badly of Kensington midwives so consider my rating for only one member of my team. His poor performance should not reflect badly on anyone but him.
Added in response to Kensington midwives comment. I brought this to their attention not long after it occurred. This is in part how Kay became involved. Mistakes were made, and my son’s condition is rare. So not knowing exactly what to do is forgivable not being perfect is forgivable and understandable. I believe in learning from mistakes! I took nine months before writing my review because I wanted to make sure I wasn’t misplacing any emotions unfairly on Jamal. I DO NOT feel what happened with my case is a teachable moment. We were treated with judgment and later coldness. Knowing how to communicate and show basic care and consideration to a patient, I believe should be natural or well practiced to anyone working in healthcare especially a midwife. I already gave my feedback to this centre. I wrote this to let others know about my experience, to help others make an informed choice about their midwifes.
It’s been nine months since giving birth and I needed that time to process.
I started with 3 members on my team but it went down to two and I was never informed until after that who I thought was my lead midwife was no longer on the team.
So that is not good. Mistakes happen, not the worst part.
Half of what was left of my team ended up being amazing and the other half….
well they made what was a traumatizing experience worse with their awful communication, poor bedside manner and general lack of sensitivity.
I can recommend Kayla, and Kay with all my heart. Emily will be an excellent midwife once she finishes school.
Jamal in my opinion is best avoided at all costs.
Myself and my newborn child were discharged in a ten second phone call by Jamal. Without making sure there was a proper transition and transfer of care.
St Joseph’s were trying to desperately get in contact with him for days because there still was an important role that the team could fulfil for us.
I have been told the poor communication between St Joe’s and Kensington is on the hospital side.
I don’t care, if that is the case then it would have been even more important for Jamal to properly stay in touch and keep up to date.
What’s more I absolutely did not appreciate the private conversations made of loud whispers with Emily the Midwife student in front of me and my partner. Clearly there was a big concern but it was not shared with me at the time.
But beyond the health concerns for my newborn I believe I was flagged by Jamal for possible child neglect. So after being correctly sent back to St. Joe’s I was under surveillance by the nurses. Yeah that made things extra fun. And by fun I mean traumatizing. I was exonerated and I received several apologies from nurses. I got none from Jamal.
I know if there is a concern it should definitely be flagged but the lack of open dialogue and emphatic whispering was not the right path including being wrongly and insensitively discharged.
I don’t know how that should have been handled, but not like that!
Kay and Kayla went above and beyond to make up for Jamal’s shortcomings. If they were the only ones involved I wouldn’t have a bad word to say.
If my I had not had a baby born with a rare condition I would have likely not have much to complain about either.
But the fact is not all births go to plan not all babies are born healthy but when things go sideways mother and babies still deserve compassionate and caring care.
I sincerely hope that Jamal finds success in another field. I don’t think he should be a midwife.
I really don’t want to speak badly of Kensington midwives so consider my rating for only one member of my team. His poor performance should not reflect badly on anyone but him.
Added in response to Kensington midwives comment. I brought this to their attention not long after it occurred. This is in part how Kay became involved. Mistakes were made, and my son’s condition is rare. So not knowing exactly what to do is forgivable not being perfect is forgivable and understandable. I believe in learning from mistakes! I took nine months before writing my review because I wanted to make sure I wasn’t misplacing any emotions unfairly on Jamal. I DO NOT feel what happened with my case is a teachable moment. We were treated with judgment and later coldness. Knowing how to communicate and show basic care and consideration to a patient, I believe should be natural or well practiced to anyone working in healthcare especially a midwife. I already gave my feedback to this centre. I wrote this to let others know about my experience, to help others make an informed choice about their midwifes.
22 January 2024 5:37
My experience was long but I deeply appreciate the attention of Dr. Mohammed, he was very good and was there at all times. He looked tired but he was there until the end. Thank you very much.
09 November 2023 19:11
I just had my discharge appointment and I am so sad to say goodbye to my team. Tori, Mohammed and Madison are like family to us. I can’t imagine receiving better care during my pregnancy, labour and afterwards. They are such a loving and caring group of people. I will be recommending to all my friends and will be returning if I have a second child. I can’t thank them enough. If you are pregnant come to Kensington Midwives, they are THE BEST!
01 November 2023 16:53
I would not recommend Kensington Midwives due to a poor L&D experience.
PROS:
•There is one man (Spencer) and he was incredible. So much so I went out of my way to submit a hand written note about my awful experience but made sure to point out how amazing he was (unfortunately he was not there for my delivery)
•There were two co-op students or midwife apprentices who I had met the day of my L&D and one of the girls was amazing. She was super kind and caring and truly made my L&D experience better. If she wasn’t there I would have given this a ZERO stars based on my time at the hospital
CONS:
•The midwife who was appointed to me at the hospital was clearly extremely exhausted as she was at the tail end of her LONG on call window so her energy/emotional support/enthusiasm etc was lacking to say the least (Midwives are on-call for emergencies 24-hours a day)
•I was scared by my midwife telling me that the reason I had to get an emergency vacuum delivery was due to my birth canal being too small. Thankfully when I spoke to the L&D doctor who ended up delivering my baby she informed it that WAS NOT the case.it was simply because my baby was “sunny side up. ” I still hold on to the fear of giving birth again because of what the midwife had originally told me
•Talking amongst each other when in active labour at the hospital instead of helping me through it (very distracted with whatever they were discussing amongst themselves)
•Horrible postpartum care at the hospital and afterwards at their centre (mind you I have an emergency vacuum delivery and third-degree tear)
PROS:
•There is one man (Spencer) and he was incredible. So much so I went out of my way to submit a hand written note about my awful experience but made sure to point out how amazing he was (unfortunately he was not there for my delivery)
•There were two co-op students or midwife apprentices who I had met the day of my L&D and one of the girls was amazing. She was super kind and caring and truly made my L&D experience better. If she wasn’t there I would have given this a ZERO stars based on my time at the hospital
CONS:
•The midwife who was appointed to me at the hospital was clearly extremely exhausted as she was at the tail end of her LONG on call window so her energy/emotional support/enthusiasm etc was lacking to say the least (Midwives are on-call for emergencies 24-hours a day)
•I was scared by my midwife telling me that the reason I had to get an emergency vacuum delivery was due to my birth canal being too small. Thankfully when I spoke to the L&D doctor who ended up delivering my baby she informed it that WAS NOT the case.it was simply because my baby was “sunny side up. ” I still hold on to the fear of giving birth again because of what the midwife had originally told me
•Talking amongst each other when in active labour at the hospital instead of helping me through it (very distracted with whatever they were discussing amongst themselves)
•Horrible postpartum care at the hospital and afterwards at their centre (mind you I have an emergency vacuum delivery and third-degree tear)
17 October 2023 17:52
Kensington midwives are the best! So knowledgeable, compassionate and are truly there for you during one of the most hard/exciting times in your life. I had Kensington midwives for both my home births and I couldn’t have done it without them.
05 August 2023 21:23
I had the best experience with the Kensington Midwives both prenatal and post natal. My team was super kind, attentive and guided me well through every step. As a first time pregnancy they made me feel very at ease, I will definitely return to Kensington. Big shout out to Jemal, Kyla and Emily!
09 May 2023 16:26
Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a kind and professional team, who are providing all information you’re looking for, take their time and support in all choices you need to make, and most importantly help you make your own and respect your decisions. All great people, including midwives, students and frontdesk!
19 March 2023 4:41
I loved my experience with Kensington Midwives. I felt informed, supported and truly cared for by my team throughout my pregnancy and my babies birth was a safe and empowering experience. I can’t thank Kensington midwives enough for the amazing services they provided me and my baby
18 March 2023 11:41
Here comes a wall of text!
It’s been a few years since they have seen me and now 2.5 year old Leo, but I’ll never forget the compassion and care they showed me as I transitioned into parenthood during a time where many unexpected life changes and unavoidable events popped up. All during my very planned and low-risk pregnancy. How people treat you during sensitive times is something that will always stay with you.
They never failed to be supportive during such a sensitive time. They showed zero negative judgement. Not even once. They gave me more compassion than I gave myself! They provided gentle guidance and understanding. They educated me on all possible options for moving forward with no pressure or bias in any direction. They ensured that I felt like my pregnancy was in my control and educated me on each and every option I could take. Once I mentioned that my mindset surrounding these things and how I’d like to deliver was set, they never attempted to challenge my confidence in knowing what was best for myself (a hospital birth with an epidural lined up the second I’m admitted! I was too experienced with debilitating period cramps to even for a second consider going through delivery without an epidural!). I felt that my feelings and thoughts were always validated, and that my agency stayed mine. If I mentioned a fear, they’d take the time to hear me out and provide me with comforting information.
Without oversharing too much on reviews or getting TOO depressing (just a little!), one scary event after another happened. They were professional and knowledgeable, yet relatable and “human”. My vision for the “picture-perfect” pregnancy and entry into motherhood that I expected came crumbling down as the months went by, and ended in a completely unexpected life-threatening complication during delivery. Not only were they a helpful listening ear full of resources during the turbulent pregnancy, but their quick actions and expertise (along with the team at St. Joes Hospital) contributed to saving the life of both me and my little one.
My toddler and I are now doing great. He is an affectionate, hilarious, and incredibly chaotic (today he threw a tantrum because I had the audacity to peel his cheese string for him) little guy. I will always give credit to all three of the midwives on my team for helping the two of us with this life-changing transition into this amazing new (ish) chapter, and for where we are today.
If you’re reading these reviews because you’re considering going into the care of midwives, you won’t regret choosing this place. I can not think of a single complaint. I’ve chosen to be a one-and-done mum, but I wouldn’t even think twice about going back to this place if my plans were to change. I’d call them and beg them to be my healthcare providers again in a heartbeat.
Thank you Courtney, Lisa, and Noelia. You three are what everyone in this profession should aspire to be. You are the definition of patient-focused and accommodating. You took on an important job and absolutely perfected it.
It’s been a few years since they have seen me and now 2.5 year old Leo, but I’ll never forget the compassion and care they showed me as I transitioned into parenthood during a time where many unexpected life changes and unavoidable events popped up. All during my very planned and low-risk pregnancy. How people treat you during sensitive times is something that will always stay with you.
They never failed to be supportive during such a sensitive time. They showed zero negative judgement. Not even once. They gave me more compassion than I gave myself! They provided gentle guidance and understanding. They educated me on all possible options for moving forward with no pressure or bias in any direction. They ensured that I felt like my pregnancy was in my control and educated me on each and every option I could take. Once I mentioned that my mindset surrounding these things and how I’d like to deliver was set, they never attempted to challenge my confidence in knowing what was best for myself (a hospital birth with an epidural lined up the second I’m admitted! I was too experienced with debilitating period cramps to even for a second consider going through delivery without an epidural!). I felt that my feelings and thoughts were always validated, and that my agency stayed mine. If I mentioned a fear, they’d take the time to hear me out and provide me with comforting information.
Without oversharing too much on reviews or getting TOO depressing (just a little!), one scary event after another happened. They were professional and knowledgeable, yet relatable and “human”. My vision for the “picture-perfect” pregnancy and entry into motherhood that I expected came crumbling down as the months went by, and ended in a completely unexpected life-threatening complication during delivery. Not only were they a helpful listening ear full of resources during the turbulent pregnancy, but their quick actions and expertise (along with the team at St. Joes Hospital) contributed to saving the life of both me and my little one.
My toddler and I are now doing great. He is an affectionate, hilarious, and incredibly chaotic (today he threw a tantrum because I had the audacity to peel his cheese string for him) little guy. I will always give credit to all three of the midwives on my team for helping the two of us with this life-changing transition into this amazing new (ish) chapter, and for where we are today.
If you’re reading these reviews because you’re considering going into the care of midwives, you won’t regret choosing this place. I can not think of a single complaint. I’ve chosen to be a one-and-done mum, but I wouldn’t even think twice about going back to this place if my plans were to change. I’d call them and beg them to be my healthcare providers again in a heartbeat.
Thank you Courtney, Lisa, and Noelia. You three are what everyone in this profession should aspire to be. You are the definition of patient-focused and accommodating. You took on an important job and absolutely perfected it.
19 February 2023 19:57
I'm new to Canada and I didn't know how the system worked. I felt very insecure but when I found this center and I was so well taken care of and I felt much better and welcomed. I can only thank you for the accompaniment I had throughout my pregnancy and postpartum. If one day I get pregnant again, I would definitely come here. Thank you
10 February 2023 22:34
I had the most amazing experience with the team at Kensington Midwives!
I felt very well cared for throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Everyone was very supportive and thorough.
I highly recommend working with them
I felt very well cared for throughout pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. Everyone was very supportive and thorough.
I highly recommend working with them
01 February 2023 23:21
I had the best experience! My boy is 4months.
I am grateful for all the support I received. Mohammed was my midwife; he is the most amazing human being. Super kind and understanding. Super gentle. I went into labour when he was off call but he sacrificed and still came to attend to me. Kyla came home to visit and she was super amazing and kind. If I were to have more children, I would still go back to Kensington Midwives!
I will forever be grateful!
I am grateful for all the support I received. Mohammed was my midwife; he is the most amazing human being. Super kind and understanding. Super gentle. I went into labour when he was off call but he sacrificed and still came to attend to me. Kyla came home to visit and she was super amazing and kind. If I were to have more children, I would still go back to Kensington Midwives!
I will forever be grateful!
12 January 2023 21:30
My partner and I had a great experience with Kensington Midwives. They explained to us the things we would have to make decisions on based on data and statistics, which helped us to make those decisions in a comfortable, conscious and educated way. They guided us through the process while never imposing their ideas.
We had a wonderful home birth with a birthing pool, and as a first time father I could not imagine doing it any other way. It was perfect!
We had a wonderful home birth with a birthing pool, and as a first time father I could not imagine doing it any other way. It was perfect!
02 January 2023 0:15
What a positive birth experience. Kyla and Jemal helped me through the ups and downs of pregnancy and helped me welcome a lovely not so tiny (9lbs) boy in the comfort of my own home. The level of care was incredible! Kyla was there for my delivery and respected all my birth wishes while making sure our baby boy was delivered safely.
23 December 2022 2:55
I am deeply grateful for the care and warm support that my son and I received from Kensington Midwives Hospital. I am especially grateful to Dr. Mohamed Mohamed, for the care and his excellent humane service.:)