New Years now has an extra special meaning to Noella Floyd-Foulds and her partner, Harley Foulds, who welcomed their daughter, Teresa Mae Floyd Foulds, into the world Jan. 1 – the first baby born in Haliburton County in 2026.
Delivered at their Harcourt home with the help of the Haliburton & Bancroft Midwives, Teresa arrived at 4:41 p.m. weighing a healthy nine-pounds-one-ounce.
Teresa is the couple’s fourth child and third to be birthed at home. Floyd-Foulds said the local midwives service went above and beyond to make sure she was informed and comfortable throughout her pregnancy, while responding quickly once it became clear Teresa was on her way.
The family worked with Vanessa Johnson, a locally-rostered midwife, and Stephanie Simon, a locum midwife.
Floyd-Foulds said she had a scheduled appointment at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 1. It was supposed to be a routine check-up, but with contractions starting late New Year’s Eve, she knew Teresa was close.
“When I woke up in the morning, I was still having contractions. I knew I had my appointment that day already, but then they called me to say they had an earlier opening. I was so relieved and just said, ‘oh, that’s perfect, because I think I’m in actual labour right now,’” Floyd-Foulds said.
Simon was the first to arrive around 3:30 p.m., with Johnson quickly following. “It was very spring into action, the midwives definitely know what they’re doing… they were done and gone by 7 p.m.” Floyd-Foulds said. “We’ve used them for all of our births – they’re a great resource, not having many doctors around and not really wanting to travel.”
Midwifery services are funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, so families do not pay for care out-of-pocket. Haliburton & Bancroft Midwives are the only care providers in Haliburton and North Hastings counties who provide continuous care and support throughout pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. The group has clinics in Haliburton and Bancroft.
Floyd-Foulds said she connected with the midwives as soon as she found out she was pregnant. Initially, they meet once a month, moving to once every couple weeks at the end of the second trimester. Appointments are weekly for the last six weeks.
With Teresa being Floyd-Foulds biggest baby at birth, she said the labour was brutal – even with nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Despite that, she says she would recommend home births to pregnant women, especially if they utilize the local midwives service.
“I think it’s nice to be at home and be in a comfortable space. I’ve always loved the midwives. They’re super reassuring when you’re screaming and in your worst of times. They provide great comfort and support,” she said.
The midwives conduct home visits every other day for the first 10 days after birth, moving to weekly check-ins for the next six weeks. Parents are also welcome to visit the clinics anytime.
Floyd-Foulds has had three very different experiences with her homebirths – the first, in 2020, was unplanned.
They showed up and I was 10 centimetres dilated. The midwife ran straight to her car and said we were going to have the baby right now,” she said. “The next birth, in 2022, was more planned, except he was three weeks early. They had only dropped off the home birth kit the day before. Teresa was the most planned homebirth.”
The family’s latest addition is named after Harley’s grandmother, Teresa Foulds, who turns 100 on Jan. 31. Asked what it meant to welcome the County’s first baby of the new year, Floyd-Foulds said it was exciting.
“I definitely didn’t think we’d be the first one, since we had her so late in the day. I’m very happy it ended up this way, I’m sure she’s going to have some great birthdays in the future,” she said.
