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Nicole Bennett

Nicole Bennett

Associate Professor
EducationRM, MA, PhD Candidate
OfficeDCC-679
Phone416-979-5000 ext. 557680

Nicole has been a practicing midwife since 2003. She is a founding partner at West End Midwives, which provides maternity care to clients from West Toronto, Etobicoke and Rexdale. Nicole is passionate about ensuring midwifery care is accessible and responsive to a wide diversity of people in Ontario. This interest has not only influenced where and how she practices midwifery, but also drives her academic research interests. Nicole is currently involved in two research projects, which explore the provision of midwifery care to marginalized communities. One explores the work of midwives who provide care to people without health insurance. The second explores midwifery care for people with disabilities and/or non-normative bodies.

Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in Community Development Studies from Trent University and a Master’s degree in Sociology from Carleton University. Nicole is completing a PHD in Sociology. Her doctoral work explores the emergence and shifting meanings associated with the idea of ‘normal’ pregnancy and childbirth within maternity care systems.

  • Midwifery care for marginalized populations
  • Promotion of normal pregnancy and birth
  • Reproductive sociology
  • Communication within midwifery care

  • Bennett N. Midwives Reflections on Providing Care for Women from Old Order Mennonite and Old Order Amish Communities. Association of Ontario Midwives Annual Conference: Strength in Numbers, Supporting the Growth of Midwifery. Toronto, Ontario. May 2012.
  • Bennett, N. Caring for Women on the Margins: Supporting Undocumented and Uninsured Birthing Women. Canadian Women’s Studies Association: Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences. Waterloo, Ontario. May 2012.
  • Bennett N. How Is Choice of Birthplace a Different Decision without Health Care Insurance? Midwives Providing Informed Choice. Association of Ontario Midwives annual Conference. Toronto, Ontario. May 2011.
  •  Bennett N. The Creative Work of Providing Midwifery Care to Women Without Health Insurance:  Adapting Care to the Needs of Marginalized Communities. Canadian Association of Midwives Annual Conference. Niagara Falls, Ontario. November 2011.
  •  Bennett N. Health Care for Vulnerable Populations: Midwifery Care to Uninsured Women. Canadian Sociological Association Annual Conference Fredericton. New Brunswick. (Accepted but not presented). May 2011.
  • Bennett N. What Does Choice of Birthplace Mean When There Is No Choice?  Homebirth and Uninsured Clients in Midwifery Care. Canadian Association of Midwives annual conference. Edmonton, Alberta. October 2010.
  • Bennett N. Midwifery Care for the Uninsured. Conference on Healthcare for the Undocumented and Uninsured. Toronto, Ontario. February 2010.

  • Bennett N. Providing Care for Women Without Health Insurance: Issues for Midwives. Refresher in Primary Maternity Care: Mount Sinai Hospital. Toronto, Ontario. May 2013.  
  • Bennett N. Evaluating Professional Behaviour. Midwifery Education Program Preceptor Conference – Improving Clinical Learning: Evaluating & Enhancing our Teaching Strategies. Toronto, Ontario. March 2010.