We truly got the best care possible with Tel at Taproot Midwifery. Tel is warm, compassionate, and incredibly knowledgeable.

During pregnancy, Tel presented all of our options in a non-judgmental manner and always held a safe and supportive environment for us to express our physical, mental, and emotional challenges and wins. We couldn’t have the homebirth we planned and Tel was with us in the hospital to support us through our birth. After we welcomed our little one, Tel continued to provide regular support for us, even when we had more bumps in the road than we expected. Tel was there to advocate for us when needed and has a deep well of resources and connections to further support families.

Tel offers a holistic approach to the full journey of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum and brings a great balance of medical and herbal knowledge to their practice. Every step of the way is built on informed consent and a trusting relationship. Tel is a well-respected midwife in the community and came highly recommended to us from multiple friends. We are honored to continue to recommend Taproot Midwifery to everyone we know!

— Megan

One of the best decisions of my life was Tel and their team! Every aspect of care; pre-natal, birth, and post-partum was exceptional, and I could not have asked for a better experience. I went into labor at 41+1, and my homebirth was magical. During my care, I was with Tel and Amy, and their personalities complimented one another beautifully, and we all got to have some wonderful conversations. It was the highlight of my week getting to have that hour there, and I wish I could continue going every week.

Coming from a first birth that was far from ideal, I could not have asked for a more compassionate, inclusive, wholehearted and humbling experience for my second. I will continue to go to Tel for all of my future babies and cannot recommend them more to my friends. It was just perfection!

— Meg

Thanks to Tel and their extraordinary care throughout my pregnancy and postpartum I got my beautiful baby boy. Tel is incredible, knowledgeable, kind, and trustworthy. If I ever get pregnant again I know the first person I'm going to contact is Taproot Midwifery. The support and care I received made all the difference. Chiokoe uttessia (thank you) Tel!

— V

My wife and I had been trying for three years receiving services through our insurance carrier. We decided to try a different route and called Tel. Our first month doing an IUI with Tel and it worked! Call it what you will, fate, magic or luck. We are 5 months pregnant and absolutely believe our experience with Taproot Midwifery made a difference. Thank you Tel!!!

I had an excellent homebirth experience with Taproot Midwifery. All my questions and concerns about having a homebirth were addressed and answered. I knew what to expect throughout my pregnancy as well as financially. Tel is an excellent judge of character because I liked everyone involved with my pregnancy and birthing experience.

As my pregnancy progressed, I became more comfortable and excited with my choice to have my baby at home. Tel has an excellent bedside manner, and I always felt my mental and physical well-being were prioritized throughout my care. They let me know what to expect as we approached my delivery date and let me borrow books, and recommended additional resources to check out online. When I went past my due date, Tel checked up on me regularly and gave me many recommendations to help encourage labor. Had I not had such an attentive midwife, I would have ended up in the hospital with an induction.

My baby decided to make her appearance the day before my 42-week mark. Tel had been checking in with me daily for more than a week and was ready to head to my house when the time came. Tel brought along two assistants who were kind and personable and helped make my experience more comfortable. This was my first baby, and she was in a less than ideal position, so it took a few hours of pushing; I was glad to have skilled midwives because we went through many birthing positions and techniques to get this baby out. I finally pushed her out, two hours before midnight! I didn't feel worried or scared throughout the experience, aside from desperately not wanting to go to the hospital. Once the baby was here, everyone took terrific care of us and stuck around to monitor and clean up for a few hours. They left my house the way they found it, even at the late hours of the night.

Postnatal care was terrific as well. Both baby and I were cared for, and they ensured we were in tip-top condition for the six weeks following our birthing experience. Tel regularly checked in with me regarding my mental health to ensure I was not experiencing postpartum depression. They also answered questions and provided tips on breastfeeding as it took a little time to get my milk going. I'm so glad I found Tel and their incredible team. They are one of the most compassionate people I've met, incredibly easy to talk to, and so good with my baby; it was a pleasure being their client.

Thank you for your outstanding care and for providing me with a fantastic experience I will always hold close to my heart. I'm so in love with my daughter and feel so fortunate I could have her at home. I truly appreciate all of you!

— Arezu

I wanted to write this review and share my experience because had it not been for the other reviews I would have never given Taproot Midwifery a chance. I like to know what to expect before hand. I had my baby in September 2020. With that being said being pregnant during a pandemic was definitely not what I had in mind and was something that was difficult to navigate with so many unknowns. Having Tel as my midwife was a blessing. From the first time I met Tel at my consultation I knew they were there right fit for me. They were so calm and present. I felt like they were family. They are very understanding and make you feel like there is no question or concern that is not worth addressing. Throughout the entire pregnancy I felt like my needs were being taken care of, I felt safe and most importantly I knew that I could trust her to take care of me and my baby. And that's exactly what they did. I had a few health issues like gestational diabetes and GBS and the labor was long but through it all I never felt rushed or like anything was wrong. If you are considering having a birth in which YOU get to make the final decisions or if you had a bad experience with previous births then I highly recommend Taproot Midwifery. The whole team is amazing!!!

— Vanessa

I cannot recommend Tel Viehmann Cunningfolk or Taproot Midwifery more highly! I was initially drawn to Taproot because of its intentional inclusiveness and social justice bent; however my partner (who had more reservations about home birth), was more concerned with making sure we were in the hands of a skilled professional. As it turns out, we got a twofer in Tel. From the very first meeting it felt like we were working with an old, dear friend – albeit one who could answer any question under the sun related to pregnancy and birth. Very unlike the clinic visits I had with my first child, my visits with Tel were not just medical check-ins, but almost felt like counseling sessions.

Tel asks deep questions, listens extremely well, and makes sure you have all the support you need not just medically, but also psychologically. As a result, I went into my labor feeling supremely confident and supported. But importantly for us (and especially my partner) we also felt that should anything come up, Tel would support whatever decision felt right to us, without judgment. With Tel’s support, we were able to have a smooth and healthy home birth. Additionally – the aftercare Tel provided was truly phenomenal, and made recovery so much easier (because we were doing it all together at home!). In short, I wholeheartedly recommend Taproot Midwifery – in choosing Tel you are choosing a highly skilled practitioner who is supremely kind, deeply conscientious, and whose practice is rooted in values of justice and inclusion. I can’t imagine a more winning choice, and look forward to staying connected with the Taproot Midwifery community for years to come.

— Sara

Tel is considerate, kind, respectful of your wishes, and very wise. Exactly what my family and I needed. The prenatal care we received was so much better than I could have imagined! At appointments they spent an hour or more talking with us. They considered my feelings and anxieties all along the way, as a first time Mom with a phobia of western medicine I don’t think I was an easy client. They never made me feel like I was being irrational or taking up too much of her time. Tel and their student midwife Stephanie were truly there for me and my family through pregnancy, and labor; and accommodated me by coming to my home for appointments when I had horrible anxiety, and a very difficult postpartum. They will always hold a very special place in our hearts and I would recommend them to anyone!

If we have another bundle of joy I will be looking up Taproot Midwifery ASAP for another beautiful journey together. My mind was as at ease as it could be throughout a difficult yet beautiful time in life, and that’s because Tel and Stephanie took the time to take great care of me. What we paid them was so very worth the loving, kind, respectful, expert service we were provided. I miss them both but I was assured they’ll always be my midwives and that meant a lot to me. Thank you Taproot, with my whole heart. You are truly changing the community for the better with your beautiful example of how to take care. I always felt safe and like I had somewhere to turn to with any concerns. What a wonderful experience!

— Jody

Tel helped me with my home birth and I was very comfortable with their from the moment I met her for the first time. They are very knowledgeable, caring, understanding and such a warm-hearted midwife. They spent a lot of time on each appointment and answered all of my questions. They explained risks and benefits for everything we asked about and respected all the choices we made. I feel very fortunate to have had them as my midwife. Right after I delivered my daughter I thought I would like to hire them again for my next baby! 

I highly recommend Taproot Midwifery!

— Ayano

I have so much love for Tel and what they do for the community! I was lucky to have my second Arvigo Therapy treatment with them today and can't say enough good things. We shared a pot of tea, some lovely conversation, they worked on my front and back, giving a relaxed yet invigorating treatment. If you haven't tried it yet, you should! Releasing pelvic and low back issues, working on posture and alignment all while you feel like you're talking to a friend you've known for years. And then a healthy bm later in the day to boot. What's not to love?!

I have also had the pleasure of seeing Tel in action as a midwife and labor support and they are fabulous. As a birth worker myself, I can honestly say that their calm, knowledgeable, supportive presence is EXACTLY what you want and need at your birth! Tel is a wealth of knowledge about birth and our bodies… Thank you again, Tel, for your wisdom and words of encouragement. You are truly a wonderful person and outstanding practitioner.

— Gabi

It's hard to imaging a more caring/understanding/patient/and informative midwife exist. And their name is Tel!  Tel guided us through my pregnancy and helped us with becoming prepared for the big day. Through them we connected with our local natural birth community we didn't know existed. Tel was so informative and understanding of our choices. The individual attention we received was one of the main reasons we chose to have a home birth. We love looking back at our home birth story and am grateful we had Tel by our side through the most magical and emotional moment of our lives.

— Katy

Tel is one of the nicest and kindest people I've ever met. My husband and I are so thankful we found them. Having them as my midwife for my third birth (first home water birth) was the best decision ever! They made the whole experience so comfortable - from the initial consultation, prenatal appointments, the birth, to the postnatal appointments. I couldn't be happier with how everything went.

My birth was just as I imagined it - relaxed and unhurried and Tel's calm demeanor had a lot to do with that. They are so knowledgeable. I knew I was in great hands even from the very beginning. They are a great listener. I felt like I had full control over how I wanted to birth. They are also so good with my newborn baby boy. It was just a wonderful experience all around. Thanks, Tel, for making this such an unforgettable experience. You have a friend in us forever

— Nerissa

Normally I don't like to tell strangers about places I love. I'm pretty selfish that way. I don't want to share what is hugely personal and turn it into something that feels commercial. But Taproot Midwifery...I'm gonna review you. Taproot Midwifery is just a name. Taproot Midwifery is Tel. My husband and I talked about having our first baby at home- I was excited about the idea. My husband- not so much. So, baby #1 was born in a hospital. The birth went very smoothly. The value in that- my husband saw that a healthy pregnancy can end in an uncomplicated birth with the right care. 

So, with pregnancy #2, we agreed we were BOTH 80% comfortable with a home birth. But we needed to talk with a real midwife about it. There was only one person I was interested in talking to- a charismatic, friendly young midwife I met a year earlier. I remember when I met them thinking to myself, "they’re the one." We found Tel and made an appointment to discuss the possibility of home birth. Tel visited with us, sweetly engaged with our attention-seeking toddler, and answered every question and every concern. They didn't sugar-coat anything. They allayed our 20% worth of doubt. We felt we were in good hands. We hired them.

What a good decision that was! They never rushed through a visit. They addressed every question. And for my weirdest questions, they either surprised me with their incredible depth of knowledge, or acquired an accurate answer for me.  They never left my questions or concerns unanswered. They treated me gently and respectfully, always with great care and consideration. Our birth story was short and sweet. We were in great hands. They allowed me to do what I needed to do. And intervened only when necessary as minimally as possible, with the same care and calmness we had seen all along. 

Being able to birth under my terms, in my home, at my speed, allowing my body to do what I knew it could do, was an incredibly empowering experience. Tel brought the expertise. I highly recommend them.  And I feel incredibly lucky to have them be part of my birth story.

— Carrie

We can not even begin to express the amount of gratitude we have for finding Tel.  From the moment we met them, we KNEW we could trust them.  We transferred from conventional pregnancy "treatment" to Taproot Midwifery later on in our pregnancy. The differences are astounding. With Tel, we were receiving care. They treated us with respect and was willing to give us ALL if the information for the questions we had, not just one facet or an answer that showed any bias to their opinion.  Coming into their care after having experienced the other side, this was a breath of fresh air.  We were able to take our experience from the industrial machine that felt more like we were being treated for an illness to a beautiful celebratory welcoming of our little Coën.  

Things didn't go according to our plan. We had tried for a home birth, but my body wasn't cooperating and after a very very long labor with Tel there every step of the way complications lead us to the decision to transfer to a hospital. Even then, Tel came with us and remained by our side giving us an immense amount of support and guidance. I do not know how things would have gone without them, but I can say that having them made all of the difference in the universe to us. We had strayed off course for our plan, but we were still able to achieve a vaginal birth of a super healthy little human. Their postpartum care is topnotch as well. They visited us in our home and was able to help figure out the breastfeeding beast. We will most certainly involve Tel if and when we decide to have another child. We cannot recommend them enough and would highly encourage anyone who is interested to at the least have a consultation with them. : )

— Jessa

Lyrah Adelyn was born 18 February 2014 at 8:11am, 8lbs, 19 1/2in. All natural vaginal birth, no medication. 24 hour labor, 5 hour active labor.

I am so incredibly happy that Tel was my Midwife during my first pregnancy! I can't begin to tell you how wonderful Tel is and how caring, intuitive, perceptive, wholesome, and dedicated they are. My whole pregnancy was an adventure! They helped me stay on top of my nutrition and really listened to my concerns and provided a lot of information. They helped my little one transition from womb to world. From the moment I called them, hearing their voice really calmed my nerves and I knew right then that they were it and my search was over :)

They are my midwife for life, I will try my very best to have them as my midwife for my next child :) Tel is amazing :)

— Rachele