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New South Wales Doulas

Trainee Doula

Natasha Black

Hello, I am Natasha. Since giving birth myself, I am passionate about birth and believe every mother has the right to choice, knowledge and options during pregnancy and birth. With me as your doula I can help support and guide you through your special journey into becoming a mother and birthing your baby.
With me by your side, I will honour your informed decision making with no judgement or hesitation. I can help provide and hold a space for you that is safe, nurturing and empowering during your birth. This will allow you to follow your instincts and trust your body. I will be able to also further support your partner or close confidant during this journey as well, providing them with confidence and tools to help support you.
I look forward to meeting you and can’t wait to be a part of your life changing journey.
Available: Nepean and Hawkesbury area

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Trainee Doula

Gabrielle Wheatley

Hi my name is Gabrielle. Bringing your child into the world is such a special time and one that should be met with joy, and this journey begins in pregnancy. The preparation for birth can be consuming, but with the right support and advice this can be an exciting time. Knowing this is your birth story and you are in charge is empowering, having a doula who will support your choices, with no judgement, be an advocate for your story is a powerful tool.

I have one amazing daughter and becoming a mother changes you forever. I have always had a nurturing instinct but motherhood sharpens these instincts. I would love the opportunity to share this with you. I have a background in cooking, nutrition and teaching, all these jobs have allowed me to feed the body and the mind, and now I would like to use these energies to help you create a safe and meaningful relationship with mothers in pregnancy and birth.

As your Doula I would make sure you had all the information you need to make decisions for your pregnancy and birth. I would support you to trust your body and your instincts to allow you to have a wonderful birth. I would support both you and your partner in this intimate and life changing experience.

Available: Sydney Eastern Suburbs, Lower North Shore

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Trainee Doula

Jessie Carey

Jessie believes in the sacredness that surrounds the birthing experience and hopes to enable woman to embody and embrace the depth and fullness of this initiation. In returning to our sacred birth right, Jessie hopes to reconnect woman to their intuition in their bodies and to offer choices/ opportunities to families during the journey of birthing. Jessie believes in the power of birth and simply bringing humanity back into human rights.

Jessie’s intention as a doula is to empower woman and to be of service to them and their families during the time of pregnancy, birth and post birth

Jessie is: Of service to woman and families during this time of birthing.

Of service to listen and guide the families through this initiation of deep transformation.

Of service to assist with mindfulness and breath work exercises

Of service in providing holistic therapies options in assisting with the journey of birth.

Available: Mid North Coast
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Trainee Doula

Olivia Awaritefe

The way we birth has a unique way of imprinting our lives as women.

How you birth is important – and it goes beyond the livelihood of you and your baby.

Your birth experience is enriched by the quality of love, trust, support, privacy and information you receive.

My contribution of ongoing support focuses on sustaining that quality throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth. I hold your birth space by openly listening to your needs. I trust and encourage your autonomy to know what’s best. You and your partner will feel prepared as I keep you well informed with information and services that best support your birth preferences.

I believe women and families who thrive emotionally and physically throughout the full spectrum of birth are those who have the right support.

You deserve that same confidence in your support to enjoy the experience of becoming a mother.

Available: Blue Mountains, Nepean, Hawkesbury

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Trainee Doula

My mission is to:

Acacia Grant

Support women through the journey of Motherhood and to allow women to use their own intuition. To ensure women have all the real knowledge available to make choices around pregnancy and birth. To remove fear or anxiety around childbirth.

I offer my service to women and their partners through pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. I believe in health, mental and emotional well-being and the power living in presence.

I became a dedicated Yoga teacher over a decade ago and have learnt to guide people through their own journey and transformation. Throughout my years as a yoga teacher I have seen how powerful the mind truly is, ‘what we believe, we become’. Yoga has gifted me with the ability to find calmness and peace. It supports me through life and ensures I can do the same for others.

My 2 daughters have been my most powerful teachers. When I was first pregnant I stumbled through the 9 months. Now I know, with the help of a Doula, that journey could have been much less stressful. I have become a Doula to help other women navigate their way through a calm and enjoyable pregnancy, birth and beyond.

Becoming a Doula is a natural progression from my experience as a mother and Yoga Teacher. I look forward to meeting with you and supporting you and your family.

Available: North Shore-Northern Beaches
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Qualified Doula

Elise Hunter

Hello I’m Elise,

I am extremely passionate about nurturing and empowering women through pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
As a mother a gentle birth is the best thing you can offer your baby to lead an uncomplicated life.
As your doula I will support you to trust and listen to your body, to birth your baby calmly and create a beautiful memorable experience for you and your partner.
I am your continuity of care, I am here to listen to you and ensure your wishes are supported by your birthing team of professionals.
Birth is a process of deep personal transformation for a woman which is why you need a strong support team that will nurture you and acknowledge your unique personal transformation into a beautiful mother.

Available: Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Central Coast.

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Trainee Doula
Margot Delpech
Hello! My name is Margot and I’m a French woman passionate about one big question – how do we help people to grow into happy, free and healthy human beings?
I have studied social work, education and pedagogy at a French university, and I’m now studying pregnancy and birth.
During my prior study, I focused on alternatives to mainstream education which gave me an understanding of what babies, children and adults need to become self confident, happy, creative and free.
This knowledge led me to travel, to be curious about other cultures and to be able to get along with a wide range of people.
I realised how much I love to listen to people, and how much I love to help them understand themselves better – to let them know how strong they truly are.
I believe in community, support, understanding, sharing and love.
This is what I would like to share with a beautiful pregnant couple : an empowering relationship of trust.
I would be more than happy to accompany you throughout your pregnancy and the day of birth to make this experience a wonderful time of change and deep learning.
Available: Penrith-Lithgow

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Qualified Doula

I’m Claire Heenan, I’m glad you’ve found me!
The sisterhood. The divine feminine. The power of women to raise each other up. That’s my jam! I’ve always believed in the magic created when women support women and this is at the heart of my work as a doula. I am lucky enough to live and work primarily within the beautiful Blue Mountains
community but I am passionate about powering with women from all over Sydney through the most Life-changing, Mind-blowing, Soul-awakening
transition of their lives.
Whether it’s advocating for a labouring woman’s wishes when it is hard for her to advocate for herself, being a source of unbiased information, or simply being a sounding board. I work to enrich every mother’s experience of birth so that they can empower themselves and reclaim birthing as their
super-power.
Because, sometimes doctor’s forget…sometimes family forget…and sometimes you forget…your experience of birth matters. It’s something that will resonate through the rest of your life.
Available: Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Penrith, Western Sydney and Sydney Inner West.

Contact: 0413 416 210 http://www.claireheenandoula.com.au/
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Trainee Doula

Kathryn Prosser

I believe every woman should experience the birth they want and deserve. Allow me to support, empower and hold space for you, your partner and your baby in this beautiful life changing experience.

Supporting you through your pregnancy, labour and early postnatal period.
Allow me to support, empower and hold space for you, your partner and your baby in this beautiful life changing experience.
Supporting you through your pregnancy, labour and early postnatal period.
Available: Newcastle, Maitland, Port Stephens

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Qualified Doula

Hi I’m Caitlin Hudson, I have been enamoured with pregnancy and childbirth for as long as I can remember, begging my older sisters as a child to let me witness their births. Eventually I was blessed to photograph two natural births, a water birth and a standing birth. They both swept me off my feet but I had more learning to do before I would be truly ready to serve families as a doula to the level that they – you – deserve.

My goal as a doula is for you to have a birthing experience that leaves you feeling powerful and inspired. I have learned from my large family (18 nieces & nephews), where natural births are the norm, that no two pregnancies or births are the same. I will help you and your partner prepare in every way for the birth of your baby. I will listen to you, get to know you, learn what you want, what you don’t want, what irritates you and what inspires you. Perhaps there are questions you hadn’t thought to ask and options you didn’t know you had. It takes a village to support a mother/father and I would be glad to give you my time, experience, patience, encouragement and zero judgement. Through labour, whether you need me to be a silent presence, a reassuring voice or an advocate, I will be an anchor for you and your partner and do everything in my power to help you have a most fulfilling birth.

Available: Sydney-wide
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Trainee Doula

Petra Belluzzo

I am inspired and passionate to support women in their path of remembering their wisdom, knowledge and inner strength.

For me pregnancy, labour and birth are a sacred part of the motherhood journey. A profound rite of passage and a process of immense transformation for a woman and her family.

My passion for supporting women led me to spend the past few years of my life studying and teaching Yoga, meditation, breathing practices and women rites of passage with the emphasis on personal growth, healing and transformation. These experiences motivated me to become a doula and to support woman through their journey. As a doula I am inspired to provide emotional support and practical assitance to women and their partner during pregnancy, labour and the early postnatal period.

My support is unconditional and it involves educational support on available options, helping women to understand their choices and rights. I truly believe every woman deserves to have a positive birth experience, no matter which way a woman chooses to birth and I believe her choice should always be respected.My intention is to support women to go into their birthing experience feeling confident, empowered, safe, respected and with their body and mind in harmony and connection.

I look forward to meeting you and sharing this magic journey with you.
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Qualified Doula

I’m Jaime Hawkins. After the electrifying, grounding experience of birthing my son, a fire was was lit deep within. I feel a deep calling to support women and their families in the transition into parenthood or in welcoming another babe earthside.

I feel that birthing women are being done a great disservice in the current state of maternity care. I feel that we, as doulas, can fill this void in order to empower you to have the most fulfilling experience in the transition from womb to world, however that happens!

I will provide judgement free support throughout your pregnancy, birth and beyond. I will advocate for you. I will maintain your privacy and sacred birthing space. I will be whatever you need me to be at one of the most intimate and exciting times in your lives.

Available: Neapean-Hawkesbury

Contact: 0431 537 011
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Qualified Doula

Hello! My name is Marina Taylor. I live in the Blue Mountains with my husband, two little boys and baby girl.
To say that birth changed me is an understatement. I went through a huge shift in my understanding of inner female strength and finally understood the amazing experience that birth can be if it’s supported and allowed to happen naturally.
I hope to be able to bring a calming and nurturing environment to every birth and postpartum care session I attend.
My passion is providing nutritious and heart filled meals, information and care.
Available: Blue Mountains, The Hawkesbury, Penrith and surrounds
Contact: 0407 470 383 e: marinataylor88@hotmail.com

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Trainee Doula

Hello, my name is Sarah Sakora and I am currently completing my Birth + Postnatal doula training.

The birth of my first daughter some ten years ago ignited a passion inside me. After a challenging birth, I immediately saw the significant positive impact a strong support person could make inside the sacred birth space.

In-between my births and during my doula study, I learned how vital the right information be provided for women to feel empowered and in control of their choices. And with this knowledge, working as a doula has given me the opportunity to advocate for a more positive and empowering birth experience.

I hold the highest respect for the true miracle that is the female body. That a woman has the ability to grow human life inside her and to bring this life into the world through birth is a truly scared gift. I have had the opportunity to bring all three of my babies into this world surrounded by warmth, love and support and this has now become the over-arching goal of my vocation, to offer emotional and physical guidance and support to other parents through my work as a doula. I have a clear role in the process; I will hold your space and your privacy. I will support your choices and your labour. I will encourage you to feel confident in your body and your ability to birth beautifully. I will help build a path, to elevate the relationship you have with your partner so that you better understand each other’s needs during this intimate, sacred time.

I trust you, your body, your baby and the birth process ~ whatever that may be…

Available: Berry – Moruya
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Qualified Doula

Marika Kelly

Hi! My name is Marika and I am a Birth & Postnatal doula. Having 2 incredibly empowering experiences birthing my beautiful girls completely changed everything I thought I knew about birth and set me on this path – no one had told me how amazing birth could be! (And I only wish that I knew then what I have learnt now!)

It really disappoints me that society has turned childbirth into something that is viewed as unnatural and something that is expected to be a traumatic experience – any wonder so many women end up experiencing exactly that!

I am extremely passionate about working with women and their partners to take the fear out of childbirth and to ensure that they are informed and supported both emotionally and physically on this amazing journey so that they are able to birth in a way that is right for them; allowing them to experience the incredible wonder of bringing a child into the world and having the best possible start to parenthood.

Contact: http://www.lithgowbirth.com.au/

Available: Nepean- Lithgow
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Trainee Doula

Romina Gardella

Through my own journey of Birth and Motherhood, an even deeper connection to women and their own paths has grown within me. The sacred experience of Birth is a transformational, nurturing and empowering time for women, their partners and who they choose as their birth team, and having the right support is an invaluable part of it.

As your Doula I will empower you to make the right informed choices, to be your advocate and to support you through your whole experience from pregnancy, birth and postnatal. I am a qualified Inside Birth® Childbirth Educator.

I will help you understand your rights and find the information you need to choose what you believe is best for you and your baby, to trust in your body and your ability to birth and to hold your space so you can have the vision of your birth come true.

It is an honour and a privilege to be a part of your birthing journey, and creating a Tribe that surrounds you in love, acknowledgement, truth and wisdom is my passion for every woman. This Self discovery of who you are and who you will become is a beautiful awakening of the soul, it is your Rite of Passage from woman to Mother, and it is a time you will remember every day of your life.

Our pregnancies are times of gestating not only our babies, but also ourselves.

https://www.soulbirthaustralia.com.au/

Supporting Nepean and Blue Mountains region
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Trainee Doula

Nikki Grandjean
You are embarking on the greatest, most transformational, exciting and sacred journey you will experience in life. It can be an incredibly empowering experience with the right support and the right information. As a Doula it is an absolute honour to be able to share in this experience and help you to stand in your power, understand your choices and make the ones that feel right for you wherever your journey takes you.
I am passionate about supporting women in their exploration of growing, birthing and nuturing a tiny human, in discovering their truest Self and uncovering their deepest desires as they walk this path. Supporting not only the woman, but her partner and/or chosen support team is a key ingredient in a positive experience for everyone and an important part of my role.
This is your journey, and you deserve to walk it with confidence, knowledge and a fabulous support team.
I am located in Newcastle, NSW.

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Qualified Inside Birth® Educator Birth & Postnatal Doula – ‘Anam Cara’: soul friend

As your doula: I will walk beside you on your magical journey through pregnancy, an incredibly transformative time where great healing can occur. I will listen to you and your body, to help you shine light on any issues to be resolved. As you walk a path of self-discovery I will encourage you to turn inward, opening fully to yourself to prepare for birthing.

With the right preparation you and your partner will feel empowered and confident to birth intuitively. I will be the quiet presence that holds a sacred space, with warmth & love, for your birthing wherever you choose.

As a mother of two beautiful children with two very different but equally amazing birth stories I bring an understanding gained only through experience. I am a Massage Therapist specialising in Pregnancy Massage, Holistic Healthcare (Anthroposophical Nursing Therapies) and Energy Healing and also a qualified Inside Birth® childbirth educator. I look forward to joining you in this most memorable time of your life.

I am available: Newcastle & surrounds

Joanne Mackintosh: 0449 929 327
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Qualified Birth Doula

Catriona Byrne

Hi everyone, my name is Catriona and I’m a yoga teacher specialising in prenatal, a doula and mother of two gorgeous girls. I’m fascinated about birth and have a natural enthusiasm for helping women. I feel very strongly that empowering mothers and fathers with knowledge, support and love has a long and lasting effect on not only their birth experience but the life of their child and the newly created family. I engaged a doula for both my pregnancies. I had some complications towards the end of my first pregnancy and having my doula to speak with made a huge difference. I had a doula for my 2nd baby at home. I will never forget how it felt when she held my hand and reassured me in her calming voice. It was like an angel had walked into the room. I instantly felt safe, empowered, supported and cared for. I would love to pass this experience on to you.

Available: Sydney, Eastern suburbs. 0438 248 096
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Therese Chamberlain

Qualified Birth Doula & Inside Birth® Educator

I have over 30 years experience working in child and family health. I trained as a midwife in the early 1990’s, which fuelled a passionate interest in pregnancy and birth. I have birthed 2 gorgeous sons. There is no more important connection than between a parent and child, and this begins in the womb. I believe that enhancing this relationship in pregnancy and during childbirth gives a baby the best possible start in life. I strongly believe in the right of women to have choices in childbirth and that every birth can be a joyful and life enhancing experience.

As a Birth Right doula and Inside Birth Educator® I can help a woman trust her body and its natural ability to birth her baby. I will support a woman’s choices and advocate on her behalf. I will support her and her partner emotionally and physically. I will protect her privacy. I will help her and her partner create an environment to welcome their child into the world.

There is no greater honour than being a woman ‘being with’ another woman during childbirth.

CONTACT: 0402 949 368 e: theresechamberlain64@gmail.com

http://www.innerwestbirths.com.au
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Qualified Birth Doula
Jo Drew

I believe that no matter how your baby is born, their birth can and should be a special and joyful experience. I have three amazing children, and it was their very different births that inspired me to first become an antenatal teacher, and then a doula.

As your doula I want to help you achieve the kind of birth you deserve – one where you feel calm, safe and in control. My aim is for you both to feel protected, supported, respected, strong, and above all else, empowered. I will be your advocate. I would be honoured to support you through your most precious and unique birth.

Testimonials

Thank goodness for Susan Ross, our wonderful doula! Without her I am sure our experience of Lily's birth would have been far less satisfactory than it eventually was.

I had a normal healthy pregnancy and was excited and happy to be expecting my first baby. At 35 or so weeks, Lily was found to be lying breech. We tried everything under the sun to get her to turn head down, but none of it worked. It looked as though it was going to be difficult to create the kind of natural birth we wanted. Luckily there were voices other than

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Kate Sumner, Naturopath and mother   
Kate Sumner, Naturopath and mother   

Thank goodness for Susan Ross, our wonderful doula! Without her I am sure our experience of Lily's birth would have been far less satisfactory than it eventually was.

I had a normal healthy pregnancy and was excited and happy to be expecting my first baby. At 35 or so weeks, Lily was found to be lying breech. We tried everything under the sun to get her to turn head down, but none of it worked. It looked as though it was going to be difficult to create the kind of natural birth we wanted. Luckily there were voices other than mainstream hospital. I had read Susan's book, and we employed her right at the last minute, when we knew we really needed some help. She encouraged me to read and think for myself about what I wanted, and to ask for it. In full knowledge of the realities and risks, I decided to attempt a vaginal breech delivery instead of accepting the elective caesarean recommended by the hospital.

My labour was long and irregular, with lots of stops and starts, and Lily was slightly distressed right from the start. It was nothing like what I had imagined! Susan valiantly came and went from the hospital as we needed her, encouraged me, held my hand, massaged me, gave Andrew much-needed breaks, talked it through and helped us to make decisions about the labour. Most importantly, she helped me to understand that I had choices and to act on them for the sake and safety of my baby and myself - particularly once it became obvious that we needed an emergency caesarean. Although I was frightened and dependent on the hospital staff, I never truly felt like I had lost control of the labour, of my baby's wellbeing, of my story, my body and my self. And for that reason, when I look back at Lily's birth, I feel entirely satisfied with our decisions and the outcomes.

Thank you Susan for helping us to deliver our beautiful, bright, healthy baby girl, and for facilitating a difficult birth in such a practical, empowered and spiritually satisfying way.

Eva's birth happened exactly the way I hoped it would, and having Susan as a doula was an important ingredient in that. I had complete trust in Susan's experience, her approach to childbirth, and her good sense and humour, and that helped give me the confidence to enjoy my pregnancy and then focus in my own way on the hard but beautiful work of labour. I know her calm and knowledgeable presence during the birth also reassured my husband, allowing him to freely give the kind of support I needed. I also believe that if medical intervention in Eva's birth

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Sarah   
Sarah   

Eva's birth happened exactly the way I hoped it would, and having Susan as a doula was an important ingredient in that. I had complete trust in Susan's experience, her approach to childbirth, and her good sense and humour, and that helped give me the confidence to enjoy my pregnancy and then focus in my own way on the hard but beautiful work of labour. I know her calm and knowledgeable presence during the birth also reassured my husband, allowing him to freely give the kind of support I needed. I also believe that if medical intervention in Eva's birth had been necessary, Susan would have been an invaluable support and guide. Having such a positive birth experience was not only wonderful in itself, but also incredibly valuable in leaving me emotionally and physically able to embrace the whirlwind of new motherhood.

Reading Susan's book, Birth Right, was a turning point for me. I realised that if I just trusted my body, I would be well equipped to cope with a natural, drug-free birth. From that point I was guided and encouraged by Susan. Using Susan as our Doula gave me the confidence to embrace the whole birthing process knowing my husband and I would have expert support throughout the experience and indeed afterwards. Thank you Susan.

Angela   

We found the early weeks of pregnancy to be a confusing time, especially in relation to our options for ante-natal care. It wasn't until we attended a course run by Susan that the fog finally cleared and we felt we could make an informed decision about caregivers and confidently move ahead with our preferred choice. The next most important decision we made during pregnancy was to have Susan as our doula. During the last nervous weeks of the pregnancy Susan provided calming words over the phone. During the actual birth Susan's reassuring presence and advice provided the support and focus

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Vanessa & Brett   
Vanessa & Brett   

We found the early weeks of pregnancy to be a confusing time, especially in relation to our options for ante-natal care. It wasn't until we attended a course run by Susan that the fog finally cleared and we felt we could make an informed decision about caregivers and confidently move ahead with our preferred choice. The next most important decision we made during pregnancy was to have Susan as our doula. During the last nervous weeks of the pregnancy Susan provided calming words over the phone. During the actual birth Susan's reassuring presence and advice provided the support and focus my husband and I needed to get through. Decoding hospital-speak and remaining a constant presence during the many changes of staff, Susan really was an invaluable part of the experience.

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Susan provided me with great peace of mind due to her knowledge and experience (which was evident from the first time we met her). Staying at home as long as we did during the labour would have been cause for me to worry but having Susan there took that concern away. At no time did I find Susan overbearing or trying to replace me, she was simply there to lend us her expertise and provide great advice, in particular she guided me through what we should do next as the labour progressed e.g - put her in the bath now;

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Jason Taylor   
Jason Taylor   
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Susan provided me with great peace of mind due to her knowledge and experience (which was evident from the first time we met her). Staying at home as long as we did during the labour would have been cause for me to worry but having Susan there took that concern away. At no time did I find Susan overbearing or trying to replace me, she was simply there to lend us her expertise and provide great advice, in particular she guided me through what we should do next as the labour progressed e.g - put her in the bath now; go to the hospital now etc. Having Susan accompany us to the hospital was also very comforting for me as I didn't have to worry about what the doctors were doing or any of that medical stuff, I knew Susan was on top of it all. I'd have no hesitation in recommending other couples to have Susan attend their birth. I feel things would have been much more difficult if Susan had not been there with us.

Both Paul and I read your book 'Birth Right', early in our pregnancy. It made us realise that we didn't have to be passive in our birth experience. From that point, we were determined to have the birth we wanted. Through our meetings with you and your advice at each stage, we moved along the path toward welcoming our baby into this world in a beautiful and natural way. We were so happy with our birth experience. We felt in complete control which was extremely important to us. Ben was not the smallest of babies (4.5kg. at birth with a

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Sarah, Paul & Ben   
Sarah, Paul & Ben   

Both Paul and I read your book 'Birth Right', early in our pregnancy. It made us realise that we didn't have to be passive in our birth experience. From that point, we were determined to have the birth we wanted. Through our meetings with you and your advice at each stage, we moved along the path toward welcoming our baby into this world in a beautiful and natural way. We were so happy with our birth experience. We felt in complete control which was extremely important to us. Ben was not the smallest of babies (4.5kg. at birth with a 38cm. head plus fist!) and we're sure that we would not have had such a wonderful, natural birth experience without your advice and assistance. Ben is now 8mths. old and is such a happy and healthy little boy. We're sure that this is in no small part due to the way in which he was brought into this world. We can't thank you enough!

I just wanted to send you a quick thank you for the Birth Right session last Sunday (25th March), myself, Chad & Julie (my mother) found it very worthwhile and left us all with a much more positive feeling toward labour and birth. This has not been easy to find!

Sarah   

I just wanted to thank you for creating this amazing 4 day workshop called Inside Birth. I knew when I did the course to become an Educator that it would change lives. I never truly could comprehend the impact this course would have on the people who attend the workshop, it is nothing short of amazing. This is one of the single most amazing courses I have ever had the privilege to teach and I can’t wait to change more couples and babies lives as I impart your knowledge to them and prepare them for the most special experience of

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Anna Travers   
Anna Travers   

I just wanted to thank you for creating this amazing 4 day workshop called Inside Birth. I knew when I did the course to become an Educator that it would change lives. I never truly could comprehend the impact this course would have on the people who attend the workshop, it is nothing short of amazing. This is one of the single most amazing courses I have ever had the privilege to teach and I can’t wait to change more couples and babies lives as I impart your knowledge to them and prepare them for the most special experience of their lives. This course you have developed is simple yet so very powerful and empowering. I highly recommend this course to anyone who is ready to change the way woman and their partners feel about and experience birth, this is the first step to a more positive relaxed birthing experience.
Thanks again Susan!

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Friends and family tend to hold me up as an example of having a low pain threshold and following a very long and difficult labour culminating in an epidural for my first birth, I was very unsure whether I had it in me to achieve the drug free labour and waterbirth I really longed to have for my second child. I contacted Susan very late in the pregnancy after months of dithering and angst, and it was the best thing I could possibly have done.

It is difficult to explain the power of having someone so strong and centered and

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Jacqui   
Jacqui   
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Friends and family tend to hold me up as an example of having a low pain threshold and following a very long and difficult labour culminating in an epidural for my first birth, I was very unsure whether I had it in me to achieve the drug free labour and waterbirth I really longed to have for my second child. I contacted Susan very late in the pregnancy after months of dithering and angst, and it was the best thing I could possibly have done.

It is difficult to explain the power of having someone so strong and centered and experienced lending balance and authority during the extremes of labour supporting your decisions, suggesting techniques to help ease the pain, and reminding you of your own strength and capability. Susan met with me several times before the birth and we worked through my lack of confidence and fear, resulting from my difficult first birth. She was reassuring and empathetic but also very straightforward and no-nonsense.

After another long pre-labour at home, during which we spoke regularly to Susan, my husband and I met her at the Birth Centre. I was very discouraged to realise we had come in prematurely, and that I was not particularly dilated. Susan was soothing and encouraging. Her help in getting past this initial blow to my confidence was very important, since my husband was similarly traumatised by the first birth and just as in need of encouragement.

She noticed that being in the bath relaxed me and helped the labour progress. After about 7 hours in the Birth Centre, with lots of encouragement and gentle reminders to breathe and focus and relax from Susan, Rosalie emerged strong, calm, alert and breastfed immediately. Her alertness seemed truly miraculous, in sharp contrast to the relative limpness of my first baby after pethidine and an epidural.

I am immensely proud of myself for giving birth to my second daughter naturally. Attaining your own goals for an ideal birth for you and your child, with the maximum of considered control over your own labour, is indescribably gratifying. For me, this natural waterbirth was a huge achievement that will remain an important factor in my self-regard all my life. But I really don't think I would have had the focus to endure without Susan's help. I am eternally grateful to her and I wish I had contacted her much earlier, so I could have benefited from the many classes she also offers.

Once I decided I was going to the birth centre I knew I wanted a doula. Susan was an excellent choice for us. She is fantastic. I wish I'd had Susan there for my first birth too! Having someone with the experience and knowledge and sensitivity Susan has, on our side, all the time, through whatever decisions we had to make would have made a HUGE difference to the
slightly early birth of our twins by c-section under a general due to pre-eclampsia.

It definitely made a difference in my totally natural, drug free, in the caul, VBAC. Without Susan's


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Rilka   
Rilka   

Once I decided I was going to the birth centre I knew I wanted a doula. Susan was an excellent choice for us. She is fantastic. I wish I'd had Susan there for my first birth too! Having someone with the experience and knowledge and sensitivity Susan has, on our side, all the time, through whatever decisions we had to make would have made a HUGE difference to the
slightly early birth of our twins by c-section under a general due to pre-eclampsia.

It definitely made a difference in my totally natural, drug free, in the caul, VBAC. Without Susan's support it would have been easy to lose trust in myself and listen to the voices of the
midwives offering to break my waters. (I had tested positive to strep B and knew that there was only a problem once my waters had broken so I was in no hurry to have them break. I also wanted as little intervention as possible and saw no need for my waters to be broken). I had placed my trust in Susan and asked her advice when I was unsure. Having her there to remain rational also helped my husband, who hates hospitals, so that he did not have to negotiate on my behalf. He was able to hand over the role of advocate to Susan and she became the advocate for both of us.

I also believe that all the birth preparation (chiropractic, acupuncture, talking to my baby about what I imagined the birth could be, trusting myself and my body) I did at Susan's suggestion helped me be able to deliver my 5kg+ baby. I had a mantra that I would say every time I went to my appointments and any other time it came to mind: I trust my body, I trust my baby. And even though I tore, and even though the student midwife I allowed to be present wouldn't shut up, and even though I ended up with a pph requiring a blood transfusion, I laboured and birthed naturally and my gorgeous and HUGE baby boy was born in the caul approximately 12 hours
after the first contraction.

If there is a next time I will probably labour and birth at home. However, if I ever need doula support in a hospital again I will be calling Susan for sure. If I could change one thing it would be to decline the student midwife. I agreed to her presence because I feel strongly about giving learning opportunities to future midwives and I had liked her during appointments. However, it turned out she was not able to tune into me or the process I was going through and I found her presence and her inappropriate comments throughout the labour inhibiting. I truly hope she learned something but next time I won't be offering up my labour and birth to students. With Susan's support I was able to re-focus on my body and my labour and continue to birth my baby.

My husband Damien , my cousin Tamryn (our support person) and I attended your Birth Right class in September, 2008 and we just wanted to thank you for giving us such insight into childbirth. Our son, Ace Hamilton, was born at RHW Birth Centre after a 9 hr. labour. Lot's of people told us that as this was our first child we would probably not have the drug-free natural birth we were planning but thanks to all the wonderful advice we received at your classes we were lucky to not only have our baby at the Birth Centre, without intervention

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Wayan, Damien & Ace   
Wayan, Damien & Ace   

My husband Damien , my cousin Tamryn (our support person) and I attended your Birth Right class in September, 2008 and we just wanted to thank you for giving us such insight into childbirth. Our son, Ace Hamilton, was born at RHW Birth Centre after a 9 hr. labour. Lot's of people told us that as this was our first child we would probably not have the drug-free natural birth we were planning but thanks to all the wonderful advice we received at your classes we were lucky to not only have our baby at the Birth Centre, without intervention or drugs, but our son was born into a beautifully calm, dimly lit room, was able to feed immediately. I didn't require stitches and we were all home safe and healthy within 12 hours of his birth. Being so well informed allowed us to labour confidently and remain focused and combined with superb care from the Midwives, our experience on this day was better than we could have imagined. We recommend your classes to anyone having a baby. Thanks again.

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You know, on our particular night, on the night that beautiful Eva was born, having a doula didn't seem to make a difference. We laboured alone in our house until about 3 am - this was an extraordinary and scary and beautiful and momentous period - and then I made the call to her. Susan drove over to our place and then shortly after, we went independently into the birth centre. Sarah continued to labour there until 11 am when Eva was born in the bath.

Things went well, we were in control. This is probably the key to what

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Nigel   
Nigel   
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You know, on our particular night, on the night that beautiful Eva was born, having a doula didn't seem to make a difference. We laboured alone in our house until about 3 am - this was an extraordinary and scary and beautiful and momentous period - and then I made the call to her. Susan drove over to our place and then shortly after, we went independently into the birth centre. Sarah continued to labour there until 11 am when Eva was born in the bath.

Things went well, we were in control. This is probably the key to what made Susan such a great doula - she was present without being a presence. In the lead up, she made an enormous difference - she (and her book) asked us to ask good questions, she is clear without being prescriptive and she possesses great integrity around the pregnancy and birthing process, her knowledge of hospital and midwifery structures is superlative.

She also took some beautiful pictures.

Susan's classes were tremendous as they provided immediate information and answers to all our questions in the privacy of our home. As a practising midwife, Susan was able to explain and teach in a practical and interesting manner. I found her classes enjoyable and they allowed me not to need group classes or read numerous books. Susan is the complete pre-birth encyclopaedia that delivers everything in two classes.

Michael   

We didn't have a doula for the birth of our first child, and while the labour started out well, I ended up with an emergency caesarean, due to an awkwardly positioned baby. This was very disappointing. In hindsight, we felt that with the right advice the surgical intervention could have possibly been avoided. This time around the labour went more smoothly and ended with a beautiful drug-free waterbirth. Susan met us at the Birth Centre and worked with the Midwife to guide, reassure and support me. Susan knew, just by watching, what I needed and exactly what to say. She

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Magda & Tim   
Magda & Tim   

We didn't have a doula for the birth of our first child, and while the labour started out well, I ended up with an emergency caesarean, due to an awkwardly positioned baby. This was very disappointing. In hindsight, we felt that with the right advice the surgical intervention could have possibly been avoided. This time around the labour went more smoothly and ended with a beautiful drug-free waterbirth. Susan met us at the Birth Centre and worked with the Midwife to guide, reassure and support me. Susan knew, just by watching, what I needed and exactly what to say. She stayed for a while after the birth to make sure the first breastfeed was going well and that we were settling in with the new baby. We found her help in providing comfort and encouragement to be invaluable and would not hesitate to recommend her to anyone else and we'll definitely use her again in the event that we decide that having another child is a good idea.

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After unsuccessfully trying to have a baby for a number of years through IVF we fell pregnant naturally, which was a welcome shock. I wanted a natural birth and booked into the Birth Centre. I was concerned that having never been through a birth, how would I know what to d, if things were progressing well or if things were going awry?

Friends had an excellent experience with a Doula and we thought it was a good idea to have someone supporting us, who knew how to navigate the medical system and believed wholeheartedly in natural birth.

Birth Right and

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Jo & Silas   
Jo & Silas   
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After unsuccessfully trying to have a baby for a number of years through IVF we fell pregnant naturally, which was a welcome shock. I wanted a natural birth and booked into the Birth Centre. I was concerned that having never been through a birth, how would I know what to d, if things were progressing well or if things were going awry?

Friends had an excellent experience with a Doula and we thought it was a good idea to have someone supporting us, who knew how to navigate the medical system and believed wholeheartedly in natural birth.

Birth Right and Susan came recommended. After having read Susan's book (Birth Right), which made perfect sense to me, it felt like with Susan we would be in practical, pragmatic capable hands. We met and I was impressed by Susan's approach to supporting couples and in particular felt that she and my partner got on well. I felt very confident as our pregnancy progressed that both Silas and Susan knew what I wanted and would be able to support me through the birth.

We had six nights of pre-labour and Susan was on the end of the phone answering questions and I felt secure knowing that this was a normal set of events. As labour failed to kick in naturally, despite all our efforts, and the time after my waters broke ticked away, Silas, Susan and I made our way to the Birth Centre. Sadly for us, meconium was present and we were transferred to the Delivery Suite.

Having Susan helped to ensure that we had the birth that we wanted. At all points Susan, explained the options as the medical team presented them and helped us to negotiate less intervention, rather than more. Having Silas and Susan there meant that I felt able and confident to get on with breathing through the waves, focusing and enjoying the birth. I knew I could give birth naturally and that is exactly what we did. Matilda was born calmly despite the kerfuffle all around me.

On reflection, it was evident that without a Doula with a clear head and our interests at heart, rather than an eye on the clock and the Dr's wishes, our birth could have gone down the severe medical intervention front. I thank Susan from the bottom of my heart for agreeing to be our Doula and working with us practically and pragmatically all the way through our pregnancy.

1 week before my baby was due to be born my OB struck fear into me by telling me that things weren't progressing 'normally' because my baby's head had not engaged and she was lying in the posterior position. He said these were not good signs for a 'smooth labour' and that he would recommend an induction or perhaps a c-section if the baby was not born by 41 wks. I was devastated by this news as I was desperate to experience the wonderful journey of a natural birth. 1 day before my baby was due I phoned Susan Ross

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Lana Taylor   
Lana Taylor   

1 week before my baby was due to be born my OB struck fear into me by telling me that things weren't progressing 'normally' because my baby's head had not engaged and she was lying in the posterior position. He said these were not good signs for a 'smooth labour' and that he would recommend an induction or perhaps a c-section if the baby was not born by 41 wks. I was devastated by this news as I was desperate to experience the wonderful journey of a natural birth. 1 day before my baby was due I phoned Susan Ross and asked her to be my doula. After speaking with Susan I regained my confidence that I would be able to have a natural birth.

On the night I went into labour, Susan came to our house at 3am and helped me through every contraction. At times I almost lost control but Susan helped calm me down and assured me that things were progressing well. By having her with me I was able to labour at home for as long as possible and only go to the hospital at the last minute to deliver the baby. I arrived at the hospital 10cm dilated and gave birth to a beautiful girl just 1.5 hrs later. No drugs, all natural, just as I had wished for. I truly believe that if it wasn't for Susan, my birthing experience would have been very different.... and perhaps very distressing if there was unnecessary medical intervention. One of the best decisions my husband and I ever made was to ask Susan to be our doula, she ensured our darling girl entered the world in the best possible way.

Thank you Susan for being a phenomenal educator and mentor. Not only do you have a wealth of experience across fields, you also have a real talent for delivering information and a wonderful demeanour that allows your students to blossom. I was gratefully challenged by the assignments; I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend workshop and I deeply valued your over-the-phone support as I took on my first clients. I researched a lot of Doula education programs and I’m so pleased I chose Birth Right. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher, truly.

Caitlin   

The most important thing in finding a doula trainer was being able to engage face-to-face. Birth Right was fantastic in the sense I could approach the theory content at my own pace and then bring this together using Susan’s rich wisdom on a two day workshop. This is where I got the most value, and this I feel is a very important part of Doula training. Susan is a great mentor and frames a positive approach to birth, postpartum and a Doulas role within that.

Aly Kranz   

Susan and Birth Right are definitely operating with an integrity and genuine desire to support women.
I loved everything I learned from you and the hypnosis is something I keep coming back to so I’ll always be grateful for that opportunity with you.

Lily   

I would just like to thank Susan Ross for her beautiful book, which became my bible during my 4th pregnancy. After 2 inductions, epidurals, forceps, episiotomies, drips, drugs and stitches spread over my first 3 births, I felt that this was my last chance to have the kind of birth I have always dreamed of. Well let me tell you I barely put the book down. It seemed to be with me nearly everywhere I went. I am thrilled to tell you I had a beautiful experience birthing my 4kg. posterior baby boy, because I knew that I could. I

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Ann   
Ann   

I would just like to thank Susan Ross for her beautiful book, which became my bible during my 4th pregnancy. After 2 inductions, epidurals, forceps, episiotomies, drips, drugs and stitches spread over my first 3 births, I felt that this was my last chance to have the kind of birth I have always dreamed of. Well let me tell you I barely put the book down. It seemed to be with me nearly everywhere I went. I am thrilled to tell you I had a beautiful experience birthing my 4kg. posterior baby boy, because I knew that I could. I had faith in my body, and all the positive affirmation throughout the pregnancy worked. I delivered my son myself, with 2 Midwives watching, lights dim, and music playing. After 5 months, I still feel on that hormonal high. I have never contacted any author before, but this time I had to. Also, after all these years of being passionate about childbirth and pregnancy I plan to become a doula. So thank you again for touching my life in such a beautiful way.

“Training to be a Doula with Susan at Birth Right is easily the best decision I have ever made. The course was brilliant in both structure and content and immediately I knew that I had found my calling.
One of the main reasons I chose Birth Right (and continue to work with Susan as my mentor) was because of Susan’s extensive medical and woman-centered experience and knowledge which enabled a holistic approach to the training. This is something that I am continually thankful for as it has been a huge benefit in the relationships and rapport that I have been

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Marika   
Marika   

“Training to be a Doula with Susan at Birth Right is easily the best decision I have ever made. The course was brilliant in both structure and content and immediately I knew that I had found my calling.
One of the main reasons I chose Birth Right (and continue to work with Susan as my mentor) was because of Susan’s extensive medical and woman-centered experience and knowledge which enabled a holistic approach to the training. This is something that I am continually thankful for as it has been a huge benefit in the relationships and rapport that I have been able to build with medical professionals and caregivers, which in turn has allowed me to provide the best possible support with the best possible outcomes to the wonderful families that I am lucky enough to support on this incredible journey.
I can not recommend Susan and Birth Right highly enough.” Marika

Dear Susan, I am writing to say thank you for your book. It changed my outlook on my pregnancy. Everything that happened at the birth that was good happened because I followed your book. I did it drug free, with a doula and had a perfect labour, attachment and early breastfeeding experience. So, thank you for your wisdom and courage. I hope every pregnant couple gets to read your book.

Katarina   

My wife and I were excitedly expecting our first baby and didn't know where to start. After hearing all of the different advice offered by family and friends we were somewhat overwhelmed - Susan was a fantastic help, with her wealth of experience in childbirth she helped us understand the options for childbirth and their impact on Mum and baby, dispelling old myths and reassuring us that this was an event where we could decide on how things were going to happen.

Tony & Tracy   

We had Susan for our ante-natal classes. We found her to be above and beyond what any new parents could ask for. We thought that all the information provided was more than informative and with her sense of humour, it made the day go by much quicker. I would recommend her with a 5 star rating and give her 100%. We were absolutely pleased and we loved her nature, honesty and her theory.

Dimitra & Nicholas   

We would like to thank you for empowering and educating Glen and I with regards to our rights about being entitled to the birth of our choice at any hospital. We can't thank you enough for the information you gave us. I am thoroughly enjoying reading your book and had a good giggle as we sounded just like many other couples described in the early chapters, of not having a choice.

You could easily have brushed us off as you've heard it ALL so many times before, except you listened.

You gave us a voice to speak up, and for

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Glen & Monique   
Glen & Monique   

We would like to thank you for empowering and educating Glen and I with regards to our rights about being entitled to the birth of our choice at any hospital. We can't thank you enough for the information you gave us. I am thoroughly enjoying reading your book and had a good giggle as we sounded just like many other couples described in the early chapters, of not having a choice.

You could easily have brushed us off as you've heard it ALL so many times before, except you listened.

You gave us a voice to speak up, and for that we cannot thank you enough.

Using Susan as our Doula gave us tremendous support. We were able to discuss ideas about the pregnancy, birth and post-natal with Susan in our home. I was given peace of mind that my wife had expert care in order to give our daughter the best start in life without medical intervention. Our daughter definitely benefited from the lack of drugs, she was instantly alert which in turn assisted with breast-feeding attachment. Quite incredible.

Richo   

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