Training

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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.

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Magda & Tim

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

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.

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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.