My name is Susan Rouser.  I am a Certified Labor Doula through  CAPPA.  CAPPA stands for Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association.

For more information on CAPPA please visit their website at http://www.CAPPA.net

My interest in birthing started in 1998 when I became pregnant with my first child.  I read all the "usual" books as well as a few unusual ones.  It was while I was reading one of the unusual ones that I discovered midwifery care and knew I wanted to have a midwife deliver my baby.  I had a  textbook pregnancy.  Everything went very well. I made it to 40 weeks, then 41 and my midwife started talking induction.  Then at 42 weeks she suggested I go in to have my labor induced. Being young and naive I accepted happily and headed to the hospital.  It was a  very difficult process (induction) with a few bumps in the road but a healthy 8lb 14.5 oz 21 inch baby girl was born at 2:24 pm on Tuesday June 15. 

With my next baby I knew I wanted something different.  I had done a lot of reading and research by the time I got pregnant with number 2.  I sought out a home birth midwife and was determined to have a home birth.  Again, I had a mostly textbook pregnancy.  I made it to 40 weeks, then 41 weeks and thankfully at 41 weeks and 3 days I went into labor at 1 o'clock in the morning.  I was excited that I was going to meet my baby that day.  I had no idea what I was in for.  I had a long labor but eventually made it to completely dilated with just a lip of cervix left so my midwife said I could start pushing if I liked.  This was at around 2 pm or so.  After pushing and pushing and pushing at home for many hours I started begging to go to the hospital.  Something just didn't feel right.  With my first baby, I had this uncontrollable urge to push.  It felt as if I was throwing up out my bottom!  There was no stopping it. She was born in about 10 minutes of pushing.  With my second baby though it just didn't feel the same.  In my head, I knew I wasn't making any progress.  We eventually transported to the hospital.  This is where the story gets kind of crazy though.  On the way to the hospital I was laying the back seat.  My mother was driving with my husband in the front seat.  My mother was probably going a little too fast and hit a set of railroad tracks.  I flew about a foot off the backseat and when I landed I felt a distinct pop and a major change in the baby's position.  All the sudden I had the uncontrollable urge to push like I had with my first daughter.  I was pushing and there was no stopping it. We got to the hospital at 6 ish and she was born at 6:23 pm!  What a whirlwind.  This baby surprised us all when they announced that she was 10 lbs 12.5 oz and 21 1/2 inches long!.

With baby number 3 I chose a different midwife and knew I wanted to try for another home birth. I had another great pregnancy and at 41 weeks and 3 days I went into labor at 3:45 pm right as my husband was getting home from work.  At first I was telling him I wasn't even sure it was real labor.  It quickly intensified within a span of 15 minutes and I was on my hands and knees moaning with each contraction.  My Doula, Midwife and her assistant all showed up within about 10 minutes of each other at about 6 pm.  My girls were excited that their baby brother was coming.  At 7:30 pm and one push I gave birth to my son into the warm waters of the birth tub in our living room.  It was absolutely amazing and surreal.  Here is this big giant baby laying on the bottom of the birth pool and I just pushed him out.  I pulled him up and just held him in astonishment.  I looked like a deer caught in headlights because I just couldn't believe it. He was 10 lbs 7 oz and 21 3/4 inches long.  He was just beautiful.
We ended our childbearing on that wonderful birth.  We knew we were done after our third child, but to have such a beautiful birth as our last one was truly a gift.
After that I knew I wanted to be a Doula.  My doula at my own birth was invaluable.  Helping a woman give birth is a blessing.  I want to pass it on and help another woman the way I was helped.  It is a privlege to be a part of one of a family's greatest moments.

I would be happy to speak with you if you have any questions.  Please call me at 940-391-9817 or you can email me at Susan@birthbyyou.com.  I look forward to hearing from you!