Where do I even start? OK…the beginning. Started when I met Sue back on April 4th, 2011. Yes I know, I remember the date. Its because it was the day before my daughter Che was born!!! I met Sue to re-test my GBS to rule out if I still had it and if there was a need to have any IV antibiotics during labor. Sue was my back up midwife since Maria was out of town. I didn't expect to have my birth for another week. Turns out it was,  "Hi Tai I’am Sue, call me if you have any questions." Next morning this was me……, "Hi Sue. Remember me…. the baby is coming."
     The birth itself was pretty good, it was fast. Started at 6am. Back labored on the steps for a while until my water broke about 10 am. Went in the birth tub for a while and we had our surprise baby girl Che at 1:52 pm! What Sue did for us was be on the phone and talked to myself and husband through the first few hours very calmly and reassured us things were going well and that she would be over soon since we were newbies to this whole gig. Once my contractions, or surges may have you, became more intense and I didn’t feel like talking, my husband called Sue and asked when do we know its time for her to come over. She asked my husband James to be quiet for a moment for her to hear me moan. She said, "Ok sounds like active labor has started and I’ll start making my way over." She arrived just before my water broke about 10 am. During the labor I don’t know much else of what she was doing since I was in the zone, but I know she did her magic! She and midwife Kelly Murphy were setting up things, tracking my progress on a chart, and just being present. The presence of them and all the knowledge that they had was enough for me to be calm and birth my baby. Long story short…. If you have been told that a woman almost gave birth to her baby on the toilet, that was me. Yup I was all ready to go. But James plopped me back in the birth tub for the grand finale.
     Then in June 2013 we found out number 2 is arriving!!!!!!!!! What to do? Who to call? We had so much good things to say about everyone we had. We talked it over and over and over and we were at a standstill for a long while, but really it was clear. Since Sue wasn’t our main midwife she didn’t do our post natal visits, we felt that she missed out on seeing the baby that she saw born. What better gift to then have her come back and see her now as a flourishing toddler! I contacted her as soon as possible since I was late to the homebirth game the first time at about 7 months in. She said YES! Only downfall was that I had to wait until 10 weeks to see her for our first visit! 😊
       Our 1st visit was great! She brought along Lauren her assistant in training. Fabulous duo these two were. Just amazing. So patient with my very severe case of the baby brain, all my worries and what ifs, and wild and crazy toddler. I looked forward to seeing them come for my prenatal visits. They were very informative on what to expect, had fun little flower essences for my water, involved my daughter in the checking of momma's belly and blood pressure. We giggled about numerous things and they gave me back that great confidence of “I Can Do It” attitude. I feared that I was extremely lucky to have such a good first homebirth, would it be the same smooth sailing again? By the end I was empowered by these two ladies and then it boiled down to not wanting to have my baby early and it being on Valentines Day. Flip side I really wanted to be done being pregnant. We had a visit Feb 13th, and they said in kindness that it probably wouldn't happen on the 14th, and that I should think Monday. LOL. Well I woke up the next morning as if it was deja vu all over again.
       "Hi Sue, Happy Valentines Day! I'm going to have the baby today!" (3:30 am TIME STAMP)
I was very blessed to have Sue, Lauren, and Kelly at my second birth: my son Zivon. Again a fast and intense labor. This was also completed in the birth tub. (8:44 am) During this labor it was all belly labor. Very different and very exhausting. Come to find out his big head came out but his body was stuck for about a minute and Sue took charge and did like a lifting movement as the last contraction happened and baby was born. Chunky guy. 8 lbs 6 or 8 oz. I forgot. but I know his chest was as big as his head! Takes after his Daddy I guess. What I’m trying to say is that even in this situation Sue knew everything to do and just did what she needed to do in a calm manner. I didn't even know this happened till months later when I was chatting with Lauren about the birth. Sue was so humble to never mention this. I know she values her job so close to her heart and made it a lifestyle.
     I cannot say enough good things about Sue and her expertise. She is AMAZING to say the least. She not only is professional, caring, very on point and ready, but she has a really super cool watch that transmits her text messages!!!!!!! Also she gives the BEST hugs. If you are not a big hugger like I was she will change that. 😉 THANKS SUE AGAIN AND AGAIN FOR ALL YOU ARE AND ALL THAT YOU DO FOR US MOMMIES, BABIES, AND FAMILIES.

Tai.