Welcome to Rewilding Birth
Empowering birth support in the Midwest.
About Su Huschke
am a mama of two kids, a birth doula, shamanic practitioner, researcher, facilitator, and co-founder of the Irish Birth Movement.
As a birthkeeper, I serve people in the Midwest, centring the autonomy, power and needs of the birthing person. I have been training with South African birthkeeper Ruth Ehrhardt and Welsh doula Samara Hawthorn for the past five years as part of a growing international web of women who support undisturbed, autonomous, physiological birth, learning from the skills and ethos of traditional birthkeepers from around the world.
My doula journey started with the amazing team at Wellmama Ireland, a collective I co-founded in 2018. Shout out to the wonderful women without whom I’d not be who I am now: Sandra, Tasha, Aisling and Michelle!
Before I became a doula, I was a full time academic. I have a PhD in medical anthropology and still work part-time as a research fellow at the School of Medicine, University of Limerick. As a result of 15 years as a health researcher, unpacking non-evidence-based ‘hospital protocols’ is one of my favorite past-times!
I grew up in a small town in the socialist Northeast of Germany, and I have lived in California, Ecuador, the North of Ireland, Italy and South Africa before I started growing roots in North Tipperary with my partner and our kids.
When I am not busy rewilding birth, I grow medicine plants and the odd vegetable, hold women’s circles, and hang out with my horses.
What I offer:
- Evidence-based birth support: 15 years of experience in health research and a wealth of knowledge about evidence-based medicine (and the lack of evidence).
- Serving as the silent birthkeeper: the ability to sit back and support you quietly. Trusting birth and honouring your autonomy. Except for… when we’re in a hospital setting. That’s when I step into the Warrior and remind you of your power to roar.
- Trauma-informed care. I am trained in 3-step-rewind, a method to release birth trauma, and am experienced in supporting survivors of trauma during pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
- Connecting to the wildness: shamanic practice and a heart-felt connection to animals, trees, herbal medicines and all the living world around us. This is the foundation of my life, and I bring it with me wherever we go.
“Su was recommended for her warrior strength and passion. But I loved her best for the pauses after thoughtful questions, her gentle hands during birth, a nurturing cup of tea, her shawl as a blanket. Su didn’t use her strength to push open doorways. Su held the space I needed to feel secure in my own ability. She believed in me. And that is a powerful thing to gift someone.”
Kate, 3rd time mama, Co. Clare
About Su Huschke
I am a mama of two kids, a birth doula, shamanic practitioner, researcher, facilitator, and co-founder of the Irish Birth Movement.
As a birthkeeper, I serve people in the Midwest, centring the autonomy, power and needs of the birthing person. I have been training with South African birthkeeper Ruth Ehrhardt and Welsh doula Samara Hawthorn for the past five years as part of a growing international web of women who support undisturbed, autonomous, physiological birth, learning from the skills and ethos of traditional birthkeepers from around the world.
My doula journey started with the amazing team at Wellmama Ireland, a collective I co-founded in 2018. Shout out to the wonderful women without whom I’d not be who I am now: Sandra, Tasha, Aisling and Michelle!
Before I became a doula, I was a full time academic. I have a PhD in medical anthropology and still work part-time as a research fellow at the School of Medicine, University of Limerick. As a result of 15 years as a health researcher, unpacking non-evidence-based ‘hospital protocols’ is one of my favorite past-times!
I grew up in a small town in the socialist Northeast of Germany, and I have lived in California, Ecuador, the North of Ireland, Italy and South Africa before I started growing roots in North Tipperary with my partner and our kids.
When I am not busy rewilding birth, I grow medicine plants and the odd vegetable, hold women’s circles, and hang out with my horses.
What I offer:
- Evidence-based birth support: 15 years of experience in health research and a wealth of knowledge about evidence-based medicine (and the lack of evidence).
- Serving as the silent birth keeper: the ability to sit back and support you quietly. Trusting birth and honouring your autonomy. Except for… when we’re in a hospital setting. That’s when I step into the Warrior and remind you of your power to roar.
- Trauma-informed care. I am trained in 3-step-rewind, a method to release birth trauma, and am experienced in supporting survivors of trauma during pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
- Connecting to the wildness: shamanic practice and a heart-felt connection to animals, trees, herbal medicines and all the living world around us. This is the foundation of my life, and I bring it with me wherever we go.
“Su was recommended for her warrior strength and passion. But I loved her best for the pauses after thoughtful questions, her gentle hands during birth, a nurturing cup of tea, her shawl as a blanket. Su didn’t use her strength to push open doorways. Su held the space I needed to feel secure in my own ability. She believed in me. And that is a powerful thing to gift someone.”
Kate, 3rd time mama, Co. Clare
Where Do I Work?
For one-on-one doula support, I serve women in Co. Limerick, Co. Tipperary and parts of Co. Clare, Co. Offaly and Co. Laois. I support women who give birth in the University Maternity Hospital Limerick, the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, South Tipperary General Hospital Clonmel, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, and Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. I also support women who choose homebirth or freebirth in this region. To see if I cover your area, give me a call.
“In the hospital, Su’s ability to hold space was just invaluable. I don’t believe that I would be able to make my preferences heard and respected without the confidence that I gained during all the preparation that we had with Su’s help.”
Katya, first time Mum, Co. Clare
Where Do I Work?
For one-on-one doula support, I serve women in Co. Limerick, Co. Tipperary and parts of Co. Clare, Co. Offaly and Co. Laois. I support women who give birth in the University Maternity Hospital Limerick, the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, South Tipperary General Hospital Clonmel, Portiuncula Hospital, Ballinasloe, and Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar. I also support women who choose homebirth or freebirth in this region. To see if I cover your area, give me a call.
“In the hospital, Su’s ability to hold space was just invaluable. I don’t believe that I would be able to make my preferences heard and respected without the confidence that I gained during all the preparation that we had with Su’s help.”
Katya, first time mum, Co. Clare
What Do I Offer?
I offer birth doula support from the early stages of pregnancy until after birth. Have a look here to see what my birth doula package includes.
If you don’t want or need the full package, you can book individual sessions with me where we can talk through any questions you have before the birth. I also offer Birth Rewind sessions, a safe and very successful method of releasing birth trauma. I can also support your pregnancy and postpartum journey with shamanic drumming sessions and healing and blessing ceremonies.
Find out more about these offerings here.
If you would like group work, have a look at the workshops and courses I run.
Last but not least, I am involved in changing birth culture as a researcher, birth keeper and activist. Find out more about the revolutionary shenanigans I am part of here.
What Do I Offer?
I offer birth doula support from the early stages of pregnancy until after birth. Have a look here to see what my birth doula package includes.
If you don’t want or need the full package, you can book individual sessions with me where we can talk through any questions you have before the birth. I also offer Birth Rewind sessions, a safe and very successful method of releasing birth trauma. I can also support your pregnancy and postpartum journey with shamanic drumming sessions and healing and blessing ceremonies.
Find out more about these offerings here.
If you would like group work, have a look at the workshops and courses I run.
Last but not least, I am involved in changing birth culture as a researcher, birth keeper and activist. Find out more about the revolutionary shenanigans I am part of here.
What Women Have Said
Here are some of the kind words from the wonderful women that I had the honour to support during pregnancy and birth.
“My doula Su really helped me to connect with the process and stay grounded during my preparation for birth. During my labour her calm headedness and acute intuition made it very smooth and special for me and my family. I can’t imagine a person who is better suited to supporting a birthing women. It completely changed my birthing experience and would absolutely recommend her to anyone.”
“I heard about Su through a friend, she was highly recommend to me as an additional support throughout pregnancy, birth and post birth. My initial thoughts were ‘I have a supportive husband to be by my side why would I need a doula’, but I soon realised that Su could give me the emotional intuition and knowledge my husband couldn’t. Of course he was an integral part of pregnancy and birth together but our doula became additional much valued support to both of us. In a culture where women are afraid of giving birth and hand over all their power Su helped me have strength and control of my birthing choice.”
“Su’s investigating, attentive and curious mind grabbed me from the first. She was very sharp and knew what questions should be asked to get to the heart of things. Throughout the final stages of the pregnancy Su had her eyes on the ball, she reached out the right amount, listening very carefully to what had been said – and to what hadn’t. Heck, she even recognized that I started my contractions before I did! If you’re searching for a doula, I highly recommend Su. She’ll be there for you and would direct you to find your inner source to give birth.”
“I’m very grateful for the support and guidance that Su offered us during our journey through pregnancy and the birth of our first child. Going through it for the first time, living in Ireland for not a very long period of time, and having little awareness of the ways how the health care system operates made it quite hard to prepare for the challenges of this special period in life.
Now I am confident that without Su’s help, it would be just impossible to navigate our way through the over-medicalised maternity care system. As a first-time mum, I particularly appreciated the balance between up-to-date knowledge, emotional support and experiential techniques during the antenatal sessions.
Su’s very special attuned and not disturbing presence during the early stages of labour helped me to listen to my body and find my own way of going through it.”
“Su was my angel doula who helped me go through the physically and mentally toughest and most vulnerable period in my life: having a baby. She was my rock and was there to support me the whole way through. Su combined with her abundance of knowledge, ability to support in all the ways I needed and big heart made me feel less alone. She made me feel like we were together in this. She was the first person to hold my baby and we will always hold a very special place for her in our hearts..”
“When I was planning how I wanted my labour to be, I was in a doubt if I wanted a doula or not. I was strongly advised by a friend to invest in a doula because the doula doesn’t work for any institution but for you. With Su, I had four antenatal meetings and it was INCREDIBLE. Birth isn’t just a physiological event but your mind and believes can interfere a lot for good or not. Su covered many aspects of that with her questions and easy, confident approach.
On the grand day, Su respected the sacred space between myself and my husband. I thought I would like to have a quiet and silent labour but I needed every hand on me and Su adapted according to that! She was a relief when my husband was tired of assisting me with back pressure and also reminded him to eat and nurture his body. Even my dog that I love as a baby was spoiled by her!!
In the hospital she advocated for me and was my voice when I couldn’t speak. She was part of my anchors and remind me to listen to my body and what my rights were.
I can’t recommend her enough!! A doula is an angel!!! You can do it without her but with her, everything goes smoothly!!”