Testimonial for Melanie Russell
Didier and I first met Melanie through the A Brighter Birth six-week course. From the very beginning Melanie’s contagious joy and spirit towards all things birth-related were so inspiring. I remember leaving the first class feeling so energized, and that was directly related to the passion Melanie has for nurturing and guiding people through what can be, at times, an overwhelming experience, especially for first-time parents such as we were. Melanie’s energy, wisdom, and personal experience, having birthed four beautiful children herself, encouraged us to ask Melanie if she would be a part of our journey, and thankfully she accepted!
When we learned our baby was breech, Melanie’s connectedness to the Richmond birth community really became invaluable. As a doula, birth educator, lactation counselor, and contributing voice of the Tribecast, Melanie has access to so many resources. Knowing how dedicated we were to natural childbirth, Melanie guided us to an OB who was willing to support us through a natural vaginal breech birth. At 39 weeks, when I was feeling most vulnerable, Melanie supported us by reminding us that the best thing we could do for our family was to be informed consumers. If we had not had the support and guidance of Melanie during this time, we most likely would have been forced to have a birth experience very different from what we envisioned and hoped for. Instead, we had a perfectly beautiful, empowering birth at the hospital—something I originally would have told you sounded like an oxymoron, but with Melanie’s gentle wisdom and encouragement became a reality.
Our family is blessed to have found someone so dedicated to helping people have “brighter births,” and we can’t wait for her to be a part of our future journeys.
-Sarah Occident
April 08, 2013
Melanie Russell
A Brighter Birth
Birth Fee: $2000
