Getting to know Calmbirth Educator Sally Crothers

19/02/2020 Sally Crothers

Sally Crothers is a midwife and Calmbirth Educator who is passionate about educating women and their families. She strongly believes that knowledge is power and having strong relationships between the members of a multidisciplinary team.

“For almost all of my midwifery career I have worked in small rural communities, including Ayers Rock, Alice Springs, Roma and Chinchilla. In these areas, with limited personnel I have learnt the value of having a strong relationship between obstetricians, midwives and all of the multi -disciplinary team.”

“I have been doing antenatal education since I became a midwife. Calmbirth has really reignited my passion for giving the power back to the birthing woman. Every day at my work I feel privileged to work with families at such a significant time of their life and am grateful that every work day, I can make a positive difference in some small way to a person’s day.

“So, this leads me to “Calmbirth with Lanziz and Sally”. When Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr Lanziz Homar approached me and suggested that we work as a team to teach Calmbirth it just made sense, and really combined all of my birthing philosophies. To be able to work in partnership with Lanziz and educate women and families to approach their birth feeling calm and relaxed, is a really positive step to providing outstanding care to the women of Toowoomba.

“When a woman leaves our class saying “I am so excited about the birth, I can’t wait”, I really feel like we are achieving our goal, of “changing the world one birth at a time. “

When a mother presents to the Chinchilla hospital in labour at 2am and is 32 weeks pregnant, and you are the only midwife in the hospital you really need to know that the doctor you wake up is going to be responsive and able to provide the skills you need.

For the past 18 months I have been working in Toowoomba, and am learning that these key relationships continue to be vital to the care of our women. In a large maternity unit, women and their families still need that attention to detail and care that comes from good communication between all parties.

My Name is…Sally Crothers.

I work at…St Vincent’s Hospital Toowoomba with Dr Lanziz Homar and my fellow Calmbirth Educator..

My life in five words …family, friends, midwife, yoga, beach.

The best thing about where I live is...the stunning outdoor spaces and only 2 ½ hours to the beach (I have lived further west for a long time.)

What I do to relax when I’m not working…yoga, reading, drinking champagne on my deck with good friends.

I can’t live without…my family.

The person or traits I most admire is…Mother Teresa because her philosophy is simple and she has made a huge difference to so many disadvantaged people.

What I love most about being a Calmbirth Educator…being able to give couples the information to trust their bodies and connect with each other.

If I had to describe my own birth experiences in 3 words…exhausting, empowering exhilarating.

The 3 essential things you need to take with you into labour are…a sense of humour, a well prepared support person and a bag of nutritious snacks.

My most memorable moment as Calmbirth® educator…Doing a relaxation and putting both the couple and their 3 large dogs all to sleep.

A favourite quote…Promise me you’ll always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. (A.A Milne).

If you had to describe how seeing a baby being born makes you feel…So privileged to be a part of nature’s greatest miracle and a couple’s most intimate moment.

You can follow me at… to be advised. Watch this space.

My next Calmbirth courses are…March 7th and 8th.