It is the perfect job for me.
getting eye contact, is everyone feeling emotionally, blending it all together so SK: That’s nearly 20 years! Oh my, You part of the process,and often I am help she remains calm and feels loved and supported by her partner and feels safe must have s o m e h i s t o r y with dads, help the moms birthing in Boulder! SK: So Bonnie, what does being a in the birthing space, as a doula, it can be very artistic. BD: Yea, I guess I do, that’s why so Birth Doula mean to you? I think if many people know me! So, I moved to I ask 10 Doula’s that question, I would Rearranging the space so that it’s Boulder when I was 10, I had my son at get 10 different answers… but I really beautiful, watching the sun go down 21 and then became doula.. yeah, I’ve want to hear what you keeps you inter- and bringing out battery lit candles, ested all this time. bringing out aromatherapy, changing been a birth doula for 20 years. the music, changing the energy of the SK: In a general way, what does a Birth BD: Attending a birth is in a lot of ways room, creating with the staff a quiet an artform for me, helping a woman Doula do for a birth? to turn a baby, from a posterior posi- team, creating a safe sacred space, all BD: Birth Doulas provide physical tion during her labor, helping a labor- of that is an art form. I love that. and emotional support, moment by ing woman, keep up with constantly I get to play with a lot of my clients unmoment throughout the labor process. changing breathing exercises as her derwater for maternity pre-birth phoI am always watching the mama and labor progresses, that, for me, is an art tographs, that allows me to get to know her on a deeper level, allows us to comher partner, in ways that are support- form. ing the fastest smoothest birth for her, There is a real need for ”physical un- municate and trust. Another thing I without fighting it or tensing up? Is derstanding” in the birth room, cou- do before labor is show the mother her partner well hydrated, is her part- pled with the woman’s emotional pro- & partner how to use their home and ner understanding the process, is he cess I support them physically and their own furniture so they can experi-
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