Name of Provider : Bonne Dunham           
Name of Business: Birth Into Being

How and why did you decide to become a midwife?

I’ve been asked this question many times before and it always really fun for me to take a look back at my life and piece it all together. As a child, I was always very fascinated by the inner workings of our bodies. I was always asking questions about how it worked and why. I was also raised in a household that placed a lot of emphasis on moral kindness, the spiritual body, and its connection to the physical body.  I believe I was 19, when a friend of mine passively mentioned that she wanted to be a midwife, and when I asked her to explain to me what that involved, it was like bells ringing in my head. I realized then that midwifery was the perfect marriage of body and spirit and science. I began gathering and reading as many books and magazines that I could about pregnancy and birth. After that initial year of interest, I attended a lengthy doula (labor assistant) course in Jerusalem, Israel, and volunteered my services there in a local hospital. I moved to Vermont directly from that experience and soon after began my apprenticeship, training and schooling towards becoming a midwife.

What is your personal philosophy about pregnancy, labor, and birth?  

I have a variety of philosophies surrounding pregnancy, labor and birth. One of the great things about being a midwife is that each and every woman, family and birth, brings new elements of surprise and enlightenment to my base of beliefs and philosophy. Just when I think I have a solid knowing about the whys and hows of pregnancy/labor/birth, I am presented with a birth or client that inevitably challenges or changes my views. So while I cannot really sum it up, some of the philosophies that I try always to align with are an inherent trust in birth, striving for open, honest communication which are the building blocks for strong relationships, allowing myself and my clients to listen to our intuitions, and promising to never stop learning. As a midwife, I find that I constantly have to ask myself what my philosophies are. And then having to reflect upon each and every scenario to see if they are serving both myself and my clients.

How do you support pregnant women, fathers/partners, and families?

Again, that is a question with a multitude of answers. Each client requires and deserves individualized care that is unique to their experience. I really strive to get to know my clients; what their background is, their strengths and weakness, what it is that they really need from me. Every woman and her partner will encounter their own special set of hurdles somewhere within the pregnancy/birth/postpartum. I stay keen to these hurdles as they present themselves. I find that most everyone is in need of emotional support and encouragement, whether it be physically adjusting to pregnancy, relationships and roles shifting, diet and exercise, labor preparation … the list is endless.  I spent a great deal of time really trying to understand where this need is coming from and how best to support them. 

What is unique about the care you provide for your clients?

I’ve heard that my laugh is fairly unique and uplifting. I have a really great sense of humor, but can very quickly go to a place where serious emotions and events need to be addressed. Also, I myself have had three very different pregnancies, birth and postpartum periods. It is from these personal experiences that I know there is no text-book pregnancy. I have also studied and attended workshops surrounding the work of Marshall Rosenberg’s ‘Non-violent Communication’. I attribute this style of communication to the success of my work. As we all know, being heard goes a long way, especially when it comes to pregnancy and birth.

What specific services do you offer and where are you located (include all contact info and web site, etc.)?

Below you will see my contact info with specifics about my general midwifery practice. But I want to give a little plug here for a new adventure in Women’s health care as it relates to pregnancy that I am embarking on: I know that homebirth is a very personal choice and is not the right choice for every woman and family. I also know that the care that some women receive when they have chosen a hospital birth can lack some of the individuality and thoughtfulness that I have described above. I am opening my doors to families who are choosing hospital birth, but would like to have the type of prenatal care that I offer to my homebirth clients. A full hour at each appointment to explore in-depth the myriad of topics that arise along the path of pregnancy: Comprehensive nutritional counseling, emotional support, discussions on prenatal testing options, tips to help with discomforts of pregnancy, opportunities to ask questions and prepare for labor and beyond. I offer a variety of healing modalities including herbal, homeopathic, and nutritive. I have a large lending library of reading materials and videos and vast resources of references within our community. This care is meant to compliment and parallel the care women are receiving from their hospital providers.

Bonne Jane Dunham LM, CPM
854 Jug Brook Road
Marshfield VT 05658
802.498.4247
www.birthintobeing.org