Jill Panunto
The first birth I attended was in 2004 – the birth of my first nephew. At the time I thought I was only there to keep my niece occupied while my sister boldly labored at home for her VBAC. Little did I know this was the beginning of my path to my journey into birth work.
In the fall of 2012, I gave birth to my son via cesarean. I had planned to birth at a birth center, but ultimately ended up transferring to the hospital. My son’s birth was transformative in so many ways including sparking my desire to become a doula.
In early 2015, after a very physically and emotionally demanding week-long labor, I gave birth to my daughter as a VBAC, or a vaginal birth after cesarean. I could not have accomplished my VBAC without the constant support of my husband and my two doulas. My daughter’s birth reinforced my drive to provide supportive care for laboring woman and their families.
My family was complete when we welcomed the birth of our twin girls in January, 2017. Pregnancy and birth with multiples brought with it new challenges including the need to advocate for myself and my babies each day post 38 weeks. My girls arrived just two days shy of their due date in an unmedicated, hospital birth and as my second VBAC.
My passions include further educating myself on all things birth related and advocating for VBAC education and access in the State of Delaware. In July 2018, I became the Chapter Leader for the non-profit organization ICAN of Delaware. I have other interests in holistic living, nutrition, yoga, running, and spiritual growth.
What I do:
I view my work as a doula as advocacy to inform women of their choices in childbirth. I want women and their partners to be fully informed of their options and to feel they can communicate effectively with their care providers. I believe motherhood is a journey and women need to be supported and empowered to trust in themselves and their ability to give birth and make informed decisions regarding the care their family receives.
What I do not do:
I do not use any medical skills or offer medical advice. I never make decisions for the mother nor will I speak to the staff directly about the mother’s wishes.
I do not advocate for a birth to be one way or another. Rather, I remind the mother and partner of her birth philosophy and ask questions that empower the mother to be her own best advocate.
Memberships & Affiliations:
Birth Arts International (BAI) – trained and pursuing certification
ICAN of Delaware – Member and Chapter Leader