Carrie
Kenner, BA, CBE, CD(DONA), CDT(DONA), has been helping people have babies for over
25 years. As an 18-year-old first-time mother in 1979, she desired a
homebirth and searched for over three months to find midwives to attend her
at home. Her search for midwifery care fueled her passion for supporting
women in their right to have the births they desire, to access for
information and support for normal birth, and in rediscovering the power of
women through birth. She began supporting her friends and sister in birth
in 1980 and teaching childbirth education in 1982.
In 2001, Carrie
started her own business as a childbirth educator and birth doula. Since
then, she has attended over 150 births, worked with over 500 families as
an educator, birth doula, pre-conception counselor, and postpartum support
provider, and trained and mentored over 200 doulas. She is a DONA-approved
Birth Doula Trainer and a certified Birthing From Within mentor. She is on
the faculty of Seattle Midwifery School and Bastyr University as a doula
trainer. Carrie owns and operates Big Belly Services in Seattle, WA,
providing childbirth, lactation, and parenting education, and doula services
for big people who are expecting little people. Carrie has three sons and
six grandchildren.
Erin Quies, BA,
CD(DONA), has been fascinated by the sacred mysteries and powers of
women since she was a small child. She is especially drawn to the
magic of pregnancy, childbirth and the creation of families. With a
deep connection to many forms of healing and ritual, Erin has been
facilitating sacred circles, rites of passages, and healing through
different forms of movement. Owner of Buddha Baby, Erin provides birth
and postpartum doula services as well as Blessingways and other ceremonies
to honor babies, mothers, and new families throughout the San Juan Islands.