Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Krueger Domingue . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Stephanie , thanks for joining us today. How’s you first get into your field – what was your first job in this field?

I’m from Colorado, born and raised. I was raised on a small sustainable farm. My family worked hard to grow and raise what we would eat, including ethical meat, eggs, milk, cheese, and seasonal produce. So, I guess you could say my first job in the field of pregnancy and birth began when I was a child.

The first creature I ever saw born was a pony at the age of 6. Decades later, I still spend countless hours in the barn with my mama and we quietly witness goats deliver their kids, horses foal, and even chicks slowly hatch. I’ve developed a patience for the way life is meant to unfold, unhurried, and in its own time. Which has been an incredible gift in my own birthwork career.

A doula is defined in its most basic definition as a woman who serves. My first “real job” in the field came along when I had a dear friend who invited me to be her doula. This was to be a homebirth and was before my certifications. It was so beautiful helping her and her partner navigate this experience. My Friend insisted I ask for my worth, let go of my imposter syndrome and dive into this work deeper as it was my “calling”. My own initiation into motherhood after my own loss, pregnancies, births, and navigating PPMD affirmed my desire to support the childbearing continuum, and I’ve never looked back.

After completing a Bachelors in Science from CSU, I chose to pursue more holistic education and became A Registered Yoga Teacher. Working my way to an E-RYT 200 Status, with multiple continuing education credits through the Yoga Alliance. Including Postpartum Yoga, Baby & Me, Yin, and Yoga Nidra. I’m a Red Drum Carrier & Leader, Steamy Chick certified in peristeam facilitation, and studying peristeam hydrotherapy. I also am trained and certified through The Matrona as a holistic doula, The Sacred Living Movement as a Mother Roaster, Bliss Alchemy as a Postpartum Ayurvedic Practitioner, skilled harm reduction plan manager with Cannabis Doula, and studied the Birth Arts International program.

I look at every birth as my “first” in a way. There are no absolutes in birth, and it is not my privilege to know destiny. It is my honor however to hold sacred space, and guide them to and through these transformative experiences with trauma informed care and advocacy for informed consent.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

While birth education and support are a big part of my work, I’m a big believer that “Once Postpartum- Always Postpartum” & “Food is Medicine”. We need to honor and nourish the mothers, and their birth/womb experiences.

I am deeply passionate about supporting women to and through their womb/birth experiences. I vow to guide birthing persons through the threshold of transition, create safe space, and honor their intuition. Through selfless service, resources, support, and healing touch we can come back to the ancient way of honoring the bringers of life, as they transform and process the rawness of their birth.

In pregnancy and postpartum everyone deserves outstanding support. Parents deserve to be heard. Everyone deserves to know their options. Feeling empowered and informed each and every step of the way makes the biggest difference in your own birth journey. I don’t believe in gatekeeping birth, and truly believe that anyone can be a doula. A mother, a sister, a friend, someone without children, anyone who can help you regulate your nervous system in labor is going to be so supportive. The bonus that comes with a trained doula is they have the tools to help you navigate the hospital system and ensure you know your options and are recieving evidence-based care.

In Ayurveda, they say the first 40 days postpartum set you up for the next 40 years.

Across many cultures the prescription for postpartum is virtually the same. Warming therapies, easy to digest nourishment, and rest and vital to recovery. I often refer to myself as a Mother Roaster. Which is the practice of keeping a woman warm immediately after birth and in the first few weeks following birth. It rejuvenates the Mother’s body, helps her to focus on and connect with her newborn baby and nourishes her back into being. It also seals up emotional, physical and spiritual gateways that have been opened by birth. Traditional Mother Roasting services include healing touch, cooked foods for nourishment, herbal support and other warming practices such as Moxa Treatments, womb wrapping, tea ceremonies, herbal baths and more. Mother Roasters provide care to nurture the birthing person after birth. We provide support that every birthing person deserves, as they adjust to the changes of postpartum. This raw postpartum time needs to be recognized and ceremonially honored, but deeply necessitates a healing touch that can welcome the new mama with open arms.

Mother Roasters are reverent with service to families and are blessed to be witness as they start feeding their baby milk, heal, and seal the rawness of the birth experience. I am there to wrap her in a blanket of loving care, keep her warm, provide her with healing touch, create herbal tinctures for her, feed her warm soups, and gift her with ceremony.

I also love teaching parents how to nourish their own babies with warm oil applications *Infant Massage* and other selfcare practices that mama and baby can do together.

I believe in the sacredness of these experiences, but also try my best to check my bias before entering any space and serve the family in the way they need. I am silly and serious, woo woo and grounded, spiritual and present, evidence based and passionate, and I also swear….. a lot.

One of my favorite offerings is crafting placenta tinctures after printing and reading the placenta. Reach out for more information about that sacred practice. I could write a book on it.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

When it comes to growing clientele, word of mouth is the best advertisement out there. Friends trust their friends’ experiences. Boulder county is very lucky to be so well resourced in the realms of birth support and resources. That being said, it’s really easy to find a doula/ birthworker that feels like the right fit. Never settle when it comes to finding someone to guide you through one of life’s most transformative events. I am not currently in the space to grow much more, as I am serious about my work life balance and want to ensure I have ample time to support my clients, my family, and nourish my own self.

If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?

I know I was meant for this work, If I could go back to my undergrad, I would have pursued nursing and midwifery. Becoming a Certified Nurse Midwife is very appealing to me, Maybe someday when my own babies are grown. I never stop learning and reading. My favorite books are resource books, nursing and midwifery manuals, all of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rockymountainmother.com
• Instagram: @rockymtnmother

Image Credits
@aubreynicolephotography @jessicacraigphotography @mountainmamaphotoco @mamadeesbirthphotography