Anna Bunting, CNM

I first became drawn to the idea of becoming a midwife in 1975, after reading Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin and Immaculate Deception by Suzanne Arms. The environment and timing was perfect in supporting the beginning of my journey as a midwife. I was inspired by these women, and I had had a few friends whose birth experiences were remembered as traumatic, horrible events in their lives. I wanted to be a part of this growing movement for change in the lives of pregnant women. I was fortunate to obtain an apprenticeship with a skilled midwife. I worked with her for a little more then 2 years before starting out on my own as a direct entry midwife. We were called “lay midwives” at the time. I eventually went on to get licensed as a Registered Nurse and finally a Certified Nurse Midwife.

It seems a natural extension of my work as a midwife, that I would become involved with people near and at the time of their death. Since 2000 I have been learning more about how to be present with others during this life transition. I have assisted friends in caring for their loved ones at the time of death and after. I have been a Hospice volunteer since 2000, and most recently worked as a Hospice Nurse. Together with others, I am in the process of forming a volunteer group of people to assist and guide families in end of life care in the home, and a Considering Death workshop for those of us who want to prepare as best we can for our own death.

I am both fortunate and honored to be a midwife, to work with families at such an important time in their lives, and to share a partnership with two wonderful loving midwives.

I grew up on the East Coast, was sort of a hippy in the 60’s, and went to college for my BA in philosophy (and ceramics) at a small alternative school in Maine.  After working around gathering skills as a ‘jill of all trades”,  I was off sailing in the Pacific Ocean when I decided I wanted to be a midwife;  it seemed it would be something that would keep me as close to ‘the edge’ and engaged with life as being in a little boat in the middle of nowhere.

I began my midwifery education in 1980 as a midwife’s apprentice at Isla Vista Medical Clinic Childbirth Services. Then received my RN at Santa Barbara City College in 1983 and midwifery licensure (CNM) from UCSF in 1989; I worked at both Goleta Valley Community Hospital and Cottage Hospital as an RN and as a CNM, and have, since 1989, been practicing as a homebirth midwife and as a practitioner for the low income women of the community with the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department. I have been married forever to the same wonderful man I went sailing with and we have two terrific sons, both born at home with my sister midwives. I continue to be awed every day by the miracle of pregnancy, birth, and the circle.…….
I have connected with Anna and Laurel as a team for several years now and am so delighted to be working together.

I was born in Santa Barbara in 1970, and am the fourth generation of my family to live here. I graduated from the College of Creative Studies at UCSB in 1993 with a BA in painting, and continue to strive to find time to make art, which is my second love after midwifery.
I am married to a wonderful man and have three beautiful daughters, two of them teenagers(!) born at home with Alice, Anna and Mary Jackson. I have been very lucky to attend births as an apprentice and assistant with Anna and Alice since 1996, attending over 200 women through pregnancy, birth and postpartum. I have also been working for the past twelve years as a professional doula, attending planned hospital births in Santa Barbara and LA. I have traveled throughout Europe and had the chance to meet with many midwives there, and even attended a birth in a German birth center. When I can find the time I hike, play frisbee, have fabulous potlucks, take an occasional yoga class, sleep, cook, and read as much as possible.

I was honored to serve as President of the Central Coast Doula Association from 2008-2009.
After many years of apprenticeship, I attended the National Institute of Midwifery and completed all my clinical requirements for California Licensure in Spring 2009. I passed my licensing exam in August 2009.
I am also the founder and Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Birth Center.
I am thrilled to get to participate in the lives of so many in my community through the births of their children. It is a profound honor, and I think I have the best job in the world.