Debra Pascali-Bonaro, B. Ed., CD (DONA), LCCE,Chair of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization (IMBCO) is an internationally renowned childbirth expert, a 28-year speaker in childbirth education, a Lamaze-certified veteran in maternity care, and a DONA-approved doula trainer. A graduate of McGill University, Debra travels the world giving doula trainings—she has seeded the doula movement in many countries—and working to ensure that women and their partners understand their rights related to the circumstances of giving birth. In the U.S. she teaches nursing, midwifery and medical students at University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University and New York University, has spoken about doula care at the White House, and has been instrumental in the development of multiple hospital and community-based doula programs. She also provides in-service trainings to nurses, midwives, residents and Grand Rounds to physicians at hospitals and universities internationally. Debra served on the first Board of Directors of DONA International and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Childbirth Connection. She co-authored Nurturing Beginnings: Mother Love’s Guide to Postpartum Home Care for Doulas and Outreach Workers and received the Lamaze International Elizabeth Bing Award in 2002. For her first documentary film, Orgasmic Birth, Debra videotaped births in New Zealand, Mexico, the U.K., South America, and the U.S. to help educate and inspire people to consider their options and the implications of the circumstances of birth for women’s and babies’ health and wellbeing. This documentary is being shown around the world to great acclaim. She is co-author ofOrgasmic Birth: Your Guide to a Safe, Satisfying, and Pleasurable Birth Experience (2010).
