Inside the Totally Awesome Rosebud Doula with Amy Bookwalter

Featuring childbirth classes that are fun, fast, and eye-opening, Rosebud Doula & Pregnancy Lifestyle Consulting is DC’s premier doula resource—and your Totally Awesome pick for best doula in the DC area! Offering pregnancy, lifestyle, and parenting consultations, Rosebud aims to reduce the stress of pregnancy and childbirth being an active and helpful presence for parents. Rosebud’s own Amy Bookwalter recently took the time to chat with us about what makes Rosebud awesome, her proud moments as a mom and more. Read on:

Red Tricycle: Congratulations on being voted “Most Awesome” by your community! What do you think your customers value most about your business?

Amy Bookwalter: Students in my childbirth classes as well as my doula clients value the experience I bring not only to the classroom but the birthing environment as well. Being a mother of nine in tandem with my background as a Physical Therapist Assistant (not to mention my extensive work as a doula since 1987) is very comforting to most moms/couples.

RT: What inspired you to start your business?

AB: I decided to start my business in 2002 because this was something I could do to make a difference in my community and still be home with my family most of the time

RT: Any advice for new business owners just getting started?

AB: Honesty is the best policy. After that, network like crazy. Get to know the people in your line of work, find out who is the best at what they do, and if the clients you serve need something you don’t offer refer them to the best in the business.

RT: Can you give us one tip for balancing entrepreneurship with parenthood?

AB: The best tip for balancing business and family is to make sure that family comes first and you have their support. Without their support what I do is not possible. I am the face of my business, but they are backing me 100%.

RT: What is your proudest moment as a business owner or parent?

AB: As a mom, I think hearing my only daughter tell me she wants to follow in my footsteps by someday becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant and ultimately a labor doula thrills me beyond words. As a labor doula, to hear my clients tell me they cannot wait until I can become certified to teach others the skills necessary to be a doula so they can sign up for my first class is also very thrilling and humbling.

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