About Karen:

I have two young sons, one born in the hospital and one born at home. Prior to becoming a mother, I worked for 10 years in the IT field; once I had my first baby, I knew it was time to leave that field and work to support women in childbirth.

I certified as a doula through DONA International and was invited to become a member of Birth Assistants of Boulder, Inc. A few years later, I took some time off from attending births when I was pregnant with my second baby and instead devoted my energy to supporting doulas in an administrative role. I volunteered as a state and regional representative for DONA and was a founding member and the first president of the statewide Colorado Doulas Association.

In the fall of 2002 I again returned to attending births, with the desire of creating a warm relationship with mothers and their families by caring for them through labor, birth and the early weeks of new parenthood. In February 2004, I began studying to become a homebirth midwife and completed my training in March 2008. I practice now within a wonderful community of midwives, assisting them at births and inviting them to attend births with me. I truly feel like I have found my "heart home" in this calling and with the women I care for and practice with.

Background:

Education, Training and Affiliations

• I am a Certified Professional Midwife and Colorado Registered Midwife
• I have a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in French and International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
• I am certified in Adult and Child CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation, and have attended several workshops on suturing.
• In an effort to stay current in the care I provide to pregnant women and new mothers , I regularly attend conferences and lectures relating to the care of women in the childbearing cycle
• I have lots of practical experience supporting women with breastfeeding issues and am occasionally hired to provide one-on-one breastfeeding support.
• I am a member of the Colorado Midwives Association and the Colorado Doulas Association

Experience

• As a doula, I attended approximately 80 births both in the hospital and at home. About ten of those births were Cesarean Sections.
• As an Apprentice and Intern Midwife, I attended over 80 births. Ten of those births ended in transports to the hospital either before or during labor, and three ended in Cesarean Section

Some of the complications I have observed or managed at homebirths include

• Postpartum hemorrhage
• Prolonged labor
• Precipitous labor
• Premature labor
• Meconium staining
• Nuchal cord and/or hand
• Newborn resuscitation
• Maternal Hypothyroidism
• Anemia
• High blood glucose levels
• Prolonged rupture of membranes
• Fetal Bradycardia
• Small-for-dates baby
• Maternal Hypertension
• Pre-eclampsia