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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
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