Please use the form at the bottom of this page if you would like to leave a testimonial for me. Thank you!!!
Testimonials - Birth Support
Baby Caleb.
It’s difficult to put into words how lucky I feel to have met Karen and how her presence enhanced the experience of my son’s birth in every way imaginable. All those months ago, just 7 weeks pregnant and in a new country I couldn’t believe my luck to have found a qualified midwife who would offer her services as a doula at my baby's birth. Amazing. And she ran yoga classes to help keep me fit and supple throughout the pregnancy. Bonus!
Karen and I built up a lovely friendship and bond throughout the pregnancy, so that as my due date approached just knowing that she would be there when labour began really put my mind at rest.
In the event, I labored at home for the early stage which was a wonderful experience. And it was only possible because my husband and I completely trusted in Karen and her wealth of experience as a midwife. I doubt we would have had the confidence to do it without her. Once we did arrive at the hospital Karen’s experience shone through once again. She was able to deal with the hospital staff, bringing them up to speed with how my labour had progressed so far, which left me free to focus on my labour and the contractions that were now coming thick and fast! And in no time my beautiful son was safely in my arms.
My son's birth was a wonderful experience for us all. I have no doubt that feeling secure and supported by both my husband and Karen gave my labour the lovely momentum that enabled us to have the natural birth we had hoped for.
My husband was nothing short of elated by how much he was able to embrace and enjoy the whole experience. He claims that at the births of our other children he was much more anxious and on edge. So Karen being there was a great support to him too.
Karen’s services were wonderful......the continuity of care throughout my pregnancy, the yoga classes, the immense support on the day and of course that precious home visit once our beautiful little boy was back home from hospital. I couldn’t have done it without her.... and thankfully I didn’t have to!
Karen and I built up a lovely friendship and bond throughout the pregnancy, so that as my due date approached just knowing that she would be there when labour began really put my mind at rest.
In the event, I labored at home for the early stage which was a wonderful experience. And it was only possible because my husband and I completely trusted in Karen and her wealth of experience as a midwife. I doubt we would have had the confidence to do it without her. Once we did arrive at the hospital Karen’s experience shone through once again. She was able to deal with the hospital staff, bringing them up to speed with how my labour had progressed so far, which left me free to focus on my labour and the contractions that were now coming thick and fast! And in no time my beautiful son was safely in my arms.
My son's birth was a wonderful experience for us all. I have no doubt that feeling secure and supported by both my husband and Karen gave my labour the lovely momentum that enabled us to have the natural birth we had hoped for.
My husband was nothing short of elated by how much he was able to embrace and enjoy the whole experience. He claims that at the births of our other children he was much more anxious and on edge. So Karen being there was a great support to him too.
Karen’s services were wonderful......the continuity of care throughout my pregnancy, the yoga classes, the immense support on the day and of course that precious home visit once our beautiful little boy was back home from hospital. I couldn’t have done it without her.... and thankfully I didn’t have to!
Julie and Tom (and baby Thomas)
We had the complete package with Karen. And we are so happy we did this. We got so much new and good valuable information about pregnancy, birth and the care of our baby. We would recommend Karen to everyone who feels insecure about their situation. Karen gave us for example new perspectives on birth, such as a natural birth. During the birth support she guided us to a safe and natural birth. Without her we would have taken a complete different direction of medical interventions that are unnecessary. She also changes your view in the care of your baby. She supports breast feeding and the use of cloth diapers. With her arguments and facts she convinces you to give the best possible care to your baby. We are so happy and feel more confident, that we can give the best of everything to our baby boy.
Thank you so much Karen,
Julie, Tom and little Thomas
Thank you so much Karen,
Julie, Tom and little Thomas
Testimonial Birth Support
Being pregnant and giving birth to Sara was the most overwhelming experience of my life. It was, and still is, a learning process!
At the beginning, I didn't know what to expect from being pregnant, giving birth or having a newborn in my arms so I decided to start a journal in order to have a better understanding of my feelings during the journey. I had so many things planned....
At a certain point, I found Karen through a friend and started to attend her pregnancy yoga classes. I also did her birth preparation course with my husband and it was nice to meet other couples and see they had the same questions and that Karen was there to support and discuss all our possible doubts. After the course, my husband asked me to have Karen with us during and after the birth... we had total confidence in our doctor but, after knowing the advantages of having a doula and since we were planning a natural birth, it felt safer having her with us. I agreed right away. It was the best thing we did!
The most important thing Karen tough me was to breath and to be prepared for things going the opposite as we planned. Also, to be informed about everything, be aware of the options and be ready to improvise. She was right and, in fact, that was the only thing that went as planned during birth!
Almost 2 months have passed and I am still trying to understand all the things I felt during those previous days of light contractions and then during the approximate 22 hours of labor.
As I mentioned, things didn't go as we planned them... However, I remember the hours at home when Karen came to help us. We felt safe and confident right away. Then she went with us to the hospital and stayed there the whole time. I remember breathing deeply and feeling calm (I felt even proud of that at the time because I heard Karen repeating that I was doing really well) and I also remember Karen and my husband Pedro being next to me all the time, giving me support and holding my hand during those last difficult hours. I felt secure and confident to change my mind about a lot of things during labor. We improvised and we discussed, when possible, the best options. My husband felt secure and supported by the presence of Karen and I am grateful to her because I imagine how difficult it must have been for him too... She also worked in a real team with the doctor and nurses and that is such a great thing! I felt nurtured by that team that came together in that moment to help me.
Reading things back in my journal I realize now that I thought I knew a lot of things about myself, my family, my marriage... Without Karen I think it wouldn't have being possible to deal so well with the experience of being pregnant, giving birth and with all the mixed feelings I had during this adventure. I was calm and relaxed because she helped building my confidence... even in the first weeks with the baby at home when she helped me with breastfeeding and with all those questions first moms have. And at the end, I was ok (almost!) with things going the opposite direction of what I planned because I was aware and prepared for that.
So, I recommend having a doula during birth but most of all I recommend Karen to be your doula.
Testimonials - Birth Preparation Classes
Dear Karen,
Thank you very much for the very informative and helpful birth preparation course that we've just attended. It helped us to get rid of some doubts that we've had about pregnancy and delivery up until then and made us realise that giving birth is a natural process after all, which should be enjoyed every step of the way!
For both of us it was a very valuable experience and we would defenitely recommend it to other mums and dads-to-be.
Greetings and thanks again,
Ulli & Peter
Thank you very much for the very informative and helpful birth preparation course that we've just attended. It helped us to get rid of some doubts that we've had about pregnancy and delivery up until then and made us realise that giving birth is a natural process after all, which should be enjoyed every step of the way!
For both of us it was a very valuable experience and we would defenitely recommend it to other mums and dads-to-be.
Greetings and thanks again,
Ulli & Peter
We’d both read a lot about pregnancy and heard all the advice and usual birthing horror stories from friends and family but the journey we were about to embark on still felt very abstract and we both felt unprepared mentally and physically for what lay ahead.
Karen’s course has given us the skills and knowledge to fully embrace our birth experience by giving us a real understanding of what to expect and techniques on how to get us through it. The main benefits for us were realising the crucial support role of your partner and overcoming the fear of pain during labour through natural pain relief techniques, understanding our choices for intervention and a change of mind set. We now both feel fully confident to take on our birthing experience together.
Tom & Josie
Karen’s course has given us the skills and knowledge to fully embrace our birth experience by giving us a real understanding of what to expect and techniques on how to get us through it. The main benefits for us were realising the crucial support role of your partner and overcoming the fear of pain during labour through natural pain relief techniques, understanding our choices for intervention and a change of mind set. We now both feel fully confident to take on our birthing experience together.
Tom & Josie
I asked 4 moms 4 questions... this is what they had to say...
WHAT HELPED YOU MOST WHEN YOU GAVE BIRTH?
Monyca: You did!! Having you there was such a massive support for us; you have seen it all before and with us not knowing how it would go, to have you there was fantastic. I needed Nick there of course but I think he realized that he needed the support as much as I did; it was a struggle for him to see me go through it.
Charlotte: Having done the Mama Bamba courses my Husband and I knew exactly what our options were and at the time of giving birth even if we didn’t communicate he knew what I wanted. Not only that, having Karen right next to us throughout gave us another sense of calm in a foreign country knowing we had a true professional on our side to give us guidance.
Sara: I think knowing the process of what would happen in delivery. We had had the opportunity to ask many questions in your classes, so I felt as though I was a lot more in control by knowing what to expect.
Suzanna & Pete: Knowing to push as if doing a poo! Having both husband and Karen by my side. We worked as a team and supported one another. Karen was a great support to both myself and my husband. This meant my husband wasn't alone in it too whilst I was focused on pushing and a bit speechless! There was somebody for Pete to bounce off too, more of a friend than a stranger. We both felt so relaxed and comfortable around/with Karen, especially important when it is such a new and exposed experience.(PETE - it is much easier the second time round! A good environment of care and trust is important; knowing that everything will be alright because of the right people involved)
Charlotte: Having done the Mama Bamba courses my Husband and I knew exactly what our options were and at the time of giving birth even if we didn’t communicate he knew what I wanted. Not only that, having Karen right next to us throughout gave us another sense of calm in a foreign country knowing we had a true professional on our side to give us guidance.
Sara: I think knowing the process of what would happen in delivery. We had had the opportunity to ask many questions in your classes, so I felt as though I was a lot more in control by knowing what to expect.
Suzanna & Pete: Knowing to push as if doing a poo! Having both husband and Karen by my side. We worked as a team and supported one another. Karen was a great support to both myself and my husband. This meant my husband wasn't alone in it too whilst I was focused on pushing and a bit speechless! There was somebody for Pete to bounce off too, more of a friend than a stranger. We both felt so relaxed and comfortable around/with Karen, especially important when it is such a new and exposed experience.(PETE - it is much easier the second time round! A good environment of care and trust is important; knowing that everything will be alright because of the right people involved)
"Women today not only possess genetic memory of birth from a thousand generations of women, but they are also assailed from every direction by information and misinformation about birth.
Valerie El Halta
Valerie El Halta
IF YOU DO IT AGAIN - WHAT WILL YOU DO THE SAME?
Monyca: I'm hoping to be back in the UK for number 2 so would like to use a birth centre rather than hospital for a more holistic approach to the whole thing. If I am here I would definitely ask you to be present again. I can't believe I'm saying this but I will go for a natural birth again and see if I can do even better next time.
Charlotte: I’d do everything the same!! Karen and the Mama Bamba course prepared us for the most amazing and serene event in our lives. All the advice we had including the book allowed us to see the birthing process in a totally positive way. And as Mummy giving birth......I can honestly say it was a piece of cake!
Sara: I would certainly attend the ante natal yoga classes again! My birth generally went very well, even if not remotely according to my 'birth plan'! I wouldn’t change many things.
Suzanna & Pete: Susanna - Have Karen again! Just amazing, made it all so much easier. Karen answers everything in the loveliest way, if you have Karen, you have the lot anyway!
(PETE - definitely have the services of some extra help and someone that is known and trusted already; someone that my wife was very comfortable with)
Charlotte: I’d do everything the same!! Karen and the Mama Bamba course prepared us for the most amazing and serene event in our lives. All the advice we had including the book allowed us to see the birthing process in a totally positive way. And as Mummy giving birth......I can honestly say it was a piece of cake!
Sara: I would certainly attend the ante natal yoga classes again! My birth generally went very well, even if not remotely according to my 'birth plan'! I wouldn’t change many things.
Suzanna & Pete: Susanna - Have Karen again! Just amazing, made it all so much easier. Karen answers everything in the loveliest way, if you have Karen, you have the lot anyway!
(PETE - definitely have the services of some extra help and someone that is known and trusted already; someone that my wife was very comfortable with)
“Deep within each woman, lies the Knowledge of how to give birth without outside interventions.”
Unknown
Unknown
IS THERE ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY?
Monyca: I wish I hadn't had the pethidine injection, it really had a knock on effect with me being unable to focus, I am sure it had an effect on Eliza becoming distressed which led to vacuum which I know meant she came out in a rush and so the stitches. I regret that for Eliza as I think it’s really important. So next time, I'll do my best not to have more than gas and air. I would also look at the National Childbirth Trust course about better preparing your body physically for what it is to go through, I've heard very good things about it but only found out after Eliza was born.
Charlotte: I would not tell everyone I’m only having one child....now I want more!!!
Sara: I would try to remember to use my TENS machine (completely forgot in the pain of labour!) I would ask for my baby to be brought straight to me.
Suzanna & Pete: Understand a bit more about how the waters are broken. It can be quite frightening when you are not sure how it is done and suddenly water is gushing out - it's just nice to know what and how it will happen before hand, especially first time round. I burst into the tears the first time this was done. (PETE-I think for the first time it is more difficult as when we had the first one we were not well enough prepared. In Europe there are all sorts of preparatory classes/ sessions. There was no one in Muscat offering the services that we knew of at the time and we went into the hospital with it all happening with no real idea of what to expect (apart from the basics of course!)
"Birth may be a matter of a moment. But it is a unique one."
Frederick Leboyer
Frederick Leboyer
WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU HAD KNOWN BEFOREHAND?
Monyca: Loads of things but I don't think it would have made any difference to the birth, I don't think you fully realize what it’s all about until you go through it. I do wish that I had known more of the signs for PND in advance and that Nick had been aware to keep an eye out for it, as we had a bad couple of weeks until I put 2 and 2 together. Also that you need to stay in bed after to recover properly, I'd have liked to know more of the science of what it costs your body to be pregnant and give birth, then I think I would have given myself a break and really taken those 6 weeks for myself, not been out walking the dogs when she was a week old!!!
Charlotte: we wish we had believed it really was that easy to focus and just go with the flow?
Sara: A little bit more about what to expect once the baby is home. I think we all get very focused on the delivery (naturally though), which is often largely out of our hands anyway. I was lucky to have help when I returned home; otherwise I think I would have felt quite out of my depth! Also, the single fact that it WILL be hell for the first two weeks, but life does settle down after that!!!
Suzanna: I wish there had been the services which Karen now offers. The second time round you kind of know more about what to expect although every birth is individual and can be very different. I feel that for my first birth in Muscat I missed out on the understanding of how the body changes through your and didn't really have a big enough understanding of the stages of birth. Even after my first birth I still wasn't aware of the key signs of labour but felt as I had done it was I can do it again. However I do feel that I missed out on something - I went into the unknown really, whereas as a new Mummy it is nice to have a real understanding of the stages. I had chatted to a pregnant mummy and she was telling me information which she had learnt from Karen, really informative and significant. You wouldn’t get that specific information from anywhere else. Karen's courses are part of the 'Pregnancy experience' which make it a special journey.
Charlotte: we wish we had believed it really was that easy to focus and just go with the flow?
Sara: A little bit more about what to expect once the baby is home. I think we all get very focused on the delivery (naturally though), which is often largely out of our hands anyway. I was lucky to have help when I returned home; otherwise I think I would have felt quite out of my depth! Also, the single fact that it WILL be hell for the first two weeks, but life does settle down after that!!!
Suzanna: I wish there had been the services which Karen now offers. The second time round you kind of know more about what to expect although every birth is individual and can be very different. I feel that for my first birth in Muscat I missed out on the understanding of how the body changes through your and didn't really have a big enough understanding of the stages of birth. Even after my first birth I still wasn't aware of the key signs of labour but felt as I had done it was I can do it again. However I do feel that I missed out on something - I went into the unknown really, whereas as a new Mummy it is nice to have a real understanding of the stages. I had chatted to a pregnant mummy and she was telling me information which she had learnt from Karen, really informative and significant. You wouldn’t get that specific information from anywhere else. Karen's courses are part of the 'Pregnancy experience' which make it a special journey.
For far too many women pregnancy and birth is something
that happens to them rather than something they set out consciously and joyfully
to do themselves."
Sheila Kitzinger
that happens to them rather than something they set out consciously and joyfully
to do themselves."
Sheila Kitzinger
