Karen Wallace

Childbirth Educator

27 years of experience

5.0

Hickory, North Carolina

Karen Wallace

Childbirth Educator

Hickory, North Carolina

27 years of experience

5.0

About
Services
Reviews (3)
FAQs
Social media

About me

Helping couples learn about birth is my vocation. For over 20 years my husband, Jeff, and I have been teaching Bradley® childbirth classes together. He gives the viewpoint of husband, coach, and father. I am the one who has given birth to our 9 babies using the techniques we teach. We teach virtually to couples around the country. Our couples enjoy our interactive live classes where the partner learns how to coach and be a very active participant in the birth. Natural childbirth is our focus but all couples are welcome to learn in our virtual classroom. We have taught in San Diego, New Jersey, Connecticut, and North Carolina. We have had couples attend our classes from most states. Currently we live with our three youngest children and have chickens and a rabbit in our yard.

Education

Masters in Curricum and Teaching, Teachers College, Columbia Universtiy (1993)

Bachelor of Arts, Barnard College, Columbia University (1990)

Certification and training

Bradley® Certified Childbirth Educator and Bradley® Doula (2023)

DONA International PostPartum Doula Workshop (2021)

DONA International Birth Doula Workshop (2020)

Memberships and affiliations

DONA International Member

VBAC Facts® Professional Member

American Academy of Husband Coached Childbirth®

Credentials

Specialties

Childbirth Education Natural Birth Natural Childbirth

Languages

English

Service introduction

Childbirth education is my primary focus. My husband and I teach live intearctive Bradley®classes in the Zoom classroom. Our classes include designing your personal birth plan, comfort measures, effectively communicating with doctors, midwives, and nurses, advocacy, the coach's role, and a labor reheasal. Our couples report that they understood the inverventions offered and how to truly work as a team during the birth of their baby. Unmedicated birth and avoiding cesareans that aren't medically necessary are our primary focuses

Packages

Birth-Empowered Bradley® Childbirth Classes

Ten week series of Virtual Childbirth classes which includes access to the Bradley Method® online workbook and resource center. Interactive classes taught by a husband/wife team. Class 1 – Introduction to the Bradley Method® Class 2 – Nutrition and Breastfeeding Class 3 – Gestation and Choices Class 4 – The Coach’s Role Class 5 – Introduction to the Stages of Labor Class 6 – Planning Your Birth Class 7 – Complications and Variations Class 8 – Advanced First and Second Stage Class 9 – The Labor Rehearsal Class 10 – The New Family Virtual Class Reunion about one month after the last couple has their baby.

$449.00

USD Flat rate

Birth Doula and Birth-Empowered Class

2-3 meetings before the birth Phone support in early labor, meet at birth place in active labor, advocacy and comfort measures during labor, until shortly after the birth, 1 post visit at your home. The package includes a series of Birth-Empowered childbirth classes. The couple must take the classes if they choose me as their doula.

$1,500.00

USD Flat rate

Ratings and reviews

Average

5.0

# of Reviews

5.0

January 12, 2024

Karen and Jeff are an excellent instructional team. They have decades of experience birthing children together and teaching others to do the same. Their classes are fun and engaging and will prepare you to advocate for the birth you want. They will also equip you with the physical and mental tools you need let go and birth your baby. The money you spend on birth education will benefit you for this birth and for every birth in your future.

- BettyJo K.

5.0

January 10, 2024

Karen and Jeff are great teachers. I learned quite a bit from the classes and felt I was well prepared for the natural birth of my daughter! Very informative and useful information provided in each session.

- Jen W.

5.0

November 7, 2023

Karen is an experienced educator and parent. She is kind and compassionate and it shows in every interaction I’ve had with her. I highly recommend working with Karen!

- Emily M.

Frequently asked questions

How old were you when you gave birth?

I was 24 when my first baby was born and 48 when my 9th baby was born.

Can we watch recordings of the classes?

We record the classes so that couples who cannot make the classes or have electricity/internet problems can watch them. The classes are interactive. Couples get the most from the classes when they watch them live.

Do couples planning a homebirth take your classes?

Most moms in the U.S. give birth in the hospital. Most of our moms give birth in the hospital. We have hospital, freestanding birthing center, and homebirth couples who attend our classes. We have had midwives and doctors from all 3 birth locations recommend our Bradley® classes. The classes work very well no matter where you give birth

What is the idea time to take childbirth classes?

The ideal time is to start the series in your fifth or sixth month of pregnancy. Some couples start the classes at three months to get the information early and because that best fits their schedule. Some couples start the classes at 30 weeks and hope they will be able to attend all of them before giving birth.

What do women who had a cesarean say about your classes?

About 15% of our students end up with a cesarean birth. The national rate is about 32%. When our moms share their birth story they say they are glad that they took our classes. We are glad that cesareans are available for when they are needed.

What do husbands say about your classes?

Here is the response of Dean: My wife and I took online childbirth classes from Karen and Jeff because we couldn't find anything locally. I was skeptical of the online format, but the classes really were great. The training we received in relaxation, part of the Bradley method, helped Kyria to give birth without pain medication. When we ran into complications (PPRAM), we knew what kinds of questions to ask our birth team. Karen even took phone calls and answered emails outside of class to (promptly) answer our questions and help us make decisions. I enjoyed getting to know my classmates as well. If you're hoping for a natural birth, or even just wanting to be educated as a couple, Birth-Empowered is a great option. Especially great for soon-to-be-dads!

What is your training?

I took the Bradley®instructor training, have DONA birth doula and DONA post-partum doula training, regularly attend retreats, conferences, and trainings, and meeting monthly with other childbirth instructors. I learn from my couples as well as the births that I have attended. Currently I am focusing on VBAC training.

Do you support VBACs?

We have had moms in our class who had cesareans for their first baby and successfully had vaginal births after taking our classes. Yes, I can provide doula support for a VBAC.

What does Jeff do in the class?

Jeff provides the perspective of coach and father. He leads a discussion about comfort measures, breastfeeding, and coaching. He is the emcee for the game, "Postpartum Jeopardy." His birth experience is our nine births.