​​Homebirth midwifery care is night and day different from regular, mainstream obstetric care. Karen provides individualized, family-centered care to each family she serves during pregnancy, birth and through 6 weeks postpartum. Most clients begin prenatal care with Karen around 10-12 weeks of pregnancy. Her visit schedule follows that of an OB: every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and then weekly until you give birth, however visits are 45 minutes to 1 hour long each (very different from the 10-15 minute OB appointments most women report having). Karen provides each client with a 50-page Pregnancy Journal at the start of care, and spends time answering questions and educating her clients during each visit. Many siblings enjoy helping Karen listen to the baby's heartbeat and feeling what position the baby is in. Karen supports her clients through labor and birth- with most mothers and partners catching their own babies- and stays about 2-4 hours postpartum, or until mom and baby are stable, she also does a full head-to-toe assessment on baby, then she comes back to each client's home at 24-48 hours after birth, and the clients have 2 additional postpartum visits with Karen at 2 weeks and 6 weeks postpartum (with an additional visit available if needed). Karen has practitioners she can refer her clients to for lab work and ultrasounds, as needed or desired. She strives to help her clients stay low-risk throughout pregnancy so they can achieve their goal of a natural birth in the comfort of their own home, surrounded by their loved ones. She also lends out water birth pools if clients would like to labor and or birth in a pool of warm water.
Karen has a true love for helping expectant and new mothers and their loved ones. As soon as you meet her, you will see that she pours everything she can into the lives of those she serves.
Karen has spent countless hours over the past 10+ years studying midwifery and spent 3.5 years apprenticing with a few different midwives to become a homebirth midwife. She was previously a NICU and CCU nurse and also worked as a birth doula for 15 years. Karen is a South Carolina Licensed Midwife and Certified Professional Midwife (since December, 2023) and has attended over 250 births in various roles.
She attended  "Birth Emergency Skills Training" (B.E.S.T.) in Sept 2023 and a "Spinning Babies" Workshop. Karen holds current CPR and Neonatal Resuscitation Certifications.
She took one class in Craniosacral Therapy (a form of light-touch body work), studies homeopathic remedies, herbal remedies and more.
Karen helps facilitate a very bonding experience for mother, baby and the family, while also watching out for and remedying any potential complications as smoothly as possible.

Karen lives in Shelby, NC (15 minutes from Gaffney, SC) with her family including her wonderful husband and 4 fabulous children. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, knitting, crocheting, and painting. She also volunteers her time with local ministries including Community Bible Study and at her church nursery. 
Karen attends South Carolina homebirths as a midwife within 1 hour of Shelby, NC.
​
Karen certified as a birth doula through Birth Arts International. The world needs more doulas! If you would like to learn more about the training programs they offer, visit www.birtharts.net
Jessi received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Rutgers University in 2014. She has worked in orthopedics, medical-surgical, and community health education prior to finding her home in postpartum. After 3 years working as a mother baby nurse, Jessi obtained the respected International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) designation. As an IBCLC, Jessi is committed to supporting families in meeting their unique feeding goals. Her non-judgmental, compassionate approach shines through her work. As a mom of 2, she personally understands the many ups and downs of this journey and is passionate about supporting women and families during this rewarding but challenging time. ​
You can reach Jessi for breastfeeding help by calling or texting: (908) 309.0091
Or visit her website: www.shelbylactation.com
Raeshia Sims is a doula with Birth Arts International and a photographer. She specializes in maternity, newborn and child photography and is starting to do birth photography as well. She has been studying birth for the past four years. Her journey began when she had her daughter as a single mother with little-to-no mental, physical or emotional support. Due to lack of knowledge of her options, she experienced an induction, an ineffective epidural and the disregard of her desires to fulfill her birth plan. Every birth is unique and beautiful! Raeshia’s passion is to help families feel empowered and heard as they bring their child into the world. As a doula, her role is to help mothers transition into motherhood and help capture precious memories to cherish for years to come!
You can reach Raeshia by calling or texting 704.751.2357 or email: [email protected] 
Picture
Lacy Walton is a pregnancy, birth and postpartum doula local to Shelby, NC. After 5 births of her own, she found a passion for helping women rediscover their birth power, and assist in reminding women of their powerful intuitive gifts that unlock with birth. Lacy also strives to assist mamas not only to bring precious souls earth side- but to also birth a new version of themselves as magical mothers. She believes birth is unique to each mother and though she loves to witness natural birth unfold; she also believes all births are deserving of true empowerment. 
​You can reach Lacy by calling or texting 704.477.0367
at https://a-conscious-birth.square.site/
​on
​FB: https://m.facebook.com/consciousbirthmamaNC/?ref=bookmarks
or IG ​https://www.instagram.com/lacewalton/