Labor Doula Services
Labor Doula Services are tailored to meet your individual needs. Everyone has different needs and desires when it comes to birth! Our goal is to help you find a doula who you feel comfortable with and trust enough to share this memorable and important time of your life with. At your free consultation, your doula will find out about your birth history if any and your birth preferences and tell you how she can help them become a reality for your birth. Your doula is there for you for text messages, emails and phone calls from the time you hire her until you give birth and is on call for you for when you are in active labor. Your doula will provide a home visit towards the end of your pregnancy and and will join you at home or at your birthing location throughout active labor and birth (even if you need her in the middle of the night!) and through the first hour or two postpartum. Then she will come back to your house within around a week postpartum to check in with you and see how you and your baby are doing and answer any questions you may have or even help with things like breastfeeding.
There are a lot of things your doula can help you with throughout pregnancy and birth and into the postpartum period. But she also has excellent resources if you are in need of specialized care or want to explore alternative birthing options such as a home birth or birthing center birth,
Karen only has availability for a limited number of doula clients each month so schedule your free consultation early, if possible. Sometimes there is the option of working with 2 doulas, so please mention an interest in that if it is something you want to explore!
There are a lot of things your doula can help you with throughout pregnancy and birth and into the postpartum period. But she also has excellent resources if you are in need of specialized care or want to explore alternative birthing options such as a home birth or birthing center birth,
Karen only has availability for a limited number of doula clients each month so schedule your free consultation early, if possible. Sometimes there is the option of working with 2 doulas, so please mention an interest in that if it is something you want to explore!
In Person Birth Classes
Daddy Doula Class:
Perfect for Mothers and their birth partners or Couples; your doula is welcome to attend the class with you, if applicable looking for a class designed to help your husband or birth partner learn specific things to do to help you in labor.
Labor is a wild ride. It’s unlike anything else. You want to support the laboring mother in the best possible way. No one knows her better than you. Your intimate relationship makes you the perfect person to support and guide her. The daddy doula class will help you understand your role during labor so you can gain the confidence you need to be her rock on your birth journey. This is also an excellent class to bring your birth doula to, if you will have one.
This 4-hour class is hands-on and engaging! Plan to laugh and have a good time as you learn. We will focus on practical things you can do to help the love of your life feel supported and cared for while she goes through labor and birth.
Your instructor: Karen is training to become a certified professional midwife. She served families as a birth doula for 14 years before starting her apprenticeship. She also has 4 years of experience teaching childbirth education. Her classes are interactive, informative, and fun.
The registration fee for this class is $300/couple for a private class. Email Karen at makebirthbetter@gmail.com or text 704-980-8973 to inquire book a class.
You may pay through PayPal, Venmo, cash, or check (payable to Karen Gartner).
The class is usually held at 904 Montrose Dr. Shelby NC 28150
We will break for lunch, please bring some food for yourselves. Water and snacks will be provided.
Topics covered:
-Getting through early labor
-Comfort measures as labor progresses (including hands-on practice time)
-Non-medication Pain relief techniques and ideas including helpful video clips
-How to take care of YOURSELF (dads)
-Calming and relaxation methods
-Shopping lists for snacks and drinks
-When to notify the midwife/doctor
-Your role after the baby arrives
-Question and answer time
-Take-home handouts to remind you what you’ve learned
Comprehensive Childbirth Class:
For those who are wanting to cover more information surrounding birth
Giving birth is a big deal! A new baby is born into the world, but you also become a new mother in the process. You want to do what you can to be prepared for this big shift. This 4-hour intensive class for you and your husband or birthing partner (doulas are welcome to come with you, if applicable) or will help you understand more about what goes on in your body as you prepare to give birth and how to cope with labor. We will also discuss how to choose the birthing location that is right for you, communication with your birth team, hands-on practice of comfort measures,relaxation techniques for labor, and much more!
Your instructor: Karen is one of Stephanie’s assistants. She served families as a birth doula for 14 years before starting her apprenticeship with Stephanie. She also has 4 years of experience teaching childbirth education. Her classes are interactive, informative, and fun.
The registration fee for this class is $400/couple (private class rate).
Email Karen at makebirthbetter@gmail.com to inquire about an upcoming class. You may pay through PayPal, Venmo, cash, or check (payable to Karen Gartner).
Topics covered:
*Run through of normal, physiological birth (understanding of what happens in a woman’s body, the mechanisms at play, the baby’s role, the wisdom of the body, hormonal cocktail, the sacredness of birth)
*Signs of labor and when to call your care provider
*Getting through early labor
*Comfort measures for active labor, with hands-on practice
*Relaxation and meditation techniques and practice in class
*Video clips to watch and discuss in class
*Help writing your birth plan
*A look at different birthing locations and potential interventions - and why you might want to avoid them
*Human rights in childbirth -including the Patients’ Bill of Rights
*Informed decision-making (Consent or Decline)
*How to advocate for yourself
* Getting breastfeeding off to a good start *the early postpartum period
*Question and answer time
(All of the material from the “Daddy Doula Class” is incorporated in this class)
Perfect for Mothers and their birth partners or Couples; your doula is welcome to attend the class with you, if applicable looking for a class designed to help your husband or birth partner learn specific things to do to help you in labor.
Labor is a wild ride. It’s unlike anything else. You want to support the laboring mother in the best possible way. No one knows her better than you. Your intimate relationship makes you the perfect person to support and guide her. The daddy doula class will help you understand your role during labor so you can gain the confidence you need to be her rock on your birth journey. This is also an excellent class to bring your birth doula to, if you will have one.
This 4-hour class is hands-on and engaging! Plan to laugh and have a good time as you learn. We will focus on practical things you can do to help the love of your life feel supported and cared for while she goes through labor and birth.
Your instructor: Karen is training to become a certified professional midwife. She served families as a birth doula for 14 years before starting her apprenticeship. She also has 4 years of experience teaching childbirth education. Her classes are interactive, informative, and fun.
The registration fee for this class is $300/couple for a private class. Email Karen at makebirthbetter@gmail.com or text 704-980-8973 to inquire book a class.
You may pay through PayPal, Venmo, cash, or check (payable to Karen Gartner).
The class is usually held at 904 Montrose Dr. Shelby NC 28150
We will break for lunch, please bring some food for yourselves. Water and snacks will be provided.
Topics covered:
-Getting through early labor
-Comfort measures as labor progresses (including hands-on practice time)
-Non-medication Pain relief techniques and ideas including helpful video clips
-How to take care of YOURSELF (dads)
-Calming and relaxation methods
-Shopping lists for snacks and drinks
-When to notify the midwife/doctor
-Your role after the baby arrives
-Question and answer time
-Take-home handouts to remind you what you’ve learned
Comprehensive Childbirth Class:
For those who are wanting to cover more information surrounding birth
Giving birth is a big deal! A new baby is born into the world, but you also become a new mother in the process. You want to do what you can to be prepared for this big shift. This 4-hour intensive class for you and your husband or birthing partner (doulas are welcome to come with you, if applicable) or will help you understand more about what goes on in your body as you prepare to give birth and how to cope with labor. We will also discuss how to choose the birthing location that is right for you, communication with your birth team, hands-on practice of comfort measures,relaxation techniques for labor, and much more!
Your instructor: Karen is one of Stephanie’s assistants. She served families as a birth doula for 14 years before starting her apprenticeship with Stephanie. She also has 4 years of experience teaching childbirth education. Her classes are interactive, informative, and fun.
The registration fee for this class is $400/couple (private class rate).
Email Karen at makebirthbetter@gmail.com to inquire about an upcoming class. You may pay through PayPal, Venmo, cash, or check (payable to Karen Gartner).
Topics covered:
*Run through of normal, physiological birth (understanding of what happens in a woman’s body, the mechanisms at play, the baby’s role, the wisdom of the body, hormonal cocktail, the sacredness of birth)
*Signs of labor and when to call your care provider
*Getting through early labor
*Comfort measures for active labor, with hands-on practice
*Relaxation and meditation techniques and practice in class
*Video clips to watch and discuss in class
*Help writing your birth plan
*A look at different birthing locations and potential interventions - and why you might want to avoid them
*Human rights in childbirth -including the Patients’ Bill of Rights
*Informed decision-making (Consent or Decline)
*How to advocate for yourself
* Getting breastfeeding off to a good start *the early postpartum period
*Question and answer time
(All of the material from the “Daddy Doula Class” is incorporated in this class)
“All About U” Photography Services by Raeshia
Raeshia Sims, based out of Shelby North Carolina, is a photographer with more than four years of experience in maternity and child photography and is now branching into brith and fresh 48 hour photography. Her doula clients will be able to receive her birth or immediate postpartum photography services with her doula services (if it does not disrupt her doula care). Her photography services can also be booked separately.
Raeshia’s passion is to capture beautiful moments of families to be cherished for years to come! When she is not learning about the art of photography, she enjoys taking organic portraits of her daughter.
Raeshia’s passion is to capture beautiful moments of families to be cherished for years to come! When she is not learning about the art of photography, she enjoys taking organic portraits of her daughter.
Breastfeeding Support
All of Karen's doula clients will receive breastfeeding support at the time of birth and at a follow-up postpartum visit if desired. This is included in the fee for doula services.
For additional support, pricing depends on whether you come to Karen or she makes a home visit as well as travel distance, please contact Karen for details here. Urgent, weekend and night services are available for an additional fee. Karen is able to provide FREE breastfeeding support during Carolina Moms Unite monthly mom-to-mom support group meetings.
For additional support, pricing depends on whether you come to Karen or she makes a home visit as well as travel distance, please contact Karen for details here. Urgent, weekend and night services are available for an additional fee. Karen is able to provide FREE breastfeeding support during Carolina Moms Unite monthly mom-to-mom support group meetings.
Birth Pool Rentals
Now Available for rent: Birth Pool in a Box Mini for your upcoming labor or homebirth.
Click the link below to have Karen email you the Birth Pool Rental Agreement to learn more.
The Mini Birth Pool in a Box Eco Pro is 65"x57" in size with an internal height of 26" and is recommended for birthing people up to 6' tall. It is compact enough to fit in smaller spaces and is a nice cozy birth pool. Birthing people who are a bit vertically challenged will enjoy the way this pool can have only the upper and lower rings inflated making it shorter and easier to lean over the sides.
It is made of Eco PVC that is cadmium, lead and latex-free.
A special Birth Pool in a Box (Mini) liner will need to be purchased unless Karen has any available (for single-use). A generic liner will not work with this pool. You may purchase that from Precious Arrows www.preciousarrows.com (which also sells homebirth kits and supplies) or from Amazon.
The pump pictured above is perfect for blowing up this type of pool in just a matter of minutes (5-10 min). I found mine in the camping section by the inflatable mattresses. It is important to use one that plugs into the wall for the fastest inflation. The one above also allows for rapid deflation when you are finished using the birth pool.
Click the link below to have Karen email you the Birth Pool Rental Agreement to learn more.
The Mini Birth Pool in a Box Eco Pro is 65"x57" in size with an internal height of 26" and is recommended for birthing people up to 6' tall. It is compact enough to fit in smaller spaces and is a nice cozy birth pool. Birthing people who are a bit vertically challenged will enjoy the way this pool can have only the upper and lower rings inflated making it shorter and easier to lean over the sides.
It is made of Eco PVC that is cadmium, lead and latex-free.
A special Birth Pool in a Box (Mini) liner will need to be purchased unless Karen has any available (for single-use). A generic liner will not work with this pool. You may purchase that from Precious Arrows www.preciousarrows.com (which also sells homebirth kits and supplies) or from Amazon.
The pump pictured above is perfect for blowing up this type of pool in just a matter of minutes (5-10 min). I found mine in the camping section by the inflatable mattresses. It is important to use one that plugs into the wall for the fastest inflation. The one above also allows for rapid deflation when you are finished using the birth pool.
Carolina Moms Unite
(free monthly moms meetings)
Contact Karen here to find out when the next meeting will be. We have one scheduled for December 7, 2021.
Carolina Moms Unite is a wonderful, encouraging and enjoyable group of moms and moms-to-be. Many moms join the monthly group meetings to ask questions, share wisdom and encourage one another on the hard and fruitful journey of motherhood. Anyone is welcome- even if your baby hasn’t arrived yet! You are encouraged to bring your friends. Babies and toddlers stay with their moms and older children may play in another room, supervised by Karen's 18 year old daughter. Meetings are free of charge and meet at Karen's home. Feel free to bring a snack to share if you'd like (not required). Some of the topics we discuss include: babywearing, breastfeeding, birth options, parenting different age groups, homeschooling and much more. Treat meetings like a buffet, take what you like and leave the rest behind. We honor each mother and respect that we all have differing opinions and are all doing the best we can to raise our children well.
We are also scheduling Moms Nights Outs! The next Moms Night Out will be at Wine and Design in Gastonia on January 14th. Text Karen if you’re interested in joining us! 704-980-8973@
Carolina Moms Unite is a wonderful, encouraging and enjoyable group of moms and moms-to-be. Many moms join the monthly group meetings to ask questions, share wisdom and encourage one another on the hard and fruitful journey of motherhood. Anyone is welcome- even if your baby hasn’t arrived yet! You are encouraged to bring your friends. Babies and toddlers stay with their moms and older children may play in another room, supervised by Karen's 18 year old daughter. Meetings are free of charge and meet at Karen's home. Feel free to bring a snack to share if you'd like (not required). Some of the topics we discuss include: babywearing, breastfeeding, birth options, parenting different age groups, homeschooling and much more. Treat meetings like a buffet, take what you like and leave the rest behind. We honor each mother and respect that we all have differing opinions and are all doing the best we can to raise our children well.
We are also scheduling Moms Nights Outs! The next Moms Night Out will be at Wine and Design in Gastonia on January 14th. Text Karen if you’re interested in joining us! 704-980-8973@