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Independent midwives are highly experienced and are committed to helping women achieve a natural birth without medical intervention whilst maintaining safety for mother and baby. A small proportion of midwives become independent, and leave the NHS , for more job satisfaction, seeing the mother all the way through pregnancy and delivery. Sadly, independent Midwives are thin on the ground but there are a few of them scattered around from Marbella to Granada.
Usually, Karen works solo and attends the birth on her own. This means she can solely concentrate on the mother without distraction. Of course she relies on the local hospitals for back up and has a good working relationship with these professionals. She also works closely with Dr. Bernadette Veeger, the General Practitioner of Centro Mar y Salud. Bernadette examines all the new babies born at home and deals with any medical concerns as they crop up.
The woman choosing a homebirth, needs to be healthy and enjoying a completely normal pregnancy.
A waterbirth is also a choice at home. Karen carries a portable hexagonal birthing pool which can be left in the woman’s home before the birth. For every new birth a sterile disposable liner is used. The benefits of labouring in water include pain relief, privacy for the woman, speedier progress and less possibility of tearing of the perineal tissues.
Karen offers all aspects of midwifery care: pre-conceptual consultations, antenatal and postnatal consultations, homebirth, waterbirth, hire of T.EN.S machine.
Antenatal clinics are held here twice a month, and birthing classes run frequently.
The birthing preparation classes are a must for first time parents to be. They include exercise and breathing techniques for birth. The classes are small and interactive. Breastfeeding workshops and new parenting course is included in the classes.
Karen qualified as a nurse in 1985, in Northern Ireland, then trained as a midwife in West Sussex U.K. in 1991. Having worked in hospitals and community in Ireland, UK and Gibraltar, Karen has supported women giving birth at home for the whole of her career.
Karen’s last position in the UK was at The Rosie Hospital, Addenbrookes in Cambridge. As clinical leader on a team of midwives Karen’s midwifery skills are highly developed.
Further professional development Karen has undertaken includes: A.L.S.O. course (Advanced Life Support skills in Obstetrics), Child protection, Family planning and Sexual health and Contemporary Midwifery Practice modules at Homerton College Cambridge.
Karen is married, has two daughters and lives in Nerja.
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