Hello there! I am Karen.
How can I help you?
It might seem crazy that I can be a VIRTUAL midwife but when you want information you go online right?
So I want to make sure that you get the RIGHT information at the RIGHT time. It’s a scary place if you don’t know what you’re looking for and making sure you get what you need is what I do best.
How Karen helped me
Karen taught me about “holding space” before I even knew it was a thing. The lessons I learned from her altered the course of my life. My pregnancy and birth experience was so amazing that it inspired me to become a doula.
Hayley RandKaren was not only with me for both of my pregnancies and births, she was also my mentor during my doula studies. She taught me the value of honoring every woman’s experience.
Lindsay Lane Ward HoffmanThroughout my wife’s pregnancies I often felt overlooked and rather like a spare wheel. Karen was the only person to make me feel entitled to share and take part in the birth experience. For that I will always be immensely grateful.
Ross BairdA sneaky peek into my life
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A Cochrane overview of systematic reviews found eight clearly, probably or possibly effective ways to prevent stillbirth.
Only one intervention shows clear evidence of effectiveness in preventing stillbirth.
It was midwife-led models of care.
Midwife‐led care reduces the risk of stillbirth in early gestation (before 24 weeks) compared with other types or ‘models’ of care (in settings where a midwife is the primary care provider for low‐risk women).
A Cochrane blog post today has summarised the review and gives a helpful explanation of the overview and what we can learn from it.
You can also read about interventions that are probably or possibly effective, and about ongoing research in this area.
The blog post is available at www.evidentlycochrane.net/preventing-stillbirth-the-latest-evidence/
And if you'd like to know more about birth-related research, get up-to-date or improve your own skills in understanding and discussing it, you can find me at www.sarawickham.com
#midwife #midwifery #pregnancy #birth #doula #childbirth #childbirtheducation #birtheducator #birthdecisions #studentmidwife #childbirtheducator #drsarawickham #writersofinstagram #informedconsent #informedchoice #thevirtualmidwife
Have you been wondering about using Essential Oils during pregnancy, labor and birth but not sure where to start?
Drop in and listen to the latest episode on the Doula and the Midwife Podcast with Doula Charlene Yared West and The Virtual Midwife Karen Wilmot chatting to Gayle Friedman from Sunshine Health in Cape Town.
Gayle is founder of the Sunshine Colour and Health Academy and Registered Member of Allied Health Professions Council of SA and WOMBS.
Gayle has been in the Health Care Field for over 30yrs and has experience as a qualified Aroma Therapist, Reflexologist, Colour Therapist, Pregnancy Therapist, Doula (Child Birth support) and Yoga Teacher for pregnant women.
Gayle offers support comfort and care, using her expertise and experience as a mother of 3, to guide woman & their partners on their beginning journey into parenthood.
An essential oil is a concentrated aromatic oily liquid containing volatile chemical compounds extracted from different. parts of plants for instance, leaves, barks, seeds, flowers and peels. They can be obtained by expression, fermentation, effleurage. or extraction but among all the methods, steam distillation and.plants herbs gums to enhance body emotions mind and Spirit.
They can be described as the hormone of the plant and they directly affect the Limbic system of the brain via olfactory nerves, lungs and skin.
Gayle shares how to use them safely and effectively.
anchor.fm/karen-wilmot-podcast/episodes/Guide-to-Essential-Oils-during-pregnancy-e17dbu0
In this episode, because we love it - we talk about a natural footling breech twin birth, weekends away in the mountains to recharge and last but not least, we answer a mom's question about tearing and episiotomies.
We cover the full spectrum from what an episiotomy is, when is it necessary to perform one, when tearing is better than an episiotomy, how to avoid one and how to heal up the perineum after birth. Filled with expert tips and advice, we aim to remove your fear from this topic and help you understand what you need to know before you birth your baby!
Resources mentioned in the podcast:
*Check out this link about your role and your doctor's role in protecting your perineum during birth:
www.yumpu.com/xx/document/read/65840851/copy-of-the-dual-approach-framework-1
*Read up more about how to use an epi-no - and check out the video on this page
relaxintobirth.com/using-an-epi-no/
*Postpartum Perineal care info:
Check out my @relax_into_birth Insta reel on this very topic: www.instagram.com/reel/CRyBdstJ27q/?utm_medium=share_sheet
You can thank me later!
Here's a quick guide and recipes to help heal the perineum for the Postpartum Mama.
💜Spray bottle for the loo:
Mix:
-100mls Witchazel
-4-5 tablespoons of sea salt or Epsom salts
-1-2 drops or high quality lavender or tea tree essential oil
Spray the area every time you go to the bathroom - to assist the healing process.
💜Padsicles
A padsicle is a frozen pad, made for nicks, tears or episiotomy. It is so soothing can help with bruising of the area. It is also helpful for post caesarean birth to place over the dressing.
What you will need:
-A spray/squeezie bottle
-1 cup Raspberry tea
-¼ cup of hammelis (witch hazel)
-3 drops Lavender Essential Oil
-3 drops Tea Tree Essential Oil
-A tube of single ingredient aloe vera gel / hammelis gel
-1 to 2 packs of 12 absorbent maternity pads
-A butter knife that you have sterilised in boiling water
Method:
1. Make the tea and pour it into your spray/squeezie bottle once cooled.
2. Add the drops of essential oil to the bottle.
3. Lay your pads out, face up on a table on top of a clean towel / linen saver.
4. Spray the solution of tea, witch hazel and oils onto the pads quite thoroughly.
5. Squirt a little of the gel onto the tea-soaked pads and then spread like butter onto each pad.
6. Fold pads in half and place into a clean freezer bag / lunchbox and freeze.
7. Use as desired.
Do not use one pad for an extended period of time. Change as needed.
💜Sushi Noori aka Seaweed: This is an amazing natural product too. Get a pack of sushi noori and
use the sheets individually.
Take one sheet, fold it in half, wet it under water and place on top of
a dry pad. This has immense healing capacity.
💜Soak in a sitz bath of salt or Epsom salts daily until all healed up.
anchor.fm/karen-wilmot-podcast/episodes/Talk-to-me-about-episiotomy-and-tearing-e16odpg
