Welcome to the beginning of something truly exceptional.

Audrey and I were extremely excited when we found out that we were expecting. As the pregnancy progressed, we loaded ourselves up with research regarding birthing plans and all the options available for our birth wishes. Audrey initially suggested the idea of adding a doula to our team. To be honest, I was initially skeptical thinking that it wasn’t necessary. Babies are delivered everyday without doulas and that it would be easy enough to do so on our own without the investment in doula support… Spoiler: I was wrong. So we decided it wasn’t going to hurt to set up some appointments and meet a few experts. We first met with Karen one evening, and immediately felt we had a great connection. She had a genuine interest in our birth plan, personal situation, and was driven to discover how she could fill in the blanks to best assist us and be a part of our birth team. In leaving our meeting with her, we knew that she was the best fit and the one we wanted to work with, so we cancelled our other scheduled doula appointments. I can now proudly say that our selection of Karen was the best decision that we made regarding the birth of our daughter. We found that she provided personal care, compassion, and knowledge well beyond our expectations. Being pregnant and then having a newborn baby is extremely exciting. But as a Dad there is a feeling of helplessness and stress. Having Karen on the team, she was able to calm and relieve the stress, help me feel empowered, and allowed me to focus on the great, exciting, and joyful parts instead! From our first at-home visit, to the classes that we took with her, and then the text messages leading up to the birth - having a calm, knowledgeable resource on your team like Karen is the best investment that you can make. She was remarkable on the birthing day, working closely with Audrey, myself, and the medical staff - she was fantastic. I can honestly say that our birthing outcome would not have been achieved the same natural way without her there providing suggestions, resources, guidance and comfort. The postpartum support was also an equally exemplary experience. She came and visited us after discharge from the hospital to go over breastfeeding questions and to see how we were doing in the adjustment to parenthood. Still to this day (weeks post birth) she texts us to check in our on baby, Audrey, and me to see how we are doing and if we have any questions/concerns. As first time parents, I can't imagine what our first birthing experience would have been like without Karen there. We are absolutely planning on having Karen as part of the team again for any future little ones joining our family. It is with my utmost recommendation that I would suggest utilizing Karen to be part of any birthing team. Thank you so much Karen.

We were so blessed and thankful to have Karen as our doula during the birth of our wonderful son, Milo. Karen visited us a few times leading up to the birth and imparted her wealth of knowledge of how we should prepare, always presented in her unique, down-to-earth way. We also took a hypnobirthing class she taught and her lessons were fun and informative. The relaxation techniques we learned with her were extremely helpful in the weeks and months leading up to the birth, as well as during the birth itself. It was always our plan to have a vaginal birth at the Birthing Center in Toronto, but when that proved to be not an option, and we were forced to go to a hospital for what turned out to be a cesarean birth, Karen was there to help guide us through the experience. She stayed with us at the hospital for hours and she served as a nurturing and calming influence - a stark contrast to the cold, business-like approach we received from the hospital staff. She even brought us food, including gingerbread cookies, my husband's favorite that reminded him of the ones his grandmother used to make! She stayed with us at the hospital for a bit after Milo was born to help with practicing of breast-feeding, and made a couple more visits to us at home after we were discharged. During those home visits, she again gave further help with breast-feeding instructions, as well as preparing us for what to expect for the next few months. Her best advice was for us to spend as much time as possible in bed with Milo those first few weeks, and to not feel sorry about it! - which we happily did and it really helped with our's and Milo's bonding. On her last visit with us she even made us an omelet and did our dishes! She always went above and beyond in her efforts to make us feel prepared and supported during our birthing journey and we highly recommend her to anyone looking for a doula to help nurture them through this most important time in their life!

Having Karen as a doula was the best decision we made. I interviewed over 7 people and felt most connected to Karen, so it was an easy decision after that. Karen has experience but doesn’t come across as ‘I know it all’. She was respectful of our space when we were labouring at home and was VERY supportive through the whole process. I must have sent her 100 text messages leading up to the day and she answered them all promptly and with care. She checked in with my husband regularly and when she arrived at our house I felt like a breeze of strength and calm had entered. It is indescribable how it felt! She didn’t pressure me, she listened to me when I decided it was time to go to the hospital and when I started to get upset she calmed me down and reassured me. I was allowed to go through what I needed to, but was gently guided back to the calm positive space she helped create. Without Karen, I feel like my anxiety would have been 1000 times higher. I felt like she was also a support for my husband. That made me feel good, as I knew he had someone to support him so he wouldn’t be nervous. In turn, that made me more relaxed. After the baby was born, she continued to be there for me right up until my head hit the pillow to relax with my family around me. Then, I was texting her from the hospital and she was checking in with me. We did our post-partum visits, where she helped me with breast feeding and talked to me about how I felt, reassured me and answered questions. Now 6 weeks postpartum she is still there for me as I go through some hard times. Her job is done, and yet she continues to support me and assure me that I am not alone. What an amazing experience. I never thought I would say that about giving birth, but with Karen as our Doula and her after taking her hypnobirthing class, I can say it with confidence. 100 thumbs up!!!

I continue to want to have babies because of Karen Mcwilliam. My first birth was with an epidural - my sister and my husband -both amazing people - were in the room with me and both were fully unprepared for what was taking place. I did not have an advocate with experience, with a voice for what I wanted that was confident in their direction. They were amazing but neither had done this before - neither had the experience needed to know what to do or to know what I needed before I knew. Our first was rushed to ICU after birth (thankfully she was fine - but I wasn't). The next births, I vowed never to have another epidural. I knew I needed help. I worked to locate the one person who had done the most births that I could find and that's how I met Karen. Karen has been a godsend. She has given me strength before, during and after each subsequent birth and I am excited to start trying again because I know come labor, Karen will be there. She was actually there for me during each of my pregnancies, when I went into labor late, when I went into labor early and everything in between. I would not want to go into another birth without Karen. Karen has been recommended to family and friends who have hired her. I wanted an expert next to me - and that is what Karen is. She is my birth partner, my labor buddy, my lifeline during my miscarriages, my strength during the early days of the newborns. Karen brings me tea, she brings me knowledge, and she brings me my babies. I love her and consider her one of our family because without her - our baby story would look much different and to be honest I would go into each labor with a bit of fear - not with the excitement that I have. I have endless time for anyone that wants to know more about Karen Mcwilliam because I truly think that a birth with her - brings a calmer baby and mama together.