In 1982 Karen Carr began her career in healthcare as a patient’s advocate at the People’s Free Clinic in Baltimore City. Soon after she began serving the greater Baltimore area as a birth doula, supporting women in achieving a natural birth. Karen has delivered two beautiful daughters of her own, one born by cesarean section the other a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). Through these empowering experiences Karen was compelled to become a midwife.
Karen began an apprenticeship with Judie Pradier in the DC area and soon began working with Judy Mentzer in Pennsylvania. After years of self-study and passing the NARM exam, Karen became a Certified Professional Midwife (CPM). Today, Karen is a leading midwife, specializing in twin and breech deliveries. Her practice boasts a VBAC success rate greater than 70%. To date Karen has served more than 700 families in the greater metro area including PA and WV, delivering approximately 1,200 babies. Karen has helped more than 96% of her mothers achieve a vaginal birth, greatly reducing the cesarean rate amongst her clients. She has devoted her life to serving women and families.
Today, Karen’s safety and future are on the line. A disheartening investigation ensued after the tragic death of a client’s baby. Karen is being charged with involuntary manslaughter and other felonies for her role as a homebirth midwife. She will be on trial for these charges beginning June 7th and is facing up to 30 years in jail.
Click below to aid Karen Carr with her legal defense.
Maryland Friends of Midwives was disheartened to hear of the news of Karen Carr’s charges for practicing midwifery. We support all midwives in all settings including CNMs, CPMs and lay midwives at hospitals, birth centers and in our homes. MFM believes it is important to stand behind our midwives during a crisis like this one to protect and preserve midwifery and to also protect the rights of parents to choose where to give birth, how to give birth and who their birth attendant will be – doctor or midwife. We hope there is a quick resolution of this matter and that Karen Carr is freed from all charges of manslaughter and child abuse. Practicing midwifery is not abuse nor is it murder. It is a respectable profession which has much better stats world-wide than intervention/surgical birth stats for both mother and baby. However, no doctor or midwife is able to avoid the inevitable – sometimes in birth there sadly is death. MFM recognizes that happens much less for midwives because they practice the Midwifery Model of Care. We support Karen Carr and all midwives working to better the lives of mothers and babies and provide choice in birth options.
My first daughter was breech and born by emergency cesarian. Because I wanted a VBAC for my second child, I couldn’t find a midwifery practice whose attending physician would accept me. We turned to Karen, and had a beautiful home VBAC. I chose her because of her experience with breech births and because of her calm, grounded, and peaceful presence. My heart breaks for the parents who lost their baby, and also for Karen. Prosecuting her will not help them feel any better, and it will hurt hundreds of women who could benefit from having her attend their births.
I spent months working with Karen and she delivered my son in 2005. I have absolutely NO doubt that, while tragic, the death is NOT her fault. I am that certain. She has a track record that speaks to her success. Her prosecution is a DISGRACE. When I hired her to attend my son’s birth, I knew the risks of a home delivery. I weighed them against the risks of a hospital delivery and made an educated decision. Her quick thinking and actions were vital for my son. He had the cord around his neck 3 times and was blue. His apgar at 1 minute was a *5*. Because of her actions, his apgar at 5 minutes was a 9. Had I been in the hospital they would have taken him away and who knows WHAT might have happened to him! But she knew what to do and his delivery was perfect. Karen was thoughtful, helpful, and exactly the right person to handle my delivery. To this day I would hire her again if I had another child. I couldn’t have asked for a better birth experience, one that far surpassed the birth-center delivery of my older daughter. Please let Karen know that her patients are on her side!
Karen saw me through my pregnancy and VBAC home birth with professionalism and extreme care. This was my first home birth and my first VBAC delivery. I relied on her to guide me through this scary time and she was EXCELLENT. Having the ability to have my child at home after a previous c-section was so empowering and I owe that feeling to Karen for making it seem so easy. I envision Karen assisting me with my future homebirths and I will keep this vision and raise up my prayers for her freedom. I am truly grateful to Karen and am in awe of the skill and talent she has for midwifery. We, as a family, were very fortunate to have found her and appreciate her greatly.
educated, experienced, strong, caring and intuitive, Karen supported me in my daughter’s beautiful but difficult birth. She was calm, collected, and knowledgeable. Years of being a midwife were reflected in her aura. Natural processes of life and death are not reasons for blame. Midwives connect, bond, and feel with their clients – they are “with woman”… and this alone should show the antithesis of the ridiculous charges.
Karen will forever have a special place in the hearts of my family. She was there for us in a respectful and thoughtful manner. I felt that I could take my concerns to her and be heard out and well cared for should the need arise. I would hire her again in a heartbeat, should I have another child.
Karen,
We are so VERY thankful for you and were so blessed to have you as our midwife. You cared for our family with such compassion, gentle professionalism and genuine concern. You have left an indelible mark on our lives and we hope that we can support you as you supported us throughout our pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum periods.
Thank you for helping me have the healthy pregnancy & birth of my twins the way I always dreamed!
Much love, respect and support,
Stephanie
My first baby wanted to be born breech. I had a version and he was born vaginally at home. This one wanted to do what her brother didn’t.
On my due date, which took me totally by surpise, I was having contractions that picked up as I walked around to do my morning routine. They were pretty intense and I’d often stop what I was doing to focus on them. I was still having a little blood when I tinkled but not every time. Occassionally it had a bit of mucus but not large chunks.
I could still feel babys head up high under my ribs on the right side. I took Vitamin C for a strong bag of waters that would either let her turn or allow my cervix to open wide before breaking to ease her journey. I knew I could trust my body to open wide and ease her gently, safely into the world. Though I had been hoping that baby would turn on her own, I trusted baby to know the best position to be born.
Around 10, I finally called my birth team. Karen assured me that the blood I was seeing was my bloody show. She was about 2 hours away. I told her that I thought the baby was going to be born today but since I had begun making phone calls my contractions had pretty much stopped. I told her I was going to take a nap and give her a call afterwards to see if they’d pick up again.
I was still having contractions but they were pretty far apart. We had breakfast and then went about the morning routine. I made sure I had all of my birth supplies together. Wrote a little in my journal. Made lists of what to do in case the baby came soon. Around 12:30, we all went down for a nap.
I woke up around 2 with my contractions picking back up again. I called Karen and told her that this was definitely labor and could she come straight here.
We started setting up the birth pool. Karen asked that I lie down for a bit longer since the contractions were pretty steady and intense. That would give her a bit of time to get here. I had to really focus on the contractions and eventually got up as they were too uncomfortable lying down. The best position for a contraction was bent at the waist leaning against something – the bed, counter, dresser. The contractions radiated from my back to my hips to my belly and up.
It took quite a while of figuring to get the pool set up. We had been hoping for a trial run but never got the chance. Couldn’t believe it was labor and my baby was going to be coming soon.
Karen arrived around 5. The birth pool was filling. She helped finish making the bed and then checked me. I was 7-8 centimeters and very thin! I was so elated. Thinking that I was 3-4 cm to find out I was actually so far along. I kept imagining my cervix growing larger. I will get huge was my mantra! She did feel little toes though. I was so in the groove of my contractions and focusing on getting big that I didn’t think it would be a problem. She thought there was another presenting part in there, perhaps butt but she couldn’t tell for sure. She left us alone to make the decision if we wanted to transfer or not. I really felt that since I was progressing so well that baby would come easily. We decided to stay!
The birth pool was finally filled so I jumped in. Ah..so warm and relaxing. At first, I didn’t notice a difference in the contractions but after a few I felt myself relaxing into the water. I mainly stayed on hands and knees. Talking to Karen as she set up.
Around 6:30, I’d had enough of the pool. I dried off and felt the need to rest in bed. The contractions were pretty intense by then. Ice on my back and applied pressure during contractions. Liz rubbed my legs and helped me remember that ‘I can do this!’.
I labored on the bed for several hours. Getting up occasionally to tinkle or try a different position. By this time, the contractions were really intense, overwhelming. I wanted to curl up in a ball and forget about being pregnant or having a baby. I tried to suck the baby back up inside of me.
I eventually realized that I could either go to the hospital, which didn’t sound too bad, or I could have my membranes ruptured and get the baby out. I debated through many contractions. The fear of having a breech baby and if I would have the strength to get her out. By this point we knew that there were still toes presenting as well as the butt. The pain of the contractions was also so intense. The moved from being in my back to being in my hips and back. Interestingly, my memories of the time spent lying on my side on the bed is very vague where as the memories of the rest of labor are very sharp!
As scared as I was, I didn’t want to transfer to the hospital. So I got up and went to the bathroom. Tried to tinkle and labor on the toilet but that was uncomfortable. So I lied down on the ground and Karen ruptured my membranes. I went through a few contractions like that and then got on the birth stool.
I wasn’t feeling any urge to push but gave little pushes during contractions to try and move her down some. I became quite vocal. At one point, I was moaning maa maaa mommy which cause me a chuckle. During contractions I had hands pressing in on either hip and a head digging the ice pack into my back. I reached down and felt her TOES way up inside of me. It gave me the strength to try.
After a few contractions, I started to feel the baby way down in my pelvis. Then I got the urge to push or at least knew what I was pushing.
Looking in the mirror I could finally see her little bum and two sets of toes emerging. Her bum and toes looked bruised. A few more pushes and out her body came. She hung there, gently supported by Karen’s hands, until the next contraction and out slid her head. I pulled her up onto my chest and looked at her sleepy face. She squinted her eyes at me, such a long hard journey. Holding her I felt all my anxiety be replaced by the sweetest love and thanks. Karen gave her two puffs and she pinked right up. We wrapped her in warm blankets against my chest. I spoke so softly to her asking her to breath, to come to us. She flitted her eyes and let out a soft coo. 10:32.
As a birth doula, I have worked alongside Karen Carr at two home births. Her expertise as a seasoned midwife and calm manner created a safe and warm birthing environment for both mother and baby. I respect her working manner, have learned from her and look forward to working with her in the future. I have worked in hospital environments where I felt that the mother and child were at a much greater risk. I am shocked and saddened that theses charges are being brought up against her.
Sara Epstein CD(DONA), CLC
Karen delivered our baby on 11/19/10. It was the single most beautiful experience of my life. She guided me so gently and her presence was so positive and peaceful. She cared for us after the baby was here and her warm and calm visits were so helpful. We think about her and that birth day so often still, her influence was so loving. We are so thankful for her and feel so blessed to have had her attend the birth of our son.
I am not an eloquent writer, I don’t know where to begin. I know that when I heard about this lawsuit I couldn’t catch my breath and started sobbing. This is horrible news. The most dedicated and gifted midwife should never be treated as a criminal. If it were not for Karen Carr, my baby would’ve been born at home with just my husband there to guide us. Thank God for Karen. She saved the day/birth. She high tailed it to our house as soon as we called her to say that our midwife was stuck in a hospital in Baltimore with another client. You see, Karen was so kind as to accept our case as the backup midwife. Amazing woman. I have never met anyone so kind, gifted, competent and truly caring. She’s amazing. She has dedicated her life to giving women a better option for their baby’s births. I would’ve been stuck in a hospital with another dreaded C-Section were it not for Karen and other CPM’s like her. She risks her life and livelihood every day for women and babies. She should be sainted and revered and able to teach more midwives her craft and skills. She is the expert. She is so dedicated that she came to my house the next day to check on me and the baby, this was not her job, she was the back up and yet that did not matter one bit. She was so thorough, responsible, professional and caring. I will forever be indebted to her for making my home birth experience wonderful, healthy and safe! I am so sad to hear of these charges against her. I will stand by Karen and fight for her , just as she has stood by so many families in their search for better birth options. Karen Carr is my hero!
This news is horrifying. Karen attended my son’s birthing time, and offered a gentle, kind, and loving hand throughout. I attended my friend’s homebirth with Karen as MW and she was amazing. I am praying that this trial ends in her favor.
I experienced a difficult labor with my second baby and my own midwife was unable to be with me. A wonderful apprentice midwife was with me, one who was good enough to recognize that I needed more help than she could give. Karen came to my home straight from her own brother’s funeral. Such is her dedication to birthing women and their babies.
Karen gave me exactly the direction and support I needed with just the right balance of experience, confident authority, and love. And after helping me get my son out without transferring, she gave him two breaths when he needed a little help getting going. She is our angel. I wouldn’t want to give birth without her.
Thank you, Karen, for all that you do. xo
I am not a midwife. I did not birth either of my children at home. In fact, I had two c-sections. The second one elective. BUT! This prosecution is disgraceful! I fully support choice and freedom. In schooling, in food and especially in birth. The biggest problem here is an out-of-control system that is taking freedoms away from people in order to ensure “safety.” It’s a system that is supporting the big guys rather than allowing small, local businesses and business people flourish. Well, friends, let me tell you that you will never be safe with someone else making your decisions for you. And, you will never be free without changing this country in a major way. I will be praying for the best outcome for Karen. Homebirth parents go into each birth with the knowledge of the risk. We need a country and people that accept risk as a norm and can weight the options intelligently. I will be supporting this organization as soon as I can. What a wonderful service they are providing.
Strong, wise, experienced, skilled, intuitive. Karen allowed me to birth how I wanted to birth- trusting in my body’s ability and trusting in her own abilities to step in if needed. I wanted someone who would allow us to birth nearly unassisted and not interfere with the birth process. I was disappointed with other midwives I had worked with, but Karen was able to give us exactly what we had hoped for. My husband and I labored on our own, I pushed when I felt ready, and my husband caught his son in his own hands. It was truly empowering and life changing and we could not have achieved this without Karen. Her postpartum care was comforting and helpful and I would not hesitate to hire her again for another birth. Our birth community would be devastated without her. She has so much to teach others about birth and so much to offer birthing women. Please free Karen to use her gifts!
Karen, every time I kiss my sweet baby’s head, I think of you and what is happening and my heart is broken. We loved our homebirth and would eagerly do it again should we have another baby. We are so grateful for your calm, quiet presence as we birthed our baby. We are so sad you are being persecuted for your courage of convictions: to provide mothers the births they choose for themselves, knowing full well the risks of birth tragically always include untimely death. Thank you for doing what you do. We’re thinking of you and sending you strength and peace as you come to this challenge. If anyone can rise above it unscathed, it’s you!
Karen Carr appeared in our life when I was 8 months pregnant and had chosen to have a home birth. She was nurturing, professional, calm, and gave us the confidence to have a water birth. Because of her, our beautiful son was born with no complications, in a very loving and safe environment. We will always be indebted to her for her courage, patience, diligence, and no nonsense approach to midwifery. We stand by you Karen! My niece attended the birth, and this was her first experience witnessing a birth. She was inspired by you and now has a Master’s degree in Nurse Midwifery. Thank you Karen, thank you!
I think everyone knows what tremendous service, dedication, and skill Karen has. We all also know that no other medical caregiver faces criminal charges, for unfavorable outcomes. Midwives alone get this treatment.
These trials, –even when the practioner has done everything right, are costly. Typically, within the first two weeks of being charged –the midwife has to pay $40,000 in lawyer, court, etc., fees. By the time the person has been found innocent, she has spent over $100,000.
Do continue to send your testaments, and also do fund raising and send a significant contribution towards her defence. No matter how the court decides, the economics will play a huge role in whether or not Karen can afford to continue to provide midwifery services.
Let us not let her down. Just as she has been there for us in our hour of need, so we must be there for her in hers.
All the best,
Maureen
Karen was our midwife for our son. We were a planned home birth that didn’t end up panning out. She transferred us to the hospital after a long labor after calmly and professionally assessing the situation. She didn’t leave us once until our son was born and safe. He was born via cesarean and she held my hand the entire time in surgery. I would have normally been terrified but having her by my side, helping us with everything from the paperwork to reminding my DH to eat was nothing short of a blessing. Karen took my son from the nurses and held him to me so I could touch him and talk to him. He stopped crying as soon as I touched him. I will never forget this moment or what she gave our family. She also let my husband know via text (she saw one of the nurses using their cell so made the concession to inform my husband, and got scolded) that he had a little boy. My poor husband was a wreck, we’d been up for nearly 60 hours since the onset of labor and his blood sugar dropped as soon as we got to the hospital. He also doesn’t do hospitals, needles or blood so was incredibly grateful to have Karen there for me. I will never forget this moment. I believe I had the labor and birth I needed to have to become the mother I’ve become. I never, not under any circumstances, would have been allowed to labor for 60 hours with no outside pressure and exhaust all my options in any other setting. She is our angle, and we love her dearly. It breaks my heart that she is going through this but I know her belief in birth and women will carry her through this safely. We love you Karen, and you have our full support!
That’s a wonderful story, Wysteria. Thanks for sharing!
This is incredible disheartening to read.
Karen Carr is a capable, well-educated midwife and I believe that whatever she did, she did in the best interest of the family involved.
Karen Carr delivered my son two years ago, and all I can say about her is; every time I look at him I thank her for her kindness and her exceptional judgement. She was always very quick and very timely for all her suggestions and diagnosis during my pregnancy. I have had a UTI in the beginning of my pregnancy, and a very late GD. She was always very careful that these have taken care of to ensure the best possible maternal health during my pregnancy. During the birth, my son born with umbilical cord wrapped around his neck 3 times, and rather blue. Again she was very quick to jump in to action and ensured that my baby was safe and healthy.
Misfortunes do happen. Although my heart goes to the grieving parents -and I am not saying this lightly. I hope I can never understand really what they are going through, I still stand by that the safest normal birth is one followed-up and delivered by a midwife.
They are the true time tested experts of normal birth. They are the time honoured family members help us go through the toughest and most happy time of our lives, with their understanding, care and expertise. I am happy to say that Karen Carr is one of the prime example of this honourable profession.
Dr(s) there to treat ill patients and pregnancy is not an illness.
I have had four VBAC’s at home with Karen. She is an awesome, educated, well seasoned midwife who has served hundereds of families throughout this area, many without any pay and lots of heart, sould and hours invested. God willing everyone will come together and help her in the same ways that she has helped us.
Karen was with me for the birth of 2 of my children (today is my youngest 5th b’day) and I can’t thank her enough for all she did for me and my husband. My heart is just full of sorrow at this news.
Will there be updates posted? I would like to support her not only financial but in any other way possible.
Karen attended two of my home births, and was the perfect midwife for me…calm, professional, experienced, knowledgeable, caring, supportive, and as hands-off as I wanted her to be. My heart goes out to the family who lost their baby, as I can’t even imagine the pain they went through; but I know that Karen has the experience and training to do everything that could have been done; and that, tragic as it is, babies sometimes die, both in hospital and at home.
Karen, you have my love and support. I am praying for your freedom, and for your ability to keep serving families who choose home birth.
Karen attended 2 VBACs with me. I have three boys, 2 of which were over 10 lb babies and I’m 5′ 4″ and 115 lbs. These large boys were hard for me to deliver, I would not feel safe with anyone else but Karen. I would not have been able to deliver my last son who was 11 lbs with a huge head if I wasn’t birthing with Karen on the birth stool; she guided me through the proper pushing so he could be born vaginally. I know in a hospital everyone would be doubting my ability to give birth to this baby and I believe in my heart under all the constraints in a hospital I would have ended up on the operating table. Karen’s experience and demeanor is impossible to find in a US doctor and she provides a much need service in our community.
I’m thinking of you Karen, hoping for you that you have faith in your freedom to continue being a midwife and hoping that you can/will continue supporting all of us who desperately need you as an option.
Karen helped as a doula to deliver my daughter Celeste in 1995, and my son, Jay in 1998. I was a VBAC mom, and she was extremely patient and understanding, and we got both those huge babies out without a cut or a tear(!).
I am sorry that Karen is in the middle of this, but maybe it can galvanize women for their rights in childbirth, that too many of us take for granted.
We still love you, Karen!!
Karen was in attendance when Judie Pradier caught our two younger children. Her poised, focused, intuitive, caring presence was a blessing. She (and Judy) both concentrate their energy and skill on allowing the woman to give birth, rather than “managing” a medical situation according to an arbitrary, external set of guidelines. The labor before my first home-birth went on for over 24 hours, through it all Karen was right there with rock-solid support. Now, we in turn support Karen, and the rights of women to make informed decisions as to how they will give birth.
Karen,
May peace and light surround you as you go forward in this trial.
I tried for two homebirths, ended up with two c-sections. So life flows. Both times I had expert, capable midwives who at some point suggested I might want to consider going in to the hospital.
Birth is a natural, beautiful gift from God. It is great that we have hospital backup for folks like me, and my kids; but I am convinced that most women should choose to at least try for a homebirth with a midwife like you.
Be assured of my thoughts and prayers,
Mary Grace
with husband and and two wonder kids.
Karen will begin her trial the day after my son’s first birthday. Had it not been for Karen my little guy would have been delivered in the hospital unnecessarily. Late in my pregnancy I developed a condition which caused delivery at 37 weeks. Since everything had been going completely normally until then it was quite a surprise, and I scrambled to inform myself of the risks/benefits of my intended homebirth with this condition. Sensing I was looking for more information, Karen discussed the issues with a hospital-based midwife I had used earlier in my pregnancy and also referred me to a perinatologist at the hospital to help aid me in my decision-making. After seeing that baby was well-developed, healthy, and handling early labor contractions well, the perinatologist was confident in recommending that I continue to labor and birth at home in Karen’s care. Karen knew exactly what I needed in order to make an informed decision, even though I did not. With the full support of midwife and perinatologist I was able to bring my little boy into this word peacefully at home. I cared for my precious new baby at home as well, confident and empowered that I had both the external support and inner resources that I needed. This is the gift that Karen gave me and for which I am eternally grateful. I think often of how differently things would have gone had I not been in Karen’s care. Celebrating my son’s first year of life at such a time will bring mixed emotion and will certainly remind me of all I am grateful for and all I wish for mothers who seek Karen’s support in birthing their babies at home. Karen is an incredibly skilled, intuitive, and professional midwife, and I deeply hope that becomes clear to all during the trial.
I am devastated for the woman who lost her baby. That is the worst thing that any parent can imagine, but any woman who chooses to have a home birth must educate herself on the risk that she is taking. A woman who knows that she will have a home birth breech delivery is responsible to understand that she is undergoing a high risk procedure that most doctors in hospitals will not undertake. I applaud Karen Carr’s decision to offer women the choice to deliver at home, breech or not. I believe that she is doing the right thing. But childbirth is risky. Much of the time it is completely safe, but tragedies do happen. However, when they happen through no fault of anyone, we need to not lay blame. Please do not ruin the midwife’s life because she chose to support the woman in her choice to have a home birth. One life was already lost- is that not enough?
Karen is a precious gift to all of us mothers who have known her. She delivered 3 of my children and she will always have a special place within my heart. The law is unjust to condemn her and it should be changed.
My very first experience with midwifery was through a book outlining the tale of a midwife being prosecuted for manslaughter. I was hooked.
Before I ever finished the book…I knew I wanted to deliver babies.
Hearing of the charges brought against a CPM frightens, saddens and infuriates me.
Reading these testimonials…touches me.
While I’ve never met Karen, personally, my family and I will do all that we can to help support her. Skilled, compassionate home birth midwives are entirely too valuable to lose
My heart broke when I received news of this case. I birthed my first child in a birthing center in Bethesda and had a wonderful birth. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I heard that the birthing center was no longer accepting births. I knew then that I wanted to have a homebirth. Karen came highly recommended to me and I felt supremely comfortable with her from the very first meeting.
I was pretty confident going into my 2nd birth, but her calm, no-nonsense manner made me feel even more confident. I go completely inside myself when I birth, so her hands-off method suited me perfectly. She was so kind (along with our other midwife, Liz) during the birth and after the birth, when there were questions about how my daughter was gaining weight. Karen suggested I make sure she was getting the hindmilk, and sure enough, that was our issue. At the next visit she had gained so much that we laughed.
That’s the essence of midwifery to me: compassionate, logical, confident birthing. Mothers are infinitely wise about birth, if we just get out of their way. I knew Karen would step in if we had any problems during the birth.
I’m incredibly fortunate to have very low-risk, quick, uncomplicated labors. My heart breaks for the family of this baby, for Karen and for midwives everywhere who will be affected by this case. I’m not having any more children, but if I were, Karen would be my first choice for every home birth!
This is beyond tragic! I am the proud mother of seven beautiful children. My first was a hospital birth. It was long hard and not at all what I’d hoped it would be. After having my second son inBethesda Maturnity Center we realized we could easily and much more comfortably have our babies at home. We had amazing and incredibly blessed births at home with the rest of our children. Although with our last son we thought we should try a hospital birth again since I was near 40. At the last minute we chickened out and raced like crazy to find a midwife. We hired Karen one week before our birth. Needless to say she was absolutely amazing! We had our first water birth and when our son got “stuck” at his shoulders Karen calmed us and reassured us with her incredibly gentle and reassuring manner. Our son is 9 now and absolutely perfect! I cannot imagine not having the blessing of the privilage to have had home births. Midwives need to be protected! They are SUCH a blessing to so many! Please stand up and support Karen! God bless you Karen!
Karen delivered my 4th son over 12 yrs ago and I still remember her calm, professional manner. At every home visit (yay! she did home visits!), she let my 3 little ones (4, 3 and almost 2) ‘help’ her and listen to the baby’s heartbeat with her fetalscope. She was so laid back that when my son was born on the toilet (I thought I had to pee) with my sister in the tub holding my hand and she was in the doorway (small bathroom) she didn’t even skip a beat! My prayers are with you, Karen. And with the family who lost their dear baby. Actions like these serve no purpose but extend the grieving and healing process
When I heard this news, I felt physically sick. Karen is a caring and skilled professional. When the tragic occurs, it is just that, a tragedy, and not someone’s FAULT.
Karen helped with the births of my first two babies in 2002 and 2004 (would’ve had her at #3 too, but we were in TN). She was incredible – calm, realistic, doing what needs to be done with determination and knows when to “let it be”. My babies were 10 lbs., 2 oz. and 12 pounds, 2 oz. I would’ve had to have c-sections had I gone the more conventional route. With Karen, the births were without complication and just really lovely experiences – both of them. Thank you, Karen! You have my deepest respect!
I am so disgusted by the disgraceful state of our judicial system! I don’t intend to start a debate on the subject of abortion, but I wonder why we, as a country, can legally allow mothers to discard their babies through abortions yet prosecute midwives for assisting women in birth. Karen is a highly qualified CPM, and it is unfortunate that without the “right” three letters behind her name (CNM), she can be bullied in the manner that she is right now.
If women choose Karen as their caregiver, as I did, knowing that she has to work “under the radar”, that should be their rightful choice! I am so glad that I was able to utilize Karen’s services in the birth of my son. Having previously experienced both hospital and birth center births, my homebirth with Karen’s assistance was, by far, the most gratifying birth experience I could have hoped for! She did everything right–even when my son wasn’t breathing on his own. Her response was quick and efficient. He is now a spunky 7-year-old, and I am so thankful that he was able to enter the world with Karen’s gentle guidance!
Just catching word of this tragic news! I am saddened and disgusted beyond belief as my heart breaks for Karen and her family at this time. In reading many responses above, I feel compelled to write and express words of appreciation and gratefulness. Being a registered nurse for over 14yrs, I have been exposed and well-saturated in the medical field. When we decided on a homebirth, it opened my mind and my heart in seeing birth as a natural process rather than a medical process/procedure. Karen delivered both of our children, Trinity and Tristan, bringing them into a warm, safe environment in a calm, peaceful fashion. My first labor was extremely long and I’ll never forget Karen’s patience, strength, and calmness throughout the entire birthing experience. I referred her to my family and friends as a “Saint”. When she birthed our second child, there was an instant connection throughout the process that brought me inner peace and strength. I have never met someone so professional, competent with more experience than Karen.
Wishing you extra strength and courage during this tumultuous time.
I feel positive that our justice system can not be this stupid and naive and this will soon be behind you.
God Bless, you are continuously in our thoughts and prayers….
I am so grateful for Karen Carr. As a 48 year old woman (would be giving birth at 49) pregnant with twins, I not only wanted a vbac, but I wanted a hbac. Karen was my only hope of having such an experience. She was willing to take me on and helped me feel that I wasn’t the scary high risk pregnancy that nobody else felt comfortable dealing with. Her experience and confidence in the process calmed me many times and helped me trust it too. Unfortunately, my outcome wasn’t as planned. After many hours of inconsistent labor, acupuncture, chiropractic, birthing pool and encouragement, I ultimately did not end up giving birth at home. While my outcome was seemingly no different than my first birth (c section in the hospital) my experience was completely different. Because of Karen, I felt that I was ultimately in charge of making each decision along the way regarding my pregnancy, labor and delivery, and therefore felt very different about the end result than I did with my first birth. In fact, because I felt so much better about the process, I was able to accept and let go of lingering doubts about my first birth experience. As strange as it sounds, this delivery was healing-even though it ended up being a c-section in the hospital! Without Karen (and her team, including my doula!) I would still feel regret. Thanks to her, I feel grateful for three beautiful children! What I really feel now is anger and indignation that the state would prosecute someone who gives so much to so many women and families. We need Karen, and many more like her. The decision to give birth with a midwife should be as commonly accepted as the decision to choose ones family doctor. Karen, we’re with you!
While my heart goes out to the family who lost their little one, it breaks for Karen who helped me through my first pregnancy and is an excellent midwife. During my first pregnancy, I was a single mother with a partner who wasn’t always there for me at the time. The first thing I said to Karen on the phone was, “I have no insurance and I have no money.” Her reply to that was, “Don’t worry about money, worry about yourself and your baby.”
Karen put our minds at ease over and over again, answering our phone calls whenever we had a question and encouraging us to enjoy the wonderful moment we were living. When I was told my waters were low and that my baby was at risk Karen told me I could go to her house while I was nearby one day and not only checked me and re assured me everything was fine with the baby and I, but let me wait for my ride while sleeping on her couch! I can’t say that about anyone else I’ve ever met and I remember waking up and feeling like I had gotten the best sleep I had gotten in a long time just because I felt so relieved.
Karen was there for my first baby’s birth. She was 8 pounds, 11 oz and Karen was confident, calm and encouraging. My partner and I had taken the Bradley Method which Karen highly suggested and he was a great coach! My whole family was there and to this day we still talk about both my homebirths and how much we loved the midwives that were with us.
Almost three years have gone by and my husband who at first was so skeptical of homebirths has beautiful memories home consultations, listening to our babies’ heart beat in the comfort in the comfort of our own home and of helping catch our second baby. I often take myself back to my children’s birth days and long for those moments again. They peacefully and gently came into this crazy world and we can’t imagine welcoming our babies any other way. Karen’s choice to take me on as a client was never selfish, it was completely selfless. She knew we may never have the money to pay for our child’s birth and yet wanted to help us. I admire the woman that she is and thank her for changing our lives for the better. We are advocates for homebirths and will be praying that Karen can help deliver many more babies! Keep your head up Karen! We will be praying for you! =)
Love,
Wardell, Ana Paula, Ariana & Naomi
Blessings of Love for Karen, the family in grief, and all Karen’s friends and clients. She has a legacy of loving wise service and the devotion and confidence of the many she has faithfully served. We pray for her release and freedom and comfort for the family and Karen. Midwives are the guardians of women and babies.
My first VBAC with Karen… On October 28th, almost 5 and 1/2 years ago, I called my midwife, Karen Carr, and suggested I might be calling again in the middle of the night. We put Khady to bed, I had a glass of wine and a nice hot bath with lavender oil, and went to bed. I wasn’t so sure I would sleep through contractions but the wine and bath helped and I wanted to sleep and conserve energy while in early labor. I slept two hours.
Sometime after 11pm the contractions woke me up. An extrovert who remains closely in touch with my community, I spent time emailing friends and talking on the phone with my sister, parents and in-laws.
As 1am neared things were getting intense. I decided to call Ruthcarol around 1am and ask her to come over. I called my midwife Karen, and around 1:30am I called Lori. According to Lori I sounded way too up beat to be far along in labor. Lori had to nurse her baby, a VBAC that summer, and would then make the drive from Virginia. Ruthcarol arrived shortly after I called Lori, being only a short drive away.
Somewhere between phone calls I moved from the keyboard to the birth ball and slowly circled my hips with contractions. I asked Matt to put on Krishna Das, a favorite for my yoga practice, but after two minutes, I called for my gospel music, the music that first taught me how to deepen my relationship with the Divine. My water had broken, a pea-soup color, meconium (baby poop) and I felt a twinge of nervousness flow through me. In all my careful and methodical preparations for birth, I had not researched meconium. I moved to the bathroom to labor as the pea-green liquid swirled down into the toilet bowl. I called Karen who reassured me that things were probably fine and she would be there soon.
Thirty minutes before I had been debating whether or not to call for support but by the time Ruthcarol arrived I was thanking God for making doulas. Ruthcarol found me in the bathroom. Even now I can see her calm face peaking around the corner as if to judge whether I was ready to be seen in my nervous naked birthing glory. I moved back to the birth ball, this time Ruthcarol’s, which was much more comfortable then my own sagging ball. Ruthcarol massaged and applied counter-pressure to my lower back and Matt filled up the birth pool. The house was filled with the sounds of gospel music and scent of lavender. Karen arrived and I was laboring on my knees in the warm birth pool. Karen’s trust of birth was tangible and I sensed a change in the energy of our house. She checked your heart-rate Fenimore, since there had been meconium, and all sounded good. Lori arrived soon after Karen and was greeted by Matt outside. The night continued on, wrapping around me in my yoga room, and intermingling with the scent of the lavender from the clay diffuser. I remember staring at the dancing flame in meditation, and called to alert my support that the candle should remain lit.
At 3:45am I wondered if my pushes were bringing the baby down. They say old fears resurface in your VBAC and despite my regular meditation practice and intense emotional preparation for the birth, surface they did. I pushed for two to three hours with Khady, flat on my back and hooked up the monitor, hold your breath until you are purple pushing. The doctor once again staring at my vagina, sighing, questioning why the midwife “let” me continue to push, said, there is NO movement there. And so the doubts crept in. When Karen said, “Can you feel the baby coming down?,” I wailed, “I don’t know! Please check me!” Karen checked me and responded to the exam, “There is no way you’re not having this baby vaginally.” Ah, such sweet words pronounced by a woman who had also had a VBAC at home and had held the hands of hundreds of birthing moms, many of them VBACers. I remember looking deep into her eyes, feeling her hand on my arm, and knowing deep in my heart that the my baby was only moments away. I sang through and between contractions, pushing with the urge, every other contraction, and then at the very end, even without a contraction. Fenimore’s head was born at 4:05am to the song Healing by Richard Smallwood (I LOVE that song, it takes me THERE if you know what I mean, no words to describe…) and at 4:07am, his body slid out into the warm water. I fumbled for a split moment, ecstatic, my hands slipping, and then pulled him to my chest. Thanks Karen! with love, Kat and family
Karen – we heard the news today from Colleen and Elaine. Please let us know if there is anything we can do. We believe in you, your skill, your generoristy, and dedication. We know our wonderful twins were blessed to have you at their side when they came into this world 13 years ago. Karis and I were glad to have you at our side as well.
Now it’s our turn to be at yours…
Aunt Karen, Laurie called me to tell me what happened! I’m so sorry! It looks like you have so much support though, and we’re doing all we can to spread the word that support is needed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you!
Your nieces
Karen,
We feel so grateful to have you in our life as both a midwife and a friend. What you have given us is the most amazing and generous gift anyone could give, sharing your love, expertise, strength, calmness and advocacy for women. It’s been 8 years and I still miss our monthly visits. You are in our thoughts.
Love,
Keri, Courtney (Patrick 10 and Solomon
I met Karen when we were volunteers for the pre-natal program at People’s Free Clinic. That was the beginning of a life long blessing. She was enlightening and educational about birth and women’s health. I have the honor of being the first home birth Karen ever attended. My daughter will be 28 in May. It was a long hard labor, and I can’t imagine it without her love and support. She cared for me and delivered my other two children now 17 and 13. The last time I saw Karen was at my 50th birthday party where showed off her beautiful grandchild. Karen I think about you everyday and pray for your freedom. Love Always, Joanne
Karen has been a dear friend for many years. I respect her and her ability to serve women as they desire and deserve. My heart breaks for the loss of this couple–but a loss does not mean someone has to be to blame. When this couple could not find any other help to have the birth they wanted and deserved—Karen, a very skilled and knowledgable attendant for breech births was willing to be there. She knew she was taking a HUGE risk serving a family in a state where all midwives other than those who choose to serve the medical board and get licensed are considered automatic felons–YET, her devotion to serving this family and giving them a TRUE choice when NO ONE ELSE WOULD should be what is commended.
It frustrates me to no end that although babies and even mothers die daily in our hospital systems and rarely if ever are any doctors questioned and held accountable for these tragic outcomes (because the attitude is there that everything possible must have been done since it was the hospital) if a baby dies in the home—the midwife or any birth attendant MUST BE TO BLAME!
No midwife or birth attendant (this includes OB’s) ever walk into a birth with malice or negligence on their minds. They do everything in their power to make sure that things go perfectly and safely for all involved. ALL WANT A GLORIOUS AND WONDERFUL OUTCOME!!!! But there are simply times when in this life–where the line between life and death is so very narrow—that some babies and even mothers will not make it through birth!
We must recognize that when this occurs–it does not automatically mean that someone did something wrong. I know Karen–WELL–and I know her heart would NEVER allow harm or do harm to anyone she is blessed to serve! We need to get off our high horses and stop blaming people for natural life events! The real tragedy here is that this poor mother was told over and over that her wishes were not important enough and not good enough until Karen met her and was willing to take the risk to serve her. This couple knew Karen would do her best as she has done for many many years with all the couples she has served! And I believe with all my heart that Karen did just that. We don’t have to understand why some babies, mothers, teenagers, young fathers are not given life beyond the day they pass on—but we do have to know it is just that—LIFE. We are not in control of it–we cannot be the determiners of anyone’s destiny or time here!
Let’s support this precious family with love and help them through their grieving–but we don’t do so by attacking someone who is as skilled and capable and caring as Karen and who DEFINITELY DID NO HARM OR WRONG to this baby–not in negligence or malice!!!
PLEASE STOP THE MADNESS! Government has no business in our reproduction! Birth is merely the culmination of creation of life in the first place. I don’t want the medical board and judiciary board present when I conceive—why should they be all up in my business as I give birth?
I am astonished and totally shocked to hear about this…first of all do we not live present day, where midwifery has detached itself from witchcraft, is it not a TRUE PROFESSION that one must work hard to obtain….and ….
anyway, it is proven that she is an AWESOME and TRUSTED midwife, part of a family of trusted mothers and growing babies- death happens in childbirth so many times in hospitals, on their way there, but yet there is no surprise there…only when away from western Hospitals does one feel that you have automatically put your baby at risk…my grandmother gave birth to my mum in 1953 in their home and her great granddaughter was born in my home in 2005…Karen was so supportive beyond any medical doctor that was assigned to me was- she knew of my low levels of protein and iron, and was able to guide me through many ailments, questions etc. that I had during this childbirth and issues with possible others after. I am so shocked that anyone who has Met Karen would even consider doing such a thing. My daughter was in hospital 3 days after she was born diagnosed with a genetic disorder in which the very doctors at the Hopkins said even THEY would not have known about for 3days giving the length for the heel stick test… Karen was there the first day Sayo was admitted and looked deeply and genuinely concerned as if she was another member of the family there to offer love, advice, support and anything. I have never met such a lady and almost all the children that I have met being in Baltimore that I love and adore and are drawn to, have mainly all been helped guided into this world by Karen…I remember that she even cam and set up the pool, had her birthing chair set up as my back up and was able to immediately tell that I was unable to push successfully that way, immediately taken to my bed she instructed all the helpers to provide assistance whether to hold my knees apart and down etc. One thing that holds in my mind is these little words that made the whole process less painful and made more sense in the flow of the delivery: “When you feel/have a contraction Toyin, push.” And like that, my daughter was out and in my arms.
I love this lady and plan on having Sayo know her maybe even better than I.
I am so disheartened reading this! I moved half way across the world to Maryland and heard of Karen through a friend. She sounded wonderful and experienced, I was soo eager to meet her and have her as our midwife. I can’t speak of her experience but I do know my friend raved about her wonderful care. I don’t know you Karen, but you have my support and love! Wishing you to get through this and that Maryland wises up to the fact that midwifery is a SAFE practice CPM or CNM or even lay midwife! We NEED midwives and we need options for women to birth!
Karen assisted with the birth of both of my children and she was calm, competent, supportive and gentle in both births. I can’t describe how much she helped us with these most important events of our lives. I still see Karen around town from time to time and I still feel the connection we have. Good luck Karen! I wish you all the best and hope you come through this to deliver more babies. Please let us know if we can help.
Zolna, Dan, Sophie and Griffin
Karen Carr taught me that giving birth and having a child is a blessing. I have always wanted children but Julianna my pumpkin was a surprise. I did not expect to get pregnant and I did not want to be pregnant. AND then the DOCTORS told me that I would lose my child within the first 3 months. Of course, when I met with Karen she smiled and said well you are throwing up every day several times a day, I think you are probably right now having a STRONG pregnancy. She was right. I threw up for 9 months straight. Despite everything, my husband who had no interest in a home birth at first was converted. He told me that for our second child that we will have it at home. I would not go to a hospital unless Karen was there holding my hand telling me it was necessary. She is a blessing for a pregnant woman and a gift to the community. This suit is a crime. The truth is that I feel for the family but they need to begin the grieving process and to let go of such a vendetta. The prosecution of a beautiful woman is not going to bring back their beautiful baby. It will only harm a great woman’s life and deny other parents her support. love Arianna, Alexandre, and Julianna and any other future child
Dear Karen,
I am so sorry to hear of these charges! I am sorry for the loss of this baby and am sure that this family is heartbroken. I cannot attend your hearing, but will be with you in spirit and most definitely in prayer.
I truly enjoyed having you as our midwife and have recommended you to others over the years. I appreciate greatly your belief in birth being normal and giving women options for safe deliveries. You are gifted and may you continue to use those gifts for as long as YOU choose!
Mendy
Today I was filled the joy to be apart of such an amazing group of women. I know it was all of our prayers, positive energy and light that made the difference.
My heart goes out to the family of the baby and to Karen Carr in this difficult time.
Each woman has the fundamental right to labor and give birth in the place and manner of her own choosing. The fact that well-qualified and thoroughly experienced midwives like Karen Carr are labeled as criminals for helping women to exercise that right is awful.
It is my hope that someday, this tragic and unwarranted conviction is seens as an important moment in a long struggle for the rights of Women in the US.
Karen,
I am so very grateful that I had the blessing of having you as my midwife to assist me throughout my pregnancy and homebirth of my daughter. I chose you because I knew of your experience and capability, and I have complete confidence in your ability, and gratitude for your willingness to serve women and their families. You treated our entire family with such respect, I am heartbroken that you are not receiving that same respect in return. You, as well as the family you served, are in my thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.
With love,
Rebecca
Dear Karen,
My little one just took his first step yesterday on his birthday and in the exact spot he was born! What a triumphant moment for him and an emotional one for me. I think of you often, and on this day especially. What an incredible gift you have given our family. I hope you are finding peace.
Love,
Sarah