About Us
Jeff gives the viewpoint of husband, coach, and father. Karen is the one who has had nine natural births using techniques learned in Bradley® classes. Karen has given birth in a freestanding birthing center, a hospital, and at home which add to her knowledge about birthing. We both teach the classes. Couples let us know that they really get a lot out of having a husband/wife team teach the classes.
When Karen was pregnant with her first child she took Bradley® classes because her midwife recommended them. When Karen was in labor she arrived at the birthing center and gave birth five minutes later. The next baby was born in the hospital. The last seven were born at home. The sixth and eighth babies were the most challenging labors.
Karen and Jeff became affiliated Bradley® instructors in 1997 and are continuously updating their knowledge by attending webinars and conferences, reading books and journal articles, and by listening to birth stories. They used Bradley® techniques that they teach with their nine labors and births.
They have taught in Connecticut, New Jersey, California, and North Carolina. In the summer of 2020 switched to teaching online to couples nationwide. Teaching on Zoom works really well. The classes are interactive and couples do have opportunies to discuss topics in small groups.
Jeff and Karen teach together because they believe that helping families have good births helps make the world a better place.
Testimonials
Laura Tornes
My husband and I could not recommend this
birth class more! Karen and Jeff are so knowledgeable, kind, and engaging, and
we credit this class with helping us to define aspects of the birth of our son
that we were looking forward to, advocate for ourselves on the day of, and
confidently surrender to the natural process and flow of birth. It was also a
great bonding experience for us as a couple as we prepared to enter a new
chapter in our relationship and lives. Highly recommend!
Dean
My wife and I took online childbirth classes
from Karen and Jeff because we couldn't find anything locally. I was skeptical
of the online format, but the classes really were great. The training we
received in relaxation, part of the Bradley method, helped Kyria to give birth
without pain medication. When we ran into complications (PPRAM), we knew what
kinds of questions to ask our birth team. Karen even took phone calls and
answered emails outside of class to (promptly) answer our questions and help us
make decisions. I enjoyed getting to know my classmates as well. If you're
hoping for a natural birth, or even just wanting to be educated as a couple,
Birth-Empowered is a great option. Especially great for soon-to-be-dads!
Sara White
Karen and I happened to both be pregnant durning
the time I attended these classes. It was really amazing learning about
pregnancy and birth from someone who not only brings a lot of knowledge, but a
lot of personal experience. Karen‘s seen it all! And it was such a comfort to
know the information she was teaching was evidence based, and backed by her own
lived experiences.
Something really unique about these classes, is
that Karen’s husband, Jeff, also taught the classes right along side her! How
amazing for the male parents in these classes, to hear from a husband’s
perspective, what to expect! It brought such a fresh and different texture to
the classes. I couldn’t recommend this team more enthusiastically.
Fun fact: Karen and I even labored at the same
time! Our sons were born one day apart.
Caroline Correia
This class was excellent! Karen and Jeff are
both super awesome instructors and have lots of experience with the ins and
outs of childbirth! They are a great team, which is exactly why they can train
moms and dads to work together as a team too!
My husband and I learned so many things about
what to expect during delivery, what a healthy, natural birth looks like, what
scenarios call for serious medical intervention, and how to handle the stress
and pain in the best way.
We learned about how to stay healthy during
pregnancy and prepare our bodies for the marathon of labor and delivery through
proper nutrition and specific exercises.
The instructors also pointed us to so many
other awesome resources, books, and websites.
We both really benefited from this class, had
so many questions answered, and were finally given everything we needed to make
our own informed decisions!
When we ended up in labor in the hospital, my
husband was able to communicate my desires on my behalf while I was too focused
on the work at hand to pay any attention to the doctors and nurses around me.
We knew what to expect and nothing caught us off guard! We had an unmedicated,
natural birth and now have a healthy baby girl!
Amatunoor Frederickson
I would highly recommend taking this course if you are expecting, especially for first-time parents! The course prepares couples for a healthy pregnancy and natural childbirth. My husband and I both felt so much more confident in pursuing a non-medicated natural birth after taking the Bradley® course; the instructors quelled our fears of excruciatingly painful labor and childbirth by sharing strategies of coping with pain. The instructors' wisdom and experience gave me the confidence needed for me to trust my body. Moreover, the course provided tips for how husbands (or support people) can play an active role in the process, which can lead to an easier labor and delivery! We are grateful for the healthy birth of our son and we feel that the Bradley® course empowered us in achieving our dream birth experience.