Traumatic childbirth leads Highland woman to help others
International Women's Day takes place on March 8. We are celebrating inspiring women's stories throughout the Highlands. Meet Karen:
“Having a baby can be quite isolating, especially if you haven’t got family around you”, says Karen MacDonald, owner of Juniper Baby Wellness.
The 35-year-old mum of two is on a mission to help new parents and their babies prepare for and adapt to a new way of life with peace of mind.
Having discovered hypnobirthing during her first pregnancy, Karen was blown away by the calm that it brought when her birth went differently than planned.
Speaking more about her story, Inverness-based Karen said: “My whole pregnancy had gone well, but during my labour my body got tired, and I ended up having to give birth with forceps.
“I had third degree tears, and I was unwell for quite some time after the birth, but I think because I had received the hypnobirthing classes, it helped me to have a much calmer and more relaxed attitude about the situation. I was a lot calmer than my husband!”
Karen had received her hypnobirthing classes through the NHS, but as these are no longer offered, she decided to take matters into her own hands and train herself up to help others.
She said: “I decided to start my hypnobirthing training just before we went into the first lockdown, which was a mixture of online and in-person classes.
“I found that it was so empowering to train your mind to be able to get into a space of calm and it got rid of a lot of fears and anxieties I had.”
Now through Juniper Baby Wellness, she can provide hypnobirthing classes to parents throughout the country.
Explaining more about what hypnobirthing is, Karen said: “Hypnobirthing is all about your body and mind connection and how you can get yourself to the ultimate state of relaxation with different tools and techniques.
“Many people don’t understand the meaning behind it and they can be worried about the word ‘hypno’ and me trying to hypnotise them.
“But it’s not like that at all - it is you doing it yourself, I just give you the techniques and tools to do so.
“Self-hypnosis happens a lot of the time and we don't even notice, like when we are daydreaming or driving along and you don't actually remember how you got home but had full control of the car.”
She can provide 1-2-1 support throughout people’s pregnancies and right up until after birth - and she is now expanding her offering by offering post-natal support through baby massage and nurturing circles.
Karen, who is also still a serving police officer, is planning on building her own premises in her back garden in Inverness, so she can welcome new parents along to receive support.
“I think there is a need for support for people, and for them to have someone to talk to", said Karen.
“I find it really rewarding to be able to work with people and help them on their journey.”
