Karen Keefe is a registered midwife with over 13 years experience, and she has practiced in a variety of contexts in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia, including homebirth and hospital birthing spaces in various roles.
She says, “I became a registered Calmbirth® Educator in 2022 and loved learning about, and now teaching and promoting, the Calmbirth® philosophy and knowledge. It is wonderful to help equip women and partners so that they may tap into their mind, body and birth connection, feeling empowered to achieve their very best birth and transition to parenthood – no matter how the journey unfolds.
“Prior to my midwifery journey I was a certified doula in California and Hawaii. Outside of the birthwork space I am an avid wilderness photographer, a yoga teacher, regularly go out bushwalking and camping, enjoy meeting and connecting with birthworkers all over the world, and spend my time helping to protect wilderness places as well as help look after canine and feline fur babies for others. One day I’d love to learn to be a rescue wildlife carer. I look forward to sharing Calmbirth® with you!”
My name…Karen.
I work at… Northwest Private Hospital and Northwest Regional Hospital, and recently working with Tas Casting as an Extra for a new TV series being filmed on location in West Coast lutruwita /Tasmania.
My life in five words…Life Is One Big Adventure.
The best thing about where I live...hearing the sound of the ocean, among an awesome local community, and so close to wilderness areas.
What I do to relax when I’m not working…go hiking or for a walk with my partner, do photography anywhere, especially by waterfalls and rivers or the night sky, practice yoga, find cool sound healing events.
I can’t live without…wombats!
The person or traits I most admire is…my Mom…her strength, resilience, kindness and humour..
What I’m listening to now…Brene Brown’s Braving the Wilderness.
Where around the world I have lived and worked…San Francisco, CA (my home state), Big Island of Hawai’i, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Australia – Darwin, Katherine, Mossman/Port Douglas, Tasmania.
Why I enjoy traveling…it opens my mind, I get to learn about other cultures, the world is an amazing place, and because life is short, there are no future guarantees, so live it
The 3 essential things you need to take with you into labour are…Trust, Patience, and a Calm flexible open mind!
A favourite quote… “Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!'”
— Audrey Hepburn
If I had to describe how seeing a baby being born makes me feel…It’s awesome to bear witness to a baby taking his or her first breath, absolutely humbling and amazing to see the amazing transformation of parents right in front of me in the moment.. seeing a baby being born makes me feel alive and present.
For Calmbirth course dates: you can contact me on: 0437 742 587
You can follow me at…TBA