Karen VelMartin - Birth & Postpartum Doula

About Karen

Hi! I’m Karen VelMartin, a certified birth and postpartum doula serving families throughout Raleigh and Wake Forest, North Carolina. I’m guided by my Christian faith and a heart for serving others, I’m passionate about walking alongside families during one of life's most sacred and transformative seasons. I believe that every mother, baby, and family is created with purpose and deserves compassionate, respectful, and evidence-based care. I strive to create a safe, nurturing environment where families feel seen, heard, and empowered to make informed decisions throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey. As a birth doula, I provide continuous emotional and physical support during labor through comfort techniques such as breathing, relaxation, massage, positioning, and encouragement while helping families communicate their birth preferences with confidence. As a postpartum doula, I offer practical guidance, emotional support, and reassurance as parents adjust to life with a newborn, helping them build confidence and find joy in finding their new normal in their new roles. My approach is rooted in the belief that caring for families is both a calling and a ministry. Whether I’m offering hands-on support, a listening ear, or words of encouragement, my desire is for every family to experience hope, peace, and dignity throughout their parenting journey. Families from all backgrounds are welcomed and served with compassion, respect, and excellence. Whether you’re a single mom figuring out next steps or a veteran family who would like birth support or a different perspective about pregnancy and birth than you have had before or whatever your story I am interested in connecting with you, becoming part of your story.

Availability

Taking new clients

Due Jan – May 2027

Away Nov 26 – Nov 30, Dec 23 – Jan 4

Confirmed 1 week ago

Due date close to the edge of this window?

Birth & Postpartum Doula packages and pricing

Plus Birth Support Package

In Home and Virtual Support Options Available A great option for first time parents or those that want more support and resources! What's Included: Complimentary consultation Unlimited phone/text support 4 prenatal meetings to discuss your birth preferences and options, and postpartum planning Birth plan creation Childbirth Education Classes Parent education classes Unlimited labor support Pain measures support as needed during labor 1 postpartum meetings to check in, follow up, and provide support

$1,350 USD · Flat rate

Postpartum Support Package

In Home and Virtual Support Options Available
One prenatal visit to discuss any concerns about your
birth or postpartum experience
Up to 3 visits a week for 6 weeks as needed
Postpartum mental health check-ins and provide
resources to help navigate the postpartum period
Guidance for recovery and newborn care
Lactation and bottle feeding support
Light meal preparation and education on nutrition after
birth and more!
24 hour phone, email, and text support

$25 USD · Per hour

Additional Services

Prices Vary - Please contact me for additional information about pricing.
Childbirth education classes
Lactation education classes
In person infant care support
Breastfeeding support
Postpartum doula support
Postpartum meal prep
Mother’s Blessing

$0 USD · Per hour

Mother Blessing

Mother Blessing A Mother Blessing is a wonderful alternative to a baby shower to celebrate a woman's rite of passage into motherhood. Inspired by a sacred Navajo ceremony, called a Blessingway, a Mother Blessing is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the mama-to-be (and recurring mamas, too!) as the women in her life come together as her ‘village’ to show their support and love for her as she continues on this journey. A Mother Blessing is all about nurturing and connecting heart to heart with the mother. Filling her cup so it overflows with love and confidence as she awaits the birth of her baby. She’s so much more than a vessel to bring a baby into this world. She’s a woman becoming a mother. A woman who is nourished, nurtured and given lots of love has more love to give in return, to her baby, her loved ones, and the world as a whole. There’s nothing like a circle of loving women to get the hormone, oxytocin, (the hormone of labor, but also love and bonding) flowing! Mother Blessing ceremonies are a beautiful and unique way to honor a mother-to-be, spending time with her, sharing stories, debriefing fears and to instill confidence and strength. Since the Mother Blessing is all about supporting the mother to be on her journey, ask her what would help support her the most at this phase in her journey, alongside a few of our favorite activities to include in her Mother Blessing. Remember that Mother Blessings are wonderful ways to celebrate a woman's right of passage into motherhood (or multiple motherhood) no matter the way she becomes a Mama. Why choose to have a Mother Blessing? During pregnancy it is common that the baby gets all of the much-needed focus and attention and not the mother to be. It is so important to celebrate the mother to be especially during such a transformational and beautiful time into motherhood. This is what the mother blessing is about. It’s about being present and supportive, while creating a space for the mother to be to feel held, loved and celebrated. It’s about acknowledging the transition into motherhood not only physically, but spiritually and emotionally by helping to prepare for the transition by inspiring and encouraging her. It takes a village to raise a child, but in the western culture this can sometimes get lost. The Mother Blessing brings “the village” back together and creates a beautiful hammock of support, which can allow the mother to be to go into labor with such a feeling of love and strength and support by her “village”. The Mother Blessing does not take the place of a baby shower as they are two different occasions to celebrate mother and baby! When is it held? Generally, it is held between 34-38 weeks. Who attends a mama blessing? It is generally an intimate. What is the purpose? To create a positive and sacred space for the mother to be, to honor her journey, and to offer encouragement and love as she prepares for birth and motherhood. What can I expect? Whether you want to keep it simple in your living room or more chic and decorate a grand space, there are no rules when it comes to how you want to organize your Mother Blessing. This ceremony celebrates the life and honors the pregnant woman’s strength. Guests can bring items or gifts to give to the mother to be. Each guest brings a dish to share as we celebrate the mother to be. Guests are asked to bring/write poetry, prayers and stories about birth and motherhood to read and share. A special song can also be shared as well. Guests are also asked to write a letter of encouragement that the mother to be can be read at the Mother’s Blessing, read either during labor and again after baby has arrived, or on those tuff days following during the postpartum period. Each guest brings either a flower, herb, or essential oil to share for the aromatherapy foot washing and massage. Guests are also asked to bring along a gift from the list provided by the mother to be of items needed for the period right after the baby is born. Items such as gift cards, gas cards, postpartum care items, etc. Guests may also bring along frozen meals for after the child is born or to be enjoyed in the coming weeks leading up to the birth. Pricing Pricing starts at $350 depending on the venue and crafts or activities that are chosen.

$350 USD · Flat rate

Accepted insurance

Medicaid Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Wellcare Message Karen to confirm coverage for your plan.

What to expect

Our Approach At Bump and Beyond Family Services, our approach to birthing and parenting is holistic and client centered, focusing on the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of each family we serve. Some of the services I provide is birth and postpartum doula support, and lactation support. Bump and Beyond Family Services offers virtual and in-person class. All classes are evidence based with your busy schedule and varying needs in mind. A of the education offerings we have is Virtual Childbirth Education class, Virtual Breastfeeding Class, Newborn Care and Infant Feeding Basics classes. I also offer various workshops.

Reviews for Karen VelMartin

5.0 3 reviews

5.0

April 11, 2024

I love the services that I have purchased from Karen and working with her to meet my goals for my birth. She has made me feel secure and confident in the decisions I have made in my birth plan and the decisions I have made for my child. She made the journey into motherhood a lot easier and will be forever grateful.

— Aiyana V.

5.0

April 11, 2024

Karen is such a warm and loving doula. She knows all of the facts and isn't afraid to offer proper help at the proper time. I would definitely recommend her time and time again she is good at servicing her clients and all their needs. Thanks Karen.

— Angela B.

5.0

April 10, 2024

Karen is an amazing doula. She creates personalized experiences for each client by utilizing her knowledge, sincerity, and compassion. She truly takes the time to listen to her clients, making the feel more confident as they enter into parenthood. I would highly recommend Karen's birth and postpartum doula services.

— Allison S.

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Certifications, training, and specialties

Certification and training

Certified Birth Doula, Madriella Doula Network (2022)
Certified Postpartum Doula, Madriella Doula Network (2022)
Young Parent Support Specialist, Madriella Doula Network (2024)
Loss and Bereavement Doula, Madriella Doula Network (2023)
Certified Breastfeeding Educator, Madriella Doula Network (2023)
Certified Childbirth Educator, Madriella Doula Network (2024)
Certified Breastfeeding Specialist, LER (2026)

Education

Associates in Human Services, Rasmussen University (2021)

Languages

English

Specialties

Birth Doula Birth Support Breastfeeding Support Childbirth Education Infant Care Loss and Bereavement Doula Newborn Care Parenting Parenting Support Postpartum Adjustment Postpartum Care Postpartum Doula Care Postpartum Life Prenatal Care Support during Labor, Birth, and Postpartum Support in Pregnancy Loss

Frequently asked questions

What is the role of a postpartum doula?

Directly following birth, Doulas offer assistance with feeding (breast or bottle), bonding, and allowing the mother time to relax and enjoy her new baby. Commonly, after the mother returns home from the hospital with her baby, the doula will remain available for questions and concerns. She will also often visit the new baby and check in on the mother to make sure the patient is recovering well physically and mentally. Postpartum doulas offer specific services beyond the main doula services. They will meet with the new mother and help with newborn care, recovery from a vaginal or cesarean delivery, household chores, and other tasks that help the mother settle into their new life.

Do you have payment options that included a payment plan?

Yes.

What is a doula?

Doulas are professional birth coaches who provide emotional, informational, physical, and mental support to women during the prenatal, birth, and postpartum periods. Doulas do not provide medical care, but they are extraordinarily knowledgeable about childbirth. Their major role is to provide necessary support to the mother leading up to and during childbirth. There are also specific types of doulas, such as Antepartum Doulas, who assist women who are having a high-risk pregnancy or are on bed rest during pregnancy, and Postpartum Doulas, who assist women during the postpartum period.