ICAN is excited to announce that Katy Kujala-Korpela from ICAN of Milwaukee has completed training!
Tell us about the birth climate in your area.
We have two consistent meetings a month, in Bay View and Wauwatosa. We will slowly start adding meetings throughout the city as our community grows. There are lots of positive birth options in the Milwaukee area. We have two out of hospital birth centers, as well as a large community of doulas and midwives to provide support in hospital settings. It would be wonderful if the birth professionals in our area were advocates for giving birth vaginally to breech babies.
Why drew you to ICAN? Why did you get involved?
The woman who owns and operates my local birth center invited me to a meeting. It took me about 6 months after my HBC to attend a meeting. I knew I needed to heal and enjoyed the support the other moms provided. What has driven me to be an ICAN leader is that this is the support that I didn’t receive anywhere else. Meetings are free, so access is open to everyone.
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What do you wish other people knew about ICAN?
That women who experience CBACs are welcome to come to meetings. I have heard from moms who haven’t had VBACs that they do not feel like they fit the mold of ICAN but our ICAN group welcomes everyone who has had a challenging birth experience, regardless of what happened. The most important thing to me about cesarean and VBAC awareness is educating women to be empowered to make their own choices for themselves and their families.
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Please share a little about yourself!
Someone might describe me as an advocate and organizer for women’s rights. An ICAN volunteer told me recently that people feel comfortable talking to me because I am non-judgmental and I truly care about others. I have a double degree in History and Politic Science from Alverno College. My work experience in Milwaukee has been exclusively non-profit. Currently, I am a co-leader for the Holistic Moms Network, an active member of the Progressive Moms of Milwaukee and a busy stay at home mom with two little boys, Roger (3) and Walter (1). I like to sew, run, read and paint in my very little free time.
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Next meeting?
We have two meetings coming up:
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Authentic Birth Center, May 10th 10:30-12:30
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Well Rounded Maternity Center, June 3rd 10-noon
Check out our Facebook page for more details for these events: https://www.facebook.com/ICANofMke/
Congrats, Katy! We can’t wait to see what you and your chapter get up to!
