There are so many women who have shaped my life, views, and involvement in the childbirth community. Some are greatly famous that everyone knows, and some are amazing women in my personal life.
I thought I would share a few.
Karen Kilson & Danielle Elwood
Karen Kilson was a local birth doula, and Childbirth educator who really “got me started” after the birth of my oldest which was a c-section, I started an ICAN chapter and had no idea where to start, what to do, or how to really get involved in the local birth community and Karen swooped in to save the day. She knew so much, and was just a great resource for me. We became great friends over a short period of time, and our friendship expanded outside of the birth community, but into our family lives. She was my idol in the birth community, from being on of the pioneers of a hospital based doula program in our state, all of her certifications from DONA to CAPPA, and the library of more books than either of us could ever count. She was a devoted grandmother, not only to her own grand children, but to my children also, and she was just the brightest, and most amazing soul you could ever encounter.
She was the doula for my birth of my second child Benjamin, and unexpectedly passed a few short months after he was born.
Though I was never able to thank her, she knows as I still speak to her daily.
Ina May Gaskin is another, now there isn’t much that can be said about her that has not already been said once, or a dozen times, but between the Farm and her publications women all over the world have greatly benefited from her education and experience. She has truly shaped the face of modern midwifery in The United States.
The Women of ICAN : For me, after I had my first child via unnecessary cesarean I felt like I would never find anyone that felt the same way as me until a friend introduced me to the birth group. Through the healing of my first birth, to the ending of my VBAC attempt turning into a CBAC, I feel like these women are the most heart felt amazing women who are just such a great support system.
Who are your woman idols?