ABOUT US

Your pregnancy and birth are about you, not about us! Nevertheless, it takes a community of committed individuals to sustain a home birth practice. My colleagues and midwife assistants Hannah Copp, Meaghan Evans-Belknap, Leah Hatcher, Debbie Healy, Emily High, Kim Reain, Cathy Szudy, and Britt Wanta make midwifery care and birth at home available, affordable, and safe for Madison-area families. At any given time, one or two health profession students play a variety of supportive roles. At the heart of it all, my husband and son help welcome you into our home-based practice. Below you can meet core members of the team.

Ingrid Andersson, LM, CNM, MSN

I am a registered nurse (RN) and nationally certified nurse midwife (CNM). I am licensed in the state of Wisconsin to practice midwifery as a licensed midwife (LM). I became a nurse to become a midwife, and I became a midwife to attend women at home.

Before joining Community Midwives as a  full partner in January 2001, I worked for 8 years as an RN in high-risk pregnancy, postpartum, and newborn care at St. Marys Hospital in Madison. As a graduate nurse, I traveled to Kenya to learn from traditional and nurse midwives. Prior to nursing, I worked as a private labor assistant (doula) for 8 years.

Ingrid Andersson and Juliana, 1 hour old

Part of my life has been spent in Scandinavia, where almost every pregnant woman has a midwife. As in most of the "western" world, obstetricians typically are reserved for surgery and high risk consultation and intervention.

Part of my life has been spent on farms, where I grew to trust and respect strong life processes and the full cycle of life.

The practice of midwifery, as I see it, necessarily includes legislative and outreach work toward evidence-based, accessible, and sustainable health care. In 2006, I was appointed to the Midwives Advisory Committee for the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing. In 2006-2007, I helped pass statewide licensure for Certified Professional Midwives (CPMs). Community Midwives is a member organization of Health Care Without Harm, an international coalition that promotes environmentally responsible health care.

I received a Bachelors of Art in cultural anthropology and European studies, a Bachelors of Science in nursing and a Masters of Science in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I received my certificate in nurse-midwifery from the Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing in Hyden, Kentucky.

Hannu and Kai Andersson

My husband, Hannu, handles book-keeping, web design and maintenance, home design and maintenance, child care, snow-shoveling, grass-mowing, and just about anything else at a moment's notice. Community Midwives would not exist without his tremendous physical, intellectual, and emotional support.

My young son, Kai, birthed me at home as much as I birthed him. He contributes to the practice through his happy, flexible and studious personality. He already understands much about life processes. Kai is delighted when older siblings come to play in the playroom adjoining our home office.

Hannu Andersson and son Kai

Kate Brethauer, CNM, MSN, CLC

Kate launched "Dane County Midwife Service" in 1998. Many years in hospital labor and delivery had convinced Kate that pregnant women should have wider prenatal and childbirth options. Dane County Midwife Service became Community Nurse Midwives, LLC when Ingrid joined the practice in 2001. (In 2008 the business name was shortened to Community Midwives, LLC).

Within five years of practice, Kate established a successful midwifery and home birth service by wrestling with insurance companies (usually winning coverage) and achieving Medicaid reimbursement.

Currently a Milwaukee midwife, Kate continues to support Community Midwives in her availability for consultation.

Kim Reain, Birth Assistant

I earned my Bachelors of Science in nursing in 1994 and am a registered nurse with the State of Wisconsin. I have been fortunate to always work with women and their families. The majority of my background includes maternal and child health and education, including public and private sector work — often working with families in their homes. As a school nurse working with teen moms and their unique needs, I was introduced to the power of birth work.

I made the leap from working pediatrics and pediatric ICU at the end of 2002. Shortly after that, I joined Ingrid’s team as an assistant and started my own business as both a birth and a postpartum doula. These roles allowed me to combine a solid medical background with open, honest support, following the lead of the familes I work with.

Now, I am realizing my dreams of attending women during birth, in a way that honors each individual's own journey. I am only able to do this with the love and support of my husband and our friends. Without them, I could not be a mama and do this work.

I am an advocate both for breastfeeding and natural living and my son Quinn has been a beneficiary of my passions. I look forward to working with you and your family.

Cathy Szudy, CNM, MSN, IBCLC

I started on my path to nurse-midwifery in the early 70's with the birth of my first daughter. All of my seven children were born in a hospital but I instinctively knew to give birth and leave soon after! My husband, Bruce (I have had only one!!!), is an elementary school teacher in the Madison Public Schools.

I was a stay-at-home mom with my first two daughters (Tammy & Renee), then a student mom with my next daughters (Caitlin, Gretchen and Valerie) as I went back to school to get my BSN, CNM & MSN, and a working mom with my last son & daughter (Max and Kelsey).

My children are mostly grown but my grandchildren are now adding to my life --Jadyn, Keion, Isadora, Odessa, Truman, Dorian, and Teague.  Isadora, Odessa, and Truman were home born babies with Ingrid.

I have worked as a childbirth educator, postpartum nurse, labor and delivery nurse, lactation consultant, prenatal care coordinator and certified nurse midwife. My CNM practice was in a low income clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I have always known that home is the best place to give birth, and I enjoy working with all of the families that share this belief. Your pregnancy and birth are the beginning of an amazing life-long journey. You will have to find or make your own path through these wonderful years. I am humbled and honored to be a part of your journey.

Britt Wanta, Birth Assistant

My experiences with pregnancy and birth began with my own mother. I eagerly watched her belly grow and was deeply moved by her strength as I watched her push my brother, 13 years younger than I, into the world. My confidence in the power of women began in these moments.

I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and International Service from Valparaiso University in 1999 and worked in a variety of hospital units as a float pool nurse. I was continually reminded of the strength of women as they dealt with their own illness or that of a family member. I also saw that women thrive when they have support and encouragement through difficult processes. Wanting to be more involved in this support network, I returned to school and recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Masters of Science in Nursing. I am now a proud Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. I am eager to be of assistance to you, your family, and your midwife as you journey into and through the birth of your child.