INTERNATIONAL CESAREAN AWARENESS NETWORK

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The Birth of ICAN:Elizabeth Handler'sVBAC Birth StoryVolume 31

Issue 3

Summer 2014

In This Issue1 The Birth of ICAN

2 ICAN Board

2 President's Letter

5 Nutrition in Pregnancy

7 Spotlight on ProfessionalSubscriber

9 Five Tips for a HealthySummer Pregnancy

11 Birth Culture in Brazil

13 Birth Story: A HospitalVBAC

15 Birth Boot Camp

17 Feature Photo

18 Feature Chapter:Northeast Iowa

20 Featured Member

21 UpcomingWebinars

22 Member Thanks

23 Mom PromPhoto Album

by Elizabeth HandlerOn February 10, 1979 I gave birth by emer-gency cesarean to our daughter Lucie. In therecovery room I told my doctor and myhusband that I would NEVER do that again. Myhusband just kissed me. My doctor told me thathe only did repeat cesareans, so I would haveto find another doctor.

Ten months later my La Leche League leadertold me that there was going to be a weekend-long workshop on VBAC that I had to go to. Itcost money we didn't really have, my husbandhad to take the weekend off of work, and I hadto have a friend watch our still-nursing 10-month-old. We did it anyway. Nancy WainerCohen, author of “Silent Knife,” was thepresenter and it changed our lives. Before theworkshop, my husband had been humoring me.After, he knew VBAC was our answer.

I found a family physician who had neverattended a VBAC, but was willing to assist mein my birth, an OB who was willing to back himup, and a friend to act as my doula. Now to justget pregnant! A few months later I was, and myjourney began.

When I was three months pregnant, my LLLleader called and told me there was someoneI needed to meet. She had also had a cesareanand never wanted to do that again. It turnedout that she lived just one street over from us.Three nights later Esther and Tom Zorn came

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ICAN’sBoardPresidentChrista BillingsPresident@ican-online.org

TreasurerMychel HefnerTreasurer@ican-online.org

SecretaryMelody ThompsonSecretary@ican-online.org

Member at LargeLaQuitha GlassProject.coordinator@ican-online.org

www.ican-online.org

International CesareanAwareness Network, Inc.P.O. Box 31423St. Louis, MO 63131

The information in this news-letter is intended for generalconsumer understanding andeducation and is not providedas a substitute for professionaladvice. ICAN encourageswomen to discuss these issueswith a trusted healthcare pro-vider. Opinions expressedby the content andadvertising inThe Clarionare not nec-essarily theviews ofICAN, Inc.

President’s LetterDear ICAN Supporters,

The year is flying by! Summer is here and much excitement is on the horizon forICAN. We have had quite a year thus far and we are not slowing down anytimesoon. We are in the final stages of our reorganization and are ready to moveforward into the next phases of ICAN’s relaunch.

We are thrilled to announce that our website is planned to finally be unveiled inJuly. The board is really looking forward to moving into the next phase of ourplans to work on bettering our training courses, materials etc. We hope to helpfurther our impact through better education and materials for our chapterleaders and supporters.

We have exciting events on the horizon and we are always planning ways tobuild upon the strengths we have as a group. We always love to hear sugges-tions from members, so please share your ideas! You may also consider servingon the committees.

We are happy to share we are in the planning stages for the next ICAN confer-ence. Tentative dates are April 8-10, 2016. Save the date! It was at the lastICAN conference that I walked away feeling so inspired that I decided to join theICAN Board as Chapter Director. I always walk away feeling so honored to beamong such an inspiring group of women every time I meet with fellow ICAN

mamas in person. There is nothing like meeting the women that you haveconnected with online, in person to give thatreal hug and cry with each other. The loca-tion is still being determined. This event isnot to be missed!

Thank you for all you do to keep spreading themessage and aiding our mission of reducingthe cesarean rate. Our voices are an impor-tant part of getting the message out there.Thank you for all you do to support ICAN.n

Christa BillingsICAN President

We are in theplanningstages for thenext ICANconference,tentatively

April 8-10, 2016

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over and met us. Esther was five months pregnant andviolently afraid of having another cesarean. She wasconvinced that if she was cut open again, she would die onthe operating table. Richard and I were pretty freaked outby this stranger telling us this, so we dove right in, tellingher about Nancy's workshop. We shared what we'd learned,gave them all the literature we had, and talked for hours.

They left feeling assuredthat a VBAC was saneand definitely possible.

Esther had Katie on February 12, 1981 via unmedicatedvaginal birth. She weighed two pounds more than her bigbrother Fred, the baby Esther had been told was too big tofit through her vaginal canal.

On April 9, 1981, after 41 weeks and two days of beingpregnant, I went into labor. It was a beautiful day outside.Richard and I drove over to our friend Emily's house, andthe three of us went for a very long walk, up hills and down,in our city. At around four in the afternoon the contractionshad become so intense we called my doctor and decided togo to the hospital. We owned an old two-door Volvo sedan.I climbed into the back seat and off we went. Getting in washard. Getting out requiredEmily pushing and Richardpulling me.

We got to the labor and delivery floor and were shown toa room. Dr. Joel showed up and, without checking me,placed his hand on my arm and told me I was doingbeautifully. During the next hours, this was what he did. He

never did av a g i n a lcheck, butalways had

words of love and encouragement. I was moving around,trying to find a comfortable position while the nursesbustled about trying to get me to do hospital things. I agreedto a hep-lock, but insisted on a fetoscope for monitoring.We finally figured out that I was most comfortable withRichard up on the bed behind me, holding me up while Ipushed against him. I was getting deeper and deeper intolabor, and reached transition.

Hospital protocolinsisted that, as aVBAC mom, I had tobirth in the deliveryroom, so I had to be

moved from the room I'd labored in. Change of shift wasgoing on and there were nurses everywhere. The nurses

ICAN Co-Founder Elizabeth Handler

We shared what we’dlearned & talked for hours

Dr. Joel placed his hand on my arm& told me I was doing beautifully

Esther Zorn lived justone street over from us

Richard & I were BOTHwheeled down the hall, muchto the staff’s amusement

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asked Richard to getdown. Emily, Richard

and I refused, so we wereboth wheeled down the hall,

much to the staff's amusement.

We got to the delivery room, and Joelwas scrubbing up while I was shifted to

the delivery room bed. The nurseswanted us to shift over while I had another

contraction. I started to groan, Emily told thenurses they needed to wait until the contrac-

tion was over, and I PUSHED. The nurse at thefoot of my bed had turned away in exasperation

when she realized that Molly was coming RIGHTTHEN, and turned

back to catch her.

Joel finished scrub-bing and rushed in,

Emily cued Stevie Wonder's Isn't She Lovely, and Rich-ard and I just cuddled our beautiful girl. After about

fifteen minutes, Joel asked me to push to get the placentaout. I told him I had to roll on my side. He again asked meto push, I again told him I needed to roll over, and he finallyagreed. As soon as I rolled to my side I was able to easilypush the placenta out. They then took Molly to the scaleand found out that, unlike her two 7 pound sisters, sheweighed 10 pounds, 2 1/2 ounces! When the OB heard that(he was on the phone for just in case) he blurted, "If I'd knownshe was going to be that big, I never would have allowed Lizto VBAC!" I needed just one stitch,which Joel was able to do withoutnumbing me. I never even felt it. Theymoved me to the recovery room. I wasbleeding pretty heavily, so they gave me some pitocin to helpwith uterine contractions. That was painful! I was transferredto a semiprivate room, and Richard and Emily went home.Molly and I snuggled all night, with nurses coming in everyhour to suggest I move her to the isolette (what a horrible

name that is). I finallytold them we'd beentogether for overnine months, and weweren't going to be

separated now. We went home first thing in the morning,so Megan and Lucie could meet their new sister, and I couldbe in my own home, surrounded with the people I love.

Before the girls were six months old, Esther wastelling me we had to share what we knew with other

moms, and we had started talking about VBACs toanyone who would listen. We began holding

meetings andgetting theword outthrough family, friends, LLL meetings and Birthworks, alocal natural birthing group. By the time the girls werealmost one, we had become Cesarean Prevention Move-ment, and were staying up into the small hours of themorning putting out a newsletter. We needed a nameand a masthead. I came up with The Clarion, and founda clip art angel that I could draw a trumpet onto, and itwas born. Back then it wasn't a matter of formatting ona computer. It was a matter of taking large sheets ofgraph paper, typing up stories to cut out, line up and glueonto the graph paper. With both babies asleep on thesofa bed in the living room, Esther and I took over herdining room table to figure out layout, cut and paste,draw last-minute illustrations, and drive each other (andour families) crazy. We wrote articles, pestered friendsto write, drank too much coffee, laughed out loud whenwe got punch drunk and somehow got the Clarion out fourtimes a year.

Here it is 32years later.Molly is aprofessionalchef in North Carolina, and Katie has two beautifulboys (born vaginally with Esther there) and lives in NewMexico. The cesarean rate is still too damn high. I washoping we would be unnecessary by now because thecesarean rate was so low. I'm seeing encouragingsigns though. Last month I attended an eveningseminar put on by ICAN of Syracuse that featured apanel discussion by local doctors and midwives talkingabout VBACs and how normal and healthy they are formoms and babies. One question the moderators askedthe panel was, "How many VBACs have you attended?"the answer - "Too many to count." I think we are finallybeginning to see a change where scheduled cesareansare abnormal and VBACs are the norm!n

Liz Belden Handler still lives in Syracuse, New York, theoriginal home of ICAN. She has been married for 37years and still likes and loves her Richard. They havefive children, two sons-in-law, five grandchildren andone grandson in-law. Liz is a Special Education teachingassistant, working with kids with severe disabilities, andloves it. She has extensive organic gardens, veggiesand flowers, and is a long-time vegan. Co-foundingICAN is something she is very proud of. She is stilltalking with and helping young women today.

Molly was coming rightthen & the nurse turned

back to catch her

Emily cued Stevie Wonder& we just cuddled

our beautiful girl

She weighedover 10 pounds!

We started talking about VBACsto anyone who would listen

We drove our friends & familycrazy, laughed out loud and

somehow got The Clarion out

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eating for two? No deli meats? Which fish is it that’s toxic? Hold the blue cheese please! Navigatingnutrition in pregnancy can feel like a fear-based prescription that leaves no room for the vast body ofknowledge supporting robust health for mother and child. How did we perpetuate ourselves as a species

for millions of years without the modern American guidelines? How have varied cultures around the worldsupported fertility and optimal obstetrical outcomes that make our modern-day statistics scream out: we’re doingsomething wrong, here, people!

Given the limitations of nutrition research, and the absence of it in pregnant populations, some of the most usefuldietary information was amassed and analyzed by a pioneering researcher/clinician named Weston A. Price. Hefound that, traditional cultures that were marked by the absence of degenerative disease all consumed animalproducts, fermented foods, raw foods, and did not consume flour, processed foods, or sugar. There were specificnutrient-dense foods such as egg yolks, organ meat, and fish eggs that were reserved for the preconceptioncouple, perhaps for their high fat-soluble (A, D, K2) vitamin content, now known to facilitate micronutrientabsorption, immune modulation, growth and development.

Since do’s and don’ts always appeal to our “please make this simple” sensibilities, below is a list.

all natural fatsThe polyunsaturated fat, omega3s, have gotten their share of

well-deserved positive press because of what fishand fish oil (EPA and DHA) can do to promote anti-inflammatory mediators, cell membrane fluidity, andcounter the effects of vegetable oils in our Americandiets. Humans consumed high natural fat diets untilthe inception of the anti-fat campaign in the 1950s. Infact, the perfect food – breastmilk is 55% fat! A highnatural fat diet stabilizes blood sugar, supportshormonal and brain health, and supports theabsorption of nutrients. An array of fats includingsaturated fat, the preferred energy source for thebody, can be derived from pastured meat includingorgan meats, wild low contaminant fish, eggs, nuts,and seeds.

probioticsThere is now ample animal research and preliminaryhuman trials to support the importance of our bodilycohabitants - bacteria. Cultivating your optimal micro-biome can begin with your vegetables   fermentedones, that is, such as sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi. All

traditional cultures fermented their foods, lived inand with nature, and ate from it in a way that promot-ed a now endangered diversity of gut microbes. Med-ications, sedentary lifestyle, stress, and processeddiet contribute to deleterious changes in our flora.Most recently, pioneering work has implicated pesti-cides in the disruption of our beneficial bacteria, sobe sure to consider the importance of organic toyour gut.

pastured animal products,wild fishA number of nutrients are uniquely bioavalable inanimal foods, including B12, vitamin A (in its usableform), D, and K2, in addition to B6 and B12, choline,zinc, and amino acids like taurine and methionine.We must support the beauty of a sustainable organicfarming system, its rejection of petrochemicals andindustrial grains, and the myriad benefits that comefrom humane cultivation of healthy beings. I recom-mend eating meat five to six days a week, organ meattwice weekly, and fish two to three times. I like thePerfect Health Diet image to help keep things simple.u

by Kelly Brogan, MD

Click on gray underlined articlelinks for further reading

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and what of our toxic world, one so different from that our ancestors birthed in? Doesthis change these recommendations? As I discuss in this article, there are reasons to believe that it isno longer fully possible to meet our physiologic needs from our current farming practices, even thebest of the best. Non-local produce, depleted soil, and loopholes in labeling suggest that we may benefit

from a nutrient safeguard. In fact, a tacit acknowledgement of our nationwide nutrient deficiencies underlies thecurrent recommendation of a prenatal vitamin to all pregnant women. We just want one that will do more goodthan harm. For this reason, look for one without added preservatives, unpronounceable chemicals, and withnutrients in a form closest to how they exist in nature (e.g., “mixed tocopherols” instead of dl-alpha-tocopherolfor vitamin E, and methylcobalamin instead of cyanocobalamin for vitamin B12).

So what does this all boil down to? Eat sustainable, organic meat, fish, eggs, veggies including root vegetablesand squash, fruit, nuts, and seeds! Leverage the complexity of food-based information to promote optimal geneexpression in that growing baby, and support a healthy delivery and postpartum experience in that glorious mama.n

Dr. Brogan has written many articlesdetailing her research and findingsconcerning holistic nutrition. For moreinformation on Dr. Brogan's work pleasevisit www.kellybroganmd.com

refined carbs/flourFlour, the way most people eat it, is bad for healthfor (at least) these reasons: it promotes unstableblood sugar, it is processed with genetically modi-fied trans-fat containing vegetable oils, and it con-tains allergenic grains. In my practice, I focus on theways in which unstable blood sugar can masquer-ade as psychiatric conditions. When some peopleeat high glycemic index foods like bread, their pan-creas is stimulated to release insulin at levels thatend up plummeting blood sugar. The experience oftransient hypoglycemia is one of discomfort andanxiety   jitteriness, nausea, irritability, cloudiness,fatigue   and the short-term antidote is often moreof the causative agent. A bagel with a midmorningdonut chaser that also happens to drive the big I:inflammation, a major no-no in pregnancy.

allergensGluten, soy, and corn have been identified as allergen-ic foods, and a leading speculation as to how thesefoods became and are becoming more allergenic isthe nature of their processing, hybridization, and ge-netic modification rendering them unrecognizable toour immune systems and vehicles of unwelcome in-formation. Gluten (and processed dairy) contains pep-tides that, once through the gut barrier can stimulatethe brain and immune system in inflammatory ways.

sugarIt’s in almost every packaged food. Seriously. Look forit and you will find it. It may come with different labels  cane sugar, crystalline fructose, high fructose cornsyrup   but it’s all sugar. In addition to the abovementioned mood and anxiety rollercoaster, sugarcauses changes in our cell membranes, in our arter-ies, our immune systems, our hormones, and our gut.It’s pretty much the purveyor of evil and we just aren’tbuilt to tolerate it.

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A Talk With Wendy Foster:Owner, Educator, TrainerMamalates, LLC

Tell us about yourself: I live in Portland, Oregon with myhusband and two sons. I own Studio Mamalates, a prenatal andpostpartum fitness studio for women and families. I provide mom+ baby classes, specialty workshops and a training/licensing pro-gram for birth professionals. When I am not working, my familyand I can be found exploring the outdoors — hiking and skiing inthe mountains, crabbing at the coast, and biking wherever we can.I am also very involved with my children’s school and am a strongadvocate for boys.

What led you to your current profession? Although Ihad been teaching Pilates-based movement for years, after myson was born I felt that I wanted to work with prenatal and post-partum women exclusively. There seemed to be a lack of support,information, and frankly, conversation around birth recovery. Iwanted to help start that conversation to support women andshare the information and techniques that helped me recoverpostpartum. I am fortunate to live in Portland, Oregon with aplethora of body workers and holistic professionals who sharedwith me their knowledge and expertise. Combining this knowledgewith a variety of movement modalities that I had trained in, andfurthering my research with doctors and physical therapists, ledto the creation of the Mamalates method. I am always refining andimproving, grateful for all the new moms I meet and the wisdomthey share about their own physical recovery experiences.

Why are the healing practices that you offer so vitalto women in our society? Through my Mamalates methodI offer restorative, alignment-based birth recovery for all womenthat can be performed with or without your baby. Other countriesoffer birth recovery programs through insurance — some eveninclude postnatal home visits for six to 10 weeks. But, unfortu-nately, in the U.S. this is not the case. When I was exploring myown recovery, much of the information and exercise programsthat were available seemed too challenging, unsafe, and not help-ful for my specific needs. I found many women were feelingsimilarly postpartum, and these were moms I was meeting locally!

I wanted to offer a program that was safe, effective, and informa-tive so that women could start to properly heal and reconnect withtheir body. There is extensive research on healthy bodies/ healthy

There is extensiveresearch on healthybodies/healthy mindsand postpartumdepression preventionthrough exercise.

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minds and postpartum depression prevention through exercise. When peo-ple are in chronic pain or emotionally traumatized, they are irritable andexperience less joy. It is vital for the new mom to restore as soon as possibleso that she can bond, connect, and care for her baby. Feeling good physical-ly can get you through sleepless nights. Mamalates provides for this oppor-tunity. Postpartum your body is misaligned and out of whack. It’s a perfecttime to rebuild that foundation and revisit what you know about fitness,providing profound lifelong benefits!

What is one thing that you wish women knew about takingcare of themselves after a difficult birth or a cesarean birth?I wish that women would take their recovery into their own hands and startwithin the first week or two instead of waiting six weeks. There are so manyrestorative stretches, breathing and basic core exercises that are safe andeffective for the postpartum period and that can help facilitate a healthyrecovery, restore alignment, and provide inner strength. Waiting six weeksto revisit your physical self can sometimes put you one step behind and itbecomes more challenging to catch up. The baby is getting bigger as you arepotentially becoming weaker by performing the same repetitive movementsthroughout the day and this is a recipe for disaster! There are many othertechniques, including binding postpartum, that can help with inflammationand low back pain that can be started immediately, especially if the abdomi-nals are separated.

How did you learn about ICAN? Upon discharge from the hospital,I asked my doctor for a prescription for physical therapy, specific exercises,or things that I could do to be proactive in my recovery and was told to donothing for six weeks. Movement had always been a way for me to processemotions and endorphin release had helped me through tough times in thepast. I did some research on cesarean recovery and found an ICAN meet-upgroup listed on the web. It was such a blessing to find a group of women whoheld similar emotions around their births. My family didn’t understand why Iwould be grieving with a healthy baby, but the women at the Portland ICANmeeting did and it was such a tremendous relief to feel understood andsupported! I continued to attend the meetings and attribute my successfulVBAC in part to the ladies of ICAN.

What led you to become a member and Professional Sub-scriber? I want women to know that there is support available from a mamawho has gone through it and that it is possible to heal from a cesarean andcome back even stronger. I had learned much more through the PortlandICAN chapter about cesarean prevention, fetal positioning, cesarean statis-tics and successful birth stories than I had at any birthing class. I felt soempowered and grateful! I wanted to give back to ICAN, and as a profession-al subscriber I offer my COREnection- cesarean recovery workshop, whereI donate a portion of the proceeds to the local chapter. n

ICAN’sMissionThe InternationalCesareanAwarenessNetwork (ICAN)is a non-profitorganizationwhose mission isto improvematernal-childhealth bypreventingunnecessarycesareans througheducation,providing supportfor cesareanrecovery andpromoting vaginalbirth aftercesarean (VBAC).The Clarion ispublished byICAN, Inc.

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by Amy LutesMost of us have heard all the classic recommendations for taking care of ourselves duringpregnancy. “Drink lots of water!” and “Eat healthy!” are common refrains from friends, familymembers, and care providers. Although we always hear what we’re supposed to do, not manypeople talk about why we should be doing these things. So let’s take a look at five of the mostcommon health recommendations made to pregnant women during those hot summer months.

Stay HydratedIt is an undisputed fact that water is essential to life. We also know that it’s important toincrease our water consumption during the summer to keep our bodies hydrated. While theclassic standard is eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, according to recent studies thatrecommendation actually falls a little short, especially as the amount needed varies basedon situation. Most women need on average at least 2.2 liters (or about 9 cups) of fluids perday. Pregnant and breastfeeding women need even more fluids, typically between 2.3 and3.1 liters (10 to 13 cups) per day.1 And during the heat of summer, you may want to increaseit even more. Dehydration can occur even if you don’t “feel” dehydrated, so you definitelywant to make sure you’re getting enough fluids to keep your body’s systems regulated.

Some good indicators of dehydration are a dry, cottony feeling in your mouth; infrequenturination or very dark urine; lightheadedness or dizziness; headache; fatigue; and, in severecases, low blood pressure; rapid heartbeat; and fever.2

Stay CoolWhile you certainly don’t want to avoid the sun entirely, as it gives you the Vitamin D yourbody needs, you do want to be smart about sun exposure. If you are going to be in the sunfor extended periods of time, make sure that you protect your skin from UV rays. Besidesbeing a factor in most skin cancers, extended exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays canincrease the body’s core temperature, leading to overheating. This can be especiallydangerous during pregnancy. Studies have shown that if a pregnant woman’s coretemperature stays high (102° F) in early pregnancy, it can increase the chances of neuraltube defects in the baby.3

Your choice of clothing can help keep you cool if you plan to be outside during the heat.Sticking with materials made of lightweight, breathable cotton (and avoiding materials likepolyester and rayon) can help keep your body temperature low when the temperaturesoutside are on the rise. Also, a wide-brimmed hat can make a world of difference byproviding a little bit of shade wherever you go.

Stay ActiveExercise is necessary to maintain health in any body, and it is also important to stay activeduring pregnancy. Regular exercise can help reduce your general pain and discomfort duringpregnancy, as well as lower your chances of conditions like gestational diabetes.4 You cando simple exercises, like leg lifts, while sitting at your desk at work, but there are also somesummer-specific exercises that can keep you active and cool.

Water exercises are great during pregnancy because the water provides excellent resistanceto work your muscles, and the water’s buoyancy can help relieve back pains and other u

Tips for a Healthy Summer Pregnancy

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aches associated with pregnancy. Plus, you get the added bonus of staying cool while you workout. You can check with local hospitals and fitness facilities to see what kinds of water aerobicsclasses they offer, if any. Sometimes the hospital’s classes are free for women who plan todeliver there. Or, if you (or your apartment complex or HOA) have a pool, take advantage of it!

Eat Fresh and in SeasonFresh fruits and vegetables are always a good choice. Finding locally grown produce is evenbetter. Why? Because buying fresh, local produce can not only save you money (you aren’tpaying upcharges for shipping from across the country and storing and cooling the foods), youalso get more of the nutrients from your foods. Produce that is shipped out of season is usuallyharvested before it’s ripe, and so it actually has fewer nutrients by the time it reaches your plate.5

Summer is a great time to hit up the farmer’s markets, as this is the prime season for freshproduce. And, you’ll be getting some fresh air and a bit of exercise as you walk around and pickout the freshest local produce. You could even have a fun day of picking fruit straight from thetrees or bushes if you have orchards or berry fields near your home. To find what foods aregrown in your area, check out www.localharvest.org, and you can find local farmer’s marketsand CSA (community supported agriculture) organizations.

Listen to Your BodyRemember to team up with your care provider. Your body is amazing! But remember that thingsyou have always been able to do easily may be a little more difficult now that your body ischanging to accommodate the new life growing inside you. Learn to listen to your body, heed itwhen it tells you “no.” Don’t overexert yourself. Knowing your own body’s signals is the mostimportant thing for pregnant women to understand. Pay attention to things like swelling,dizziness, fluid leakage, contractions, etc. If anything seems “off” don’t hesitate to call or visityour care provider immediately — after all, that’s what he or she is there for.

Open communication with your care provider is extremely important. Cultivate trust, and don’tbe afraid to ask questions. Your care provider is there to — as the name implies — provide carefor you during this precious time. If you don’t feel that trust is there, know that you have thefreedom to find a different care provider at any point during your pregnancy. n

ICAN disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. As always, consult with yourcare provider before beginning any new diet or exercise regimen, or if you have any questions aboutyour pregnancy. See references on page 14.

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You CAN make a difference!ICAN needs passionate womenlike you to donate your time,resources and talents.For more information on how to donate orvolunteer with ICAN please visit www.ican-online.org

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Interviewed by Stephanie Stanley

What are your credentials and experience in birth work andhow did the birth culture in Brazil come to your attention?The wonderful birth of my first child propelled me passionately into this field andI’ve never looked back. I’ve served expectant families as a Certified Birth Doulaand a Childbirth Educator for 14 years, attending births at homes, hospitals andbirth centers. I was named USA’s National Birth Hero for my work foundingDancing For Birth™, which offers global classes to pregnant and new mothersand training to professionals. As I traveled the world championing normal physio-logical birth, I learned about Brazil’s high cesarean rate and it concerns me greatly.

I’ve heard outrageously high claims of the cesarean rates inBrazil. What is causing the sky high cesarean rates in Brazil?With cesareans reported at rates ranging from 82% to 99% in some privatehospitals, vaginal birth has essentially become extinct in Brazil.1,2,3,4 People don’task, “When is your baby due?” instead they say, “When is your cesarean?”What’s happening is in essence the “‘perfect storm” — hospitals earn higherprofits from performing cesareans, doctors prefer to attend births on a predict-able schedule, young women have inherited fear that vaginal birth is harmful andtoo painful, cosmetic surgery is widespread so surgery is perceived as safe, andcesarean births have become a status symbol. I have heard firsthand accountsfrom Brazilian women who unintentionally birthed vaginally and then pleaded forthe cesarean incision so they would have the scar (and the status) and theirdoctors complied.

We’ve seen a backlash in the US against a rising cesarean rateand the fact that one in three women now gives birth by

cesarean. Are the women in Brazil concerned with analarmingly high cesarean rate as well?Brazil has a growing grassroots birth movement. Activists have protestedin the nation’s capital cities to support home birth and vaginal birth. Theypoint out that women who want vaginal births are often pressured bytheir doctors into having cesareans instead. Sometimes scare tactics areused, such as the threat of episiotomy and misinformation that vaginalbirths are riskier. The cesarean rate in public hospitals is much lower

than in private hospitals because the Brazilian government is pushing toreduce medical costs, and cesareans are more expensive than vaginal births.

Brazil is not the only country with a high cesarean rate. TheOECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Develop-ment) report, Health at a Glance 2013, shows that in 2011 Mexicohad a 49% cesarean rate, Turkey’s was 46.2% and Italy was atu

Vaginalbirth hasessentiallybecomeextinct inBrazil

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Stephanie LarsonLends Perspective

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37.7%5. Should we be concerned about a rise in cesarean ratesworldwide?The worldwide rise in cesarean rates cannot be ignored. The World Health Orga-nization estimated that in a single year 6.20 million unnecessary cesareans wereperformed at a cost of 2.32 billion dollars.6 The corresponding unnecessary lossof life is staggering given that cesareans as much as triple infant and maternalmortality, compared to vaginal births.7, 8 We must also consider the implicationsto our species if bypassing the birth canal becomes the new norm. According tonew studies, babies born by cesarean section lack beneficial bacteria that triggerimmune responses. Because of this lack, they will be more prone to diseases dueto underdeveloped immunity in their first two years of life.9

Some media outlets have called the drastic rise in cesarean ratesan epidemic. Do you think this is a fair term to be used?In 1970 the U.S. cesarean rate was only 5%.10 It has increased a whopping 660%in only 44 years. The drastic rise in cesarean rates is undoubtedly an epidemic.It’s happening in many wealthy countries in addition to the U.S. Normal physiolog-ical birth is routinely being replaced by surgical birth, without necessity. In theU.S., cesarean is the most common surgery.11 This epidemic must be controlled,and cesareans brought back down to viable rates. Our maternal mortality rate ishigher than in 47 other countries and our infant mortality rate is higher than in 50other countries.12 Hypermedicalized birth has become the norm, but consider thefact that the first placental mammal gave birth over 100 million years ago; vaginalbirth is tried and true. It is vital to our species. Medical intervention is beneficialin rare cases, but its overuse doesn’t help, it hurts.

What can women do to support each other and change the cul-ture of birth, and specifically the fear surrounding birth, forfuture generations? Women have the power to create positive, lasting change. We have astrong voice. And this is not only a women’s issue, it is a vital issue forthe entire human race. We need to join together across continents andacross disciplines to reinstate normal physiological birth to its rightfulplace at the pinnacle of optimal, safe birth. We need to adopt themidwifery model of care, which has been proven to lower cesareanrates, without compromising safety,13,14,15 as the primary model ofcare, and reserve the medical model for the rare instances whenintervention is truly required. We need to support and protectwomen’s autonomy to choose where they birth, how they birth, andwith whom they birth. We need to ensure that care providers areexceptionally skilled at not disturbing the birthing woman, so as to notinterfere with her primal birth instincts.

We need to let our voices be heard. When I gave birth to my first child,supported by a midwife, it was such an empowering and wonderful experiencethat I talked about it nonstop. But people thought I was crazy for dancing duringmy labor and giving birth standing up, without drugs, so I clammed up. Now I onceagain tell my euphoric birth stories to pregnant women so they know that birth hasthe potential to be the best experience of their lives. We need to share ourempowered birth stories so women can be excited about birth instead of fearingit. Nuclear family structure can leave many expectant and new mothers feelingisolated and afraid. Gathering together to support one another during pregnancy,birth and mothering is absolutely essential.

To the wonderful women of Brazil: take heart, with those incredible samba dancemoves you can give birth gloriously. No problem! Finding a care provider who istruly supportive of vaginal birth is key.n See references on page 14.

StephanieLarson,

DFB,CD(DONA),

CBE, BFA is theCreator and

Founder of Dancing ForBirth This dynamicleader is at the forefrontof evidence-based birthpractices, and has thedaring to question thestatus quo, as well as thecreative vision and ex-pertise to take action.She is a renowned Inter-national Speaker (ICEA,Lamaze, CAPPA, CAPPACanada, ICAN, DONA In-ternational, CIMS), and amother of four.

We needto share ourempoweredbirth storiesso womencan beexcitedabout birthinstead offearing it

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However, his influential superiors in the group practice did notsupport VBAC and the hospital required a laundry list of interven-tions, but he told me the option of VBAC was still “on the table.”

That phrase struck me and in my head I said, “Yes, on the operating table.”

I first learned about ICAN after my cesarean while researching VBAC.After this interaction with my OB, I decided to revisit ICAN and researchfurther to help me decide if a VBAC was worth the fight.

I found my local chapter, and a message to the ICAN of North Texasonline forum yielded immediate personal support and invaluable anec-dotes and data which supported my gut feeling. Friends, always trustthat feeling. I live in Dallas, which is not a particularly VBAC-friendlyarea nor a very natural childbirth-friendly area. The ladies on the forumgave me the courage to leave my current practice and led me to aproven VBAC-supportive OB and hospital. I received support from theladies of ICAN online throughout my pregnancy and postpartum. I evenfound my doula there! If I hadn’t had the guts to reach out to my localchapter, I wouldn’t have known such a VBAC-supportive practice exist-ed in my city, and I wouldn’t have had the support I needed to changepractices. They gave me wings and the courage to leap.

I called my new doctor and asked her for a consultation. When we met,she spent a lot of time going over my history, alongwith the current research. I will forever rememberher voice that afternoon when she said to me, “Ithink you should plan to VBAC.” She gave me busi-ness cards of several local doulas and asked me tothink about my childbirth education options. I feltlike I was on another planet, but I was overjoyed. Asour meeting ended, I asked her, “So, will you delivermy baby?” She smiled at me and replied, “Oh, no.You’re going to deliver your baby. I’m happy to signher paperwork, though.”

Natalie’s birth began with ten days of prodromal labor, but one night at40w6d, I knew in my gut that it was really time. I labored at home whileI leaned on my husband and my doula, literally and figuratively.

At 3:30 a.m. I said to them that it was time to head to the hospital. WhenI arrived, I went deeply into a Hypnobabies audio track before leavingthe car. The check-in desk told my husband that if I wasn’t dilated to 4centimeters yet (they couldn't imagine there was any way that I was,based on my composure) that we would be sent home. I went back totriage, got checked, and was told I was dilated 7 centimeters.

It took us hours to get to 9 centimeters because I had a bulging amnioticsac that just wouldn't pop to allow her descent, so we made the decisionto break my water. My OB was so kind and respectful about this move.She sat on the bed and said, "Would you like to give this some more timeand try to visualize your water releasing, or would you like to help it andhave me break it for you?" I said, "let's break it," and she said, "I thinku

by Elizabeth Watson

My VBAC birth storyactually began whenI was 20 weekspregnant. My firstdaughter was bornvia cesarean in 2010due to persistentbreech presentation,and my OB hadalways told me I wasthe ideal VBAC can-didate. When I cameto him in 2013,pregnant again, hestill did...

ICANgave mewings andthe courageto leap

Photo: Elizabeth and baby Natalie gettingto know each other, three minutes old.

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that is what everyone was hoping you would say."I know I would have been declared failure to progress

if I hadn’t chosen this hospital and these nurses, whichwas known for patience and respect for a natural, nor-

mal labor. Your team matters so, so much.

It was officially show time when I told my doula I neededto use the restroom again. She read my face expertly andasked me to be checked. Pushing was satisfying to me,because the hardest part had been dealing with a feelingthat my hips were being pressed apart, and pushing gaveme something new to do to respond to that pressure. Ipushed for about 30 minutes, and the secondher head was born, I felt victorious.

I heard my doctor say, "shoulder ... nevermind,I got it." She rotated her body just right to saveus a lot of drama, and out came all 8 lbs, 11 oz.of Natalie at 1:13 p.m. on August 1. I wept as Iheld her, bloody, against my chest. I rememberrepeating to my family, “I did it!”

I experienced a second degree tear, but it healed easily;my muscles were sore for about a week afterward, but Ifelt so strong. It was a healthy, alive feeling that I cher-ished. The recovery time was night and day compared tomy cesarean. I reasoned that I sort of did the work be-fore, rather than after.

Both my daughters' births were the most amazing days ofmy life. If you ask me whether a surgical delivery can beempowering, I say, absolutely. I was afraid during mycesarean because I was unprepared, and I didn’t yetunderstand the gift that I received that day. As a secondtimer I was, and am, humbled by the process of birth.Experiencing it through a VBAC only intensified that. Ifeel strong and confident about myself as a result of thisbirth, but that feeling comes more from the emotionalhealing I uncovered through her pregnancy and birth,rather than by the exit route my baby took.

I am a huge proponent of VBAC, and this truly was ahealing birth for me on many levels. But if someone findsthemselves in my shoes, I would want them to know thata VBAC is not a do-over. Birth has the power to heal andtransform, but we must do so while embracing our previ-ous experiences, growing from them, and owning them. Ilearned to embrace any turn my birthing might take,whether that was finding a new birthplace, hearing thepulse-quickening word, "shoulder," or even ultimatelydelivering in an OR. This truly was the gift my daughtergave me – one of emotional healing and learning to findand use my own innate power. I am forever changed as awoman and a mother and a human. n

continued

Brazil Article ReferencesContinued from page 121. Khazan, Olga. "Why Most Brazilian Women Get C-Sections." TheAtlantic. N.p., 14 Apr. 2014. Web.http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/04/why-most- brazil-ian-women-get-c-sections/360589/2. Garcia-Navarro, Lourdes. "C-Sections Deliver Cachet For WealthyBrazilian Women." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 19 June 2014.http://www.npr.org/2013/05/12/182915406/c-sections-deliver-cachet-for-wealthybrazilian-women3. Cad. Saúde Pública, Rio de Janeiro, 24(12):2909-2918, dez, 2008.http://www.scielo.br/pdf/csp/v24n12/20.pdf4. Potter JE1, Hopkins K, Faúndes A, Perpétuo I. Women's autono-my and scheduled cesarean sections in Brazil: a cautionary tale.2008 Mar;35(1):33-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-536X.2007.00209.x.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/183074865. OECD (2013), Health at a Glance 2013: OECD Indicators, OECDPublishing. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/health_glance-2013-en

6. Luz Gibbons et al The Global Numbers and Costs of Ad-ditionally Needed and Unnecessary Caesarean Sections.Performed per Year: Overuse as a Barrier to UniversalCoverage World Health Report(2010).http://www.who.int/healthsystems/topics/financing/healthreport/30C-sectioncosts.pdf7. Eugene Declercq et al Infant and Neonatal Mortality forPrimary Cesarean and Vaginal Births to Women with “NoIndicated Risk,” Birth. Volume 33, Issue 3 pages 175 182,September 2006http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1523-536X.2006.00102.x/abstract8. Deneux-Tharaux C1et al Postpartum maternal mortalityand cesarean delivery. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Sep;108(3 Pt1):541-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16946213

9. Study: Csection babies have less immunity Europe 8 August 2013News By BioSpectrum Bureau.http://www.biospectrumasia.com/biospectrum/news/193203/study-c-section-babies-immunity10. Rates of Cesarean Deliveryhttp://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00036845.htm11. Katy Backes Kozhimannil et al Cesarean Delivery Rates VaryTenfold Among US Hospitals; Reducing Variation May AddressQuality And Cost Issues March 2013http://content.healthaffairs.org/content/32/3/527.abstract12. CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2223rank.html13. Ina May Gaskin, Birth Matters: How What We Don't Know AboutNature, Bodies, and Surgery Can Hurt Us. 2011 Seven Stories Press14. New Studies Confirm Safety of Home Birth With Midwives in theU.S. Midwives Alliance January 30th, 2014http://www.mana.org/blog/home-birth-safety-outcomes15. Outcomes of Care for 16,924 Planned Home Births in the UnitedStates: The Midwives Alliance of North America Statistics Project,2004 to 2009.

Healthy Summer PregnancyArticle ReferencesContinued from page 91. "Nutrition and Healthy Eating." Water: How Much Should YouDrink Every Day? N.p., n.d. Web. 19 June 2014.http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/water/art-20044256.2. "Dehydration." Symptoms. N.p., 12 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 June2014.http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/basics/symptoms/con-20030056.3. "Hyperthermia and Pregnancy." Organization of TeratologyInformation Specialists, Aug. 2010. Web.http://www.mothertobaby.org/files/hyperthermia.pdf. 4."Exercise During Pregnancy." American College of Obstetriciansand Gynecologists, Aug. 2011. Web.http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq119.pdf.5. Frith, Kathleen. "Is Local More Nutritious?" Harvard School ofPublic Health, 1 Jan. 2007. Web.http://chge.med.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/resources/local_nutrition.pdf

I am foreverchanged asa woman

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by Sarah Clark

Birth Boot Camp specializes in childbirtheducation for couples planning a naturalbirth in or out of the hospital. Founded byDonna Ryan, a longtime childbirth educator, we havealways had a strong focus on both cesarean preventionand VBAC encouragement.

In our 10-week classes, an entire class is devoted to thetopic of cesarean both in prevention and in understand-ing when it might be necessary, and understanding thesafety and (often overblown) risks of VBAC. This issomething that we are incredibly proud of and believehas been key in attracting so many VBAC moms to ourprogram.

One of these moms is Allison Rucord, a 2VBA3C moth-er and now Birth Boot Camp instructor. She says, “Ithink that Donna's enthusiastic view of birth underpinsall that Birth Boot Camp is about. Thatwas what I needed to have my vaginalbirths; solid info about physiologicbirth, trust in my body to birth mybaby, and an enthusiastic birthteam who believed in me andhelped my labor feel like a party!”

We strive to shed a posi-tive light on birth for allmothers. This simple act ofshifting the attitude toward birthcan all by itself be life changingand powerful. For Alison it was oneof the things that helped her achievea VBA3C, something that is thought of bymany as an impossible task.

Another thing we strive to do is help avoidance of acesarean in the first place, and help a VBAC momchange the things she needs to in order to have a VBAC.

Melek Speros, a VBA2C mother, doula and Birth BootCamp instructor says, “Birth Boot Camp can help aVBAC mother avoid the pitfalls that led to her previouscesarean(s) (assuming it wasn't a cesarean for a legiti-mate reason, like previa). So many times I see women"go for a VBAC" but change zero percent of the circum-stances from that previous birth, whether that be nutri-tion for staying low risk, avoiding induction, switchingbirth locations, etc.”

As you probably know, there are many fac-tors that apply when planning for a VBAC.We try to address all of these. This is one of the reasonswe have insisted upon a 10-week format for our classes.There is just too much information needed in order toadequately navigate the current birthing environment.While the idea of a “crash course” birth class soundsgreat, it is simply impossible to get all the information in.

One thing we have found to be hugely im-portant for all women is choice of care pro-vider, particularly for VBAC moms whose choice iseven more significant. Again, Melek says, “I'm going tobe frank. The number one thing keeping most VBAC-hopeful mothers I know from having their VBAC is anunsupportive provider. We spend an entire class on this.It's so, so important! Birth Boot Camp does an excellentjob of talking about how the provider can make or breakyour birth.”

It can be tempting as a birth teacher to skim overthings, thinking that people have already chosentheir provider and won’t switch. Not so. For us, thistopic is key and we spend a lot of time talking abouthow your birth team can help support your birthand how to find that ideal team.

Another important factor in achievingany kind of natural birth is simply un-

derstanding what is happeningin the body during labor. Tara

Quinn, another one of our birthteachers and a VBA2C mother feltthat this basic understanding wasparamount in helping her achievea VBAC against the odds.

“Birth Boot Camp rocks for VBAC.I think most women, even if they

have birthed before, don't really un-derstand what happens physiologi-

cally. When you are VBACing (especiallyin a hospital setting) it helps so much to have

an internal knowledge of where you are in the process sothat time is on your side, especially if you have a history oflaboring in a way that isn't textbook.”

The range of things that can happen in our bodies duringlabor is wide and includes such oddities as vomiting, diar-rhea, burping, sweating, chills, and much more. That u

Birth Boot Camp

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sounds kind of scary if mom and her partner have no ideawhat all this stuff is! But knowledge really is power in thissituation. It removes fear, and yes, all of these things arediscussed in depth in Birth Boot Camp classes.

Rather than telling students exactly what theyshould do or giving a formula that will workfor everyone, Birth Boot Camp honors the in-herent difference in birth from one family to the next.Instead of a method taught, the classes will give dozens anddozens of tools for couples to learn about and choose fromduring their own unique birth. They will be confidentenough to use what works best for them no matter whattheir labor looks or feels like.

Women planning VBAC come in all different shapes andsizes and from all different experiences. Adria Dawidczik, amom whose first cesarean resulted after a home birthtransport, and who is now one of our instructors, says this,“I had to have an emergency cesarean with my attemptedhome birth. Birth Boot Camp helps you to emotionally healafter the trauma of a cesarean and better prepares you fora successful natural birth through repetition, preparation,and education.”

Birth isn’t just about preparing the body, it is alsoabout healing what was hurt in previous births.

Now you know what some VBAC mothers think of BirthBoot Camp, but what are the basic facts about Birth BootCamp as a company? At right is a simple list of nine thingsthat help explain Birth Boot Camp.

We would love to connect with you on your natural birth orVBAC journey! You can find lots offree information relating to birthand parenting on our blog, or takean online class, and even find aninstructor in your area.

We would also love to have youjoin us on Facebook, Twitter,YouTube, Tumblr, Google+, Pin-terest and StumbleUpon.

www.birthbootcamp.comSarah Clark is an instructortrainer for Birth Boot Camp aswell as an instructor andmember of the management

team. She hasfour children.

Fact Sheet:Birth Boot Camp1. Birth Boot Camp childbirth education hasbeen around since 2012, and in that short timehas been part of hundreds of births, and(because we track birth statistics) we havefound that our class substantially increases acouple’s chances of achieving a natural birthand decreases their cesarean section rate. Infact, our students’ cesarean rate was around15%, less than half the national average of 32.8%.

2. Birth Boot Camp has also recently beenendorsed by Dr. Bill and Martha Sears, pioneer-ing authors and professionals in the naturalbirth and attachment parenting world. Theirsupport is invaluable to us.

3. Jill Arnold, founder of cesareanrates.comand the theunnecesarean.com has also recent-ly endorsed us and we are so grateful!

4. Birth Boot Camp is based on the 10-stepMother Friendly Childbirth Initiative. Our basicphilosophy is that childbirth is basically safestfor mother and child when the mother ishealthy, the birth process is mostly undis-turbed, and intervention is used when neededand on a case-by-case basis. We also cover theimmediate postpartum period, breastfeeding,and infant procedures.

5. Birth Boot Camp is organized into a 10-week series in which couples work togetherthrough all the classes. They learn about birth,their choice of care provider, people who canbe helpful on their birth team (like doulas andchiropractors), preparing physically, emotional-ly, and mentally, relaxation and breastfeeding.Classes can be taken in person with instructorsfound from coast to coast, or online if thatworks better, or if an instructor is not availablein your area.

6. The in-person instructors are all womenwho have experienced a natural birth them-selves and are both passionate and knowledge-able. They are amazing women! Using a variety u

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of teaching techniques, games, discussion, birth videos and personal experience, they teach evidencebased care mixed with real life tools you can actually use. You will make friends that last a lifetime in your

class and enjoy the journey towards birth.

7. The online classes are also divided into 10 classes, but can be enjoyed from the privacy of your home. Classesfeature instructors explaining concepts in a fun and enjoyable professional video, mixed in with testimonials andstories from real couples like you, and other medical professionals sharing their experiences. They also feature birthvideos and videos covering the various exercises you learn along the way.

8. All classes (both live and online) feature a hundred plus page full-color workbook for “homework” that goes alongwith every class. You will chart your nutrition, exercise in a unique and comprehensive pregnancy-developed program,discuss things and even relax together as a couple. Your workbook is simply the best you will ever find and is, all byitself, priceless. All classes also include a two-disk DVD set titled, “Breastfeeding: The Ultimate MRE,” taught by IBCLC,Mellanie Sheppard.

9. We have specific information regarding cesarean and VBAC including cesarean recovery; charts breaking downthe often confusing statistics on safety of VBAC versus repeat cesarean; the ACOG (American Congress of Obstetriciansand Gynecologists) VBAC statement; a birth affirmation; and a relaxation practice specifically dealing with preparingfor a positive birth experience.n

Feature PhotoPaula Turocy, supportedby her doula, during theunmedicated VBAC birthof her baby, Hadley June,in September 2013

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and found ICAN on-line. However there wasno chapter in my area at thetime. My primary care physician and OBwere supportive of my VBAC plans. I founda doula as well, since there was a goodchance my husband would be unable to attend due tomilitary obligations (he was scheduled to come homeon my due date). My husband came home but my sondecided he was happy to stay inside longer. After muchthought, I had a repeat cesarean at 41 weeks so that myhusband could meet our son before he went back for 6more months of training. I found ICAN about two yearsafter the birth of my second son. Through the supportand knowledge I’ve received from ICAN and the chang-es we’re creating in our local birth community, I knowthat a VBA2C is a possibility.”

Sarah Oldre joined chapter leadership in 2012 and isthe Treasurer and new Co-Leader.

Sarah: “I have two kids, ages 4 and 2. Our son was bornby cesarean at 32 weeks when I developed severepreeclampsia. To say that was traumatic for us wouldbe an understatement! When I was pregnant with oursecond, our chiropractor referred us to ICAN ofNortheast Iowa, and we are so glad he did! We wereplanning on a VBAC with our daughter, but I developedpreeclampsia again at 32 weeks. Thankfully we wereable to hold off delivery until just about 35 weeks. Bythat time I was too sick to even think about an earlyinduction, so she was born by cesarean as well. ICANhas been so instrumental in helping us heal from ourtraumatic experiences.u

by Kelly Fischer

Meet the LeadersKelly Fischer founded the chapter in 2010 and

is now transitioning to Co-Leader, as she recentlytook on extra responsibilities as ICAN’s Midwest

Regional Coordinator.

Kelly: “I have two kids (8 and 4). My oldest was bornby cesarean for “Failure to Progress” after five daysof prodromal labor. Although I can only guess why Ididn’t dilate beyond 8 cm, one of the big factors that Idiscovered during labor was my fear of sex after child-birth. This is now a topic I insist on talking about when Igive presentations about cesarean awareness to youngadults who don’t yet have children.

I planned a VBAC for my second birth with, what Idiscovered at the end of my pregnancy, was an unsup-portive OB. After fighting for my VBAC, I discoveredICAN. I founded ICAN of Northeast Iowa in 2010, whenmy VBAC baby was 2 months old, so that other familieswould not have to go through what I did without support.”

Erin Flage joined chapter leadership in 2013 as theSubscribing Coordinator and is now transitioning toChapter Leader.

Erin: “I have two boys, ages 5 and 6. My oldest wasborn by emergency cesarean due to a prolapsed cordafter AROM. While I’m thankful the OB on call caughtthe prolapsed cord and delivered him within six min-utes, I had general anesthesia and it was not thebirth I had envisioned. When I became pregnant withmy second child, I began researching my options

What Does ICAN Look Like In...

April 2014MonthlyMeeting

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In the CommunityAlthough finding the women who need the support ofICAN can be a challenge, we have worked hard to reachout to our community. Here are a few of the thingswe've done.

l Gave a presentation for the employees and social work-ers at our local WIC office so

that they have the infor-mation to refer wom-

en to us.l Taught a class

for The Nestprogram, anincentivebased par-ent educa-tionprogramfor income-eligiblefamilies.l Every year

we delivercookies and

thank you let-ters to our local

hospitals’ L+Dunits, OB offices

and prenatal clinicsduring Cesarean Aware-ness Month to thank themfor the important workthey do in our community.l Information booths at birthexpos and baby events.l A yearly presentation for

college students taking the Maternal and Infant Healthclass at our local university.l Our local Bradley Method teacher has been one of ourchapter’s biggest supporters and invites us to chat withher students about ICAN and cesarean recovery.l We created an annual educational event we call ourHealthy Pregnancy Class featuring our chapter’s Profes-sional Subscribers presenting on different topics. This yearhalf the people who attended were brand new to ICAN!l Movie Screenings! We’ve screened all four of the “MoreBusiness of Being Born” films and “Freedom for Birth.” Wespecifically invited hospital care providers to attend theMBOBB film series, and we had nurses, lactation consul-tants, midwives, and one OB along with our local doulas,CBEs (Childbirth Education) and parents. Lots of wonderfulconversations!l Chapter Founder Kelly Fischer is a frequent guest speak-er representing ICAN. Every year our ICAN presentations

are attended by parents, doulas,CBEs, homebirth midwives, hospitalmidwives and OBs! This is a wonder-ful opportunity for ICAN to advocateon behalf of the families we support,sharing their experiences with birth pro-fessionals who are eager to learn, andvalidating the experiences of other parentswho have had similar experiences.

Mother-to-MotherSupportMoms need support, but the idea of comingto a “support group” can seem a little over-whelming for some folks who’ve never beenbefore. To help increase attendance at ourmonthly meetings we usually invite a guestspeaker for the first hour to talk about a birth-related topic that ties into cesarean/VBAC edu-cation or advocacy, or we plan a specific discus-sion topic. The highest attendance we’ve had forany of our meetings (over 30 people) was when weinvited a former ICAN board member to talk abouther VBA2C (because at that time VBA2C was onlyavailable at one hospital in the entire state of Iowa).Other popular guest speakers were a fertility carepractitioner talking about different ways to calculateyour due date, a licensed mental health counselortalking about PPD and other mood and anxiety disor-ders, a doula trainer talking about the role of doulas,a massage therapist talking about the benefits ofinfant massage after a cesarean, and a panel of momstalking about their experiences with switching careproviders during pregnancy. Usually about once a yearwe also do a special meeting specifically inviting dads tocome and share their experiences.

The second half of our meeting is devoted to supportgroup. We do not allow partners, friends, or birthprofessionals at that time. Sometimes we do a rotat-ing topic for support group, focusing on cesareanrecovery, birth after cesarean or traumatic childbirthrecovery; other times it’s open topic.

To help moms participate in our meetings with fewerdistractions, we also hire babysitters to have onsite!Babes in arms are always welcome, but the olderkids and the babysitter watch movies or do craftsand coloring in a nearby room so the parents canengage in the meeting and get the support theyneed. In the beginning, before our chapter haddone any fundraising, we just asked parents to allchip in to cover the cost of the babysitter. Nowthat we have done years of fundraising, our chap-ter usually chooses to pay for the babysitters.n

ICAN of Northeast Iowa'sinformational booth displayat a local hospital's trainingevent for hospital birthprofessionals

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my name:Natasha Hall.

my title withICAN: Treasurer

for ICAN of Port-land and soon to be

Chapter Leader forICAN of Vancouver.

my ICAN chapter: Port-land, OR and Vancouver, WA.

my hometown: Washougal, WA.

my children: Randee (cesarean 2007),Jaxson (Water VBAC 2009), Rian (HBAC 2012).

the moment that led me to volunteer for ICAN: After myfirst VBAC I was so grateful to all the women who shared all theirexperiences and I wanted to give back and help other women.

favorite moment from my births: Learning that my first VBACwas a 9.5 pound baby!!! Getting to pull both VBAC babies onto my chestand holding them for the first hour of their lives. Such an incredible hour!

how ICAN has helped me: ICAN helped me have the courage tochange providers at 30 weeks when planning for my first VBAC. I real-ized my OB was not as VBAC supportive as she seemed and changedproviders to be with a midwife at a freestanding birth center. I am sograteful for that change because after my long three-day labor, I knowthat had I stayed in the hospital environment, I would not have had myVBAC. ICAN has also given me a wealth of knowledge over the years,along with some incredible friendships.

random fact about me: I am one of eight children and the onlyone that had a cesarean (this made my recovery a little harder becauseno one knew how hard the cesarean recovery was).

three words to describe me: positive, helpful, passionate.

my favorite quote: “There is a secret in our culture, and it’s notthat birth is painful. It’s that women are strong.” ~ Laura Stavoe Harm

what inspires me: My three children inspire me! In every aspect ofmy life they are my driving force. I’m so grateful to be their mommy!n

ICAN is full ofamazing wom-en who volun-teer their timeto progress theorganizationand supportother women,as they them-selves weresupported dur-ing their heal-ing times andbirth journeys.

meet Natasha

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ICAN is pleased to offer two new webinars to our members!The first is “14 Ways to Lower Your Chance of Cesarean” withCori Gentry, BBCI, and our second is “Birth Stories: Sharingand Listening” with Pam England from Birthing From Within.

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Registration

To registerfor any ofour webinars,includingour replays,please seethe informationsent to eachmembervia email.

Replays

ICAN will bescheduling repeatplaybacks of ourprerecordedwebinars. Catch awebinar that youmissed live orcome back for anencore of yourfavorite sessions.

Be sure to checkout our website atwww.ican-online.orgor our facebookpage atwww.facebook.com/ICANonline/events

WebinarAvailablefor Replay14 Ways to Lower YourChance of CesareanThis webinar, hosted by CoriGentry, BBCI, offers helpfulsuggestions on ways inwhich birthing motherscan reduce their chances ofa preventable cesarean.

Please see the emailed calendar forviewing times.

About Cori Gentry, BBCIThrough the stories of her mother and

family members, Cori grewup believing that natural

birth was normal andmedicated births werethe rare exceptions.After college, shebecame a childcare pro-vider in 2005 and wassurprised by how

common cesareans andepidurals were among her

clients. After discovering thatthere were no comprehensive naturalchildbirth classes in her area, Cori andher husband relied on self-study andquickly realized how hard it was to expe-rience a normal birth in our medicalsystem without real-life support and amodern approach to childbirth education.She was committed to filling this void inher community and in 2012, Cori certifiedas a Birth Boot Camp natural childbirtheducator. Cori offers 10-week contempo-rary, accessible natural childbirth classesin Salinas and Carmel, California.

Cori and her husband have three boystogether and are expecting their fourthchild in December. Each of Cori’s threebirths have been very different, she’sbirthed at 41, 38, and over 42 weeks, withboth obstetricians and midwives, medi-cated and natural, and her boys haveweighed 10, 8, and over 11 pounds, allborn vaginally. Her births have fueledher passion for advocacy and evidencebased maternity care. She is active inher local ICAN chapter and Birth Net-work. Cori blogs about birth, birth work,and access to evidence-based maternitycare at www.corigentry.com. n

July 15 at 8:00 p.m. CST(9:00 p.m. EST, 6:00 p.m. PST)

Birth Stories: Sharing andListeningIn this webinar, you will learn how totell and listen to a birth story in awhole new way.

Becoming a mother is one of the most powerful andprofound events of your life, and no matter the out-come, it can be infused with negative feelings. In ourculture, especially in the case of a cesarean, “healthymother, healthy baby” may be considered the onlything of value. Yet what happened to you physicallyand emotionally matters.

In this special webinar, Pam England (author andfounder of “Birthing From Within”) shares her visionfor healing, learning, and hope after an unwanted,unexpected cesarean. Birthing From Within’s missionto prevent and heal emotional birth trauma was bornfrom Pam’s own experience as a home birth midwifedeeply traumatized by her cesarean. Birth Story Med-icine® is based on what Pam has learned over decadesof listening to and helping cesarean mothers.

Come learn interesting new research about whatmakes narrative storytelling either healing or re-trau-matizing. Experience a unique process that brings youinsight and restores wholeness. It is never too soon,nor too late, to find new meaning in yourbirth story; you will leave this webinarfeeling heard and uplifted.

About Pam EnglandPam England is the author of thegroundbreaking childbirth book,“Birthing From Within” (1998) andlives, works, writes, and paints in Albu-querque, New Mexico. Pam received hernurse-midwifery education from the Fron-tier School of Family Nursing and Midwiferyin Kentucky, and was certified by the American Collegeof Nurse Midwifery (1979). She practiced midwifery for16 years in hospital, birth center, and home birth set-tings. After her own two very different experiences ofgiving birth to her sons, Pam earned a Masters in psy-chology-counseling with an emphasis on birth-relatedpsychology from Antioch University (1986).

The overwhelming positive response to Birthing FromWithin led to international demand for Pam’s teachingand the development of Childbirth Mentor and Doulatrainings and certification programs, still going strong 15years later. Birthing From Within now also trains birthprofessionals and educators in Birth Story Medicine, aunique and potent model for helping mothers heal fromemotional birth trauma. Pam’s most recent book is“Labyrinth of Birth” (2010), and she is currently workingon several others. Find out more about Pam’s work andthe Birthing From Within approach and programs atwww.BirthingFromWithin.com.n

volume 31 issue 3

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Alicea AcevedoRachelle AhmadAmanda AlfordEsther AltmanMariya AmelichevaAshley AndersonDawn BaranskiRachel BorlandJanlaine BradyRachel BruceMallory BundtCristina CageRegina Campbell

Megan CarterLauren CooperDanielle CraigheadSarah CurtisSharon DrapeauSarah Dulany-WilhelmiPauli DurrowCarolyn EricsonKarin FinleyKelly FischerSara HealyAubrey HeimbaughJulie Herr

Tracey HuinkerJenny HussKatherine JacksonRebecca JamesRachel JimenezMelinda KaneJennifer KeithAnne LayburnJill LegerJenica LeonardRebecca LewisCharity LoweGina Martin

Lisa CarguelloAlexis DiazDaisy FulghamEva GavinJean GreenbergAmberle HeathLisa Heffner

Maureen F. HetrickLisa HouchinsKristin HultgrenBirgit KanekoElizabeth KooyMelissa McNultyKendra Rothert

Sarah ShannonBrooke SmithLauren SpechtEmile ToufighianAnna WasilikTamar WilliamsChristine Woodard

Desirre AndrewsMadeleine & David ArnowAssn. for Safe Alternatives

in ChildbirthDawn AshbridgeCarrie BallekJanice BantherLily BeckLaura BentzChrista BillingsMark R. Bower

(professional lifetime member)

Victoria L. BrownMary CaellaighJoyce Chernick

Krista Cornish ScottChristie Craigie-CarterBerna DiehlDonna DietzJuli DuncanBruce Flamm MDJane FrankAnne FryeSharon GrahamNichole GrawerKathleen Gray FarthingJenny GriebenowAnn HampsonMorgan HanzlikMychel Hefner

Rebecca HoogstratenGretchen HumphriesTonya JamoisMaria KorfiatisDawn KubikMichelle LoringJill MacCorkleSabrina McIntyreSandy MintzShannon MitchellSharon NottinghamMichelle & Gary OrlofskyMollie PetersheimJoy PiggottMichael J. Rosenthal MD

Kristina RutkowskiCindy SinarsKathleen SkestosMichelle SmilowitzCharmane StoutPam UdyClaudia VilleneuvePamela ViredayWendy WarburtonWendy WelshCatherine WhiteSarah WindenPriscilla Young CollettoTerrie & Dan YoussiEsther & Thomas Zorn

Stacie MeredithElaine MillsSharon MuzaAndrew & Ashley NooneOlga O`DonnellSarah OakleySarah OldreJami PapenbergMarie Paras CairnsJessica PearlmanTaylor PfaffendorfStacey Rogers

Jennifer RuschMary SandvigAmanda SantoBethanie SchultzJordan ShawStephanie ShumakerAnna SiskindAnne SlackBarbara StrattonMichelle SunBrandy TerrySomer TorresKaren TroyLonika Utterback

Mom Prom

80sstyle

Chasiti Ingram, Sarah Towers, Tawni Kanoot, Natasha Hall

Cake from ICAN of PortlandElizabeth Morton, Victoria Willingham in Phoenix

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ICAN of Portland: Page Rose

Mom Prom

ICAN of Pottstown. L to R: Lisa Heffner, Angela Kirsch, Carrie Ballek, Leah Arndt

Cake from ICAN of Pottstown

ICAN'S FIRST MOM PROM FUNDRAISERWAS "LIKE TOTALLY AWESOME!"

Natasha Hall, Rochelle Clark, Maureen Roberts, Christa Billings in Portland

ICAN of Phoenix. Back L to R: Jenni Froment,Abby Schweitzer, Jessica Franks.

Front: Elizabeth Morton, Anne Marie Chun

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