April 1st, 2010
April is Cesarean Awareness Month
Today marks the beginning of Cesarean Awareness Month. Over the next 30 days, let’s all take a moment to raise awareness of the cesarean epidemic, increase education about normal birth, and advocate for women’s reproductive rights.
April is sure to be filled with cesarean and VBACtivism all over the world. To start, the International Cesarean Awareness Network is hosting a radio show highlighting Mother’s Stories TODAY at 2 pm Eastern Time. If you are a Cesarean mom, a VBAC mom, or a CBAC mom, please call into the show to share your story. The ICAN blog will also be posting a new birth story every day of the month of April.
New for this year, you can now add a Cesarean Awareness Ribbon to your Twitter or Facebook profile picture using this handy Twibbon (like I have here)! Please – add the Twibbon, tell your friends, and help spread the Cesarean Awareness message.
Also, grab the Cesarean Awareness Month button for your blog, website, or avatar over there in the right sidebar, or listed at the bottom of this post.
You can also tune into The Feminist Breeder & Friends Radio Show this Sunday night at 10 pm CENTRAL time while I kick off Cesarean Awareness Month with special guest, Danielle Elwood, who’ll be giving us the details of the Post-Cesarean Feelings Survey.
For other ways you can get involved, ICAN gives us “How to Be an Advocate for Women”
- Search ICAN’s Hospital VBAC Policy Database to find out if your local hospital bans VBACs or not.
- Does your local hospital have a VBAC ban in place? Please contact ICAN with a short description of your situation and any specifics about the situation.
- Write your elected officials. We provide template letters for your use and links for you to easily contact your specific legislators, as well as recommendations for who to write about Health issues.
- Ready to start reversing VBAC bans? Read 50 Ways to Protest a VBAC Denial and contact Barbara Stratton, ICAN’s VBAC Ban Chair.
- Unhappy with how you were treated while in the hospital? You might think you have no options but you do. Read ICAN’s primer on how to file complaints about your maternity care.
- Have you lost or been refused medical insurance because of a previous cesarean? Please contact your state insurance commissioner to file a complaint and if you are willing to speak to the media, contact the ICAN Advocacy Director.
For advocacy assistance, contact Gretchen Humphries, ICAN Advocacy Director.
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Click to Leave a Comment
have you seen this?
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7361148
and no, this is NOT April Fools… 
[Reply]
Hoping all the education and support this month will strengthen my resolve for my VBAC. I had a demoralizing Dr.’s appt that I am having a hard time shaking.
[Reply]
They were just discussing the rise in Cesaerean rates on NPR the other day. Between reading your page, all of my friends getting knocked up, me wanting to… I think I need to go back to doula work and finish my midwifery education!!!
Betty B´s last blog ..the Ebbs and Flows, deciding to go with the flow part 
[Reply]
Until we all it “Cesarean Abolition” Month, I don’t think it will have a substantial impact. The norm for how it takes to give birth has become progressively shorter as labors are instantly ended by surgery. This surgery increases your chances of dying in childbirth, and is guaranteed to make recovery and baby are more difficult. But it makes your hospital rew look like life-saving heroes, so as a society, we have been unable to resist it.
Priss´s last blog ..Charoset
[Reply]
I just posted this on the Louisiana Natural Birth discussion board. Hope you don’t mind.
Keep Kickin Ass!!!
DeepSouthDoula
[Reply]
Hey TFB,
How do I send you a personal email?
Thank you and rock on,
Janya
29 weeks and counting ’til my VBAC!
[Reply]
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