• Attend regular ICAN meetings.
• Don’t assume it won’t happen to you – educate yourself and accept responsibility for your decisions.
• Be aware that your choices in pregnancy and labor can have a BIG impact on your chance of having a cesarean. Know your options. Be informed.
• Hire a doula.
• Practice optimal fetal positioning during pregnancy, labor and birth.
• Ask for induction and cesarean rates of the care provider (each provider in group) and hospital you are hiring.
• Choose a care provider and hospital with a philosophy that fits yours. If your provider’s philosophy does not fit yours change providers.
• Know your VBAC options.
• Stay hydrated and nourished during labor.
• Talk to your provider about risks and benefits of hospital procedures that may increase cesarean with low-risk women. Such as labor induction.
• Avoid or delay pain medication or epidural in labor.
• Move, move, move during labor and birth.
• Trust yourself and your instincts to know how to labor and push your baby out of your body.

VBAC Education Project, Cesarean and VBAC Facts

VBAC Education Project
http://www.ican-online.org/vbac-education-project/

The VBAC Education Project, created independently by Nicette Jukelevics, is offered to the community at no cost. This free, evidenced-based educational project comes with modules and handouts for parents, birth advocates, professionals, and hospitals, and can be used by both laypersons and professionals alike to empower women to be aware of their birth options after cesarean. Disclaimer: All of the content provided within the VBAC Education Project, including text, outcomes, charts, webinars, graphics, photographs, and images, are for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The content is not intended to establish a standard of care to be followed by a user of the website. You should always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. ICAN is a peer-to-peer support group, and does not provide medical services or advice. The views and opinions expressed in the VBAC Education Project are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent the views of ICAN. The author is not a representative or officer of ICAN.