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#ICANsavelives
International Cesarean Awareness Network
Education, Support, & Advocacy for Birth Justice & Healing
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ICAN is excited to announce Helen Scott as our newest Chapter Leader!
“I’m most excited about the wealth of information that I’ve learned, sharing that information with confidence to those who seek it, and making changes in Central Florida to improve birth outcomes.” ~ Helen Scott, ICAN of Central Florida
Please introduce yourself to ICAN:
I have always been passionate about human rights and wanted to be an advocate for those whose voices are usually ignored. I was preparing for a career in civil rights law when I became pregnant with my first baby, and those plans were put on hold. My spouse and I now have 4 children who have all had very different births. I’m extremely fortunate to be able to stay home with my children and homeschool my oldest. I’m also feeling grateful for the opportunity to begin the most important work of advocacy with ICAN.
What led you to join ICAN?
A friend told me about ICAN after my first child was born via cesarean in 2008. I avoided going and had a VBAC without much support with my second child. I decided to attend an ICAN meeting when I became pregnant with my third child to seek resources and better support.
How do you share ICAN as an organization with others?
I wish people knew that ICAN is not a “VBAC club”, that we are made up of people with diverse stories and wishes for birth, and that our goal at ICAN is to empower parents to have the kind of birth they want, no matter how that looks. My strongest belief about cesarean/VBAC awareness is that there are pros and cons to cesarean and VBAC, and parents need to know what all of them are as part of their rights as patients. We tend to be told facts that are convenient to our provider, and many important things are obscured from our view. Those facts that we don’t know can improve our own outcomes and potentially save lives.
Where will you be serving families through ICAN?
Our chapter is located in the Southeast region of the United States and serves the Central Florida area including Orange, Lake, Seminole, and Volusia Counties. The best thing about the birth climate in my area is how it seems to be changing. Hospitals are updating policies to be more patient-centered, like lifting VBAC bans, and there are more midwives (LMs) than ever, which means more options for care. If I could, I would change patients’ and providers’ attitudes about birth. Specifically, I want birth to be treated as a life event and a normal process rather than an illness or something to fear.
Please share your upcoming Chapter meeting:
Our next meeting will be Tuesday, November 7th at 7 pm at Infusion Tea, 1600 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804.
Congratulations, Helen!
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When women with a prior cesarean are discussing the possibility of VBAC with their provider, uterine rupture takes center stage. Uterine rupture is a real but rare complication that is increased when women attempt a vaginal birth after a cesarean.
When discussing the possibility of repeat cesarean, placenta previa and accreta are far less likely to be mentioned even though, by the third cesarean, the risk of previa and/or accreta is higher than the overall risk of uterine rupture. Additionally, if previa is present, the chances of accreta skyrocket. Women, especially those open to a large family, may be entirely unaware that they are headed down a path that can lead to a 7% mortality rate.
To reduce the incidence of previa and accreta, cesarean rates must decrease. Women must have access to VBAC. Unfortunately, providers that prioritize avoiding a primary cesarean when possible are rare and VBAC friendly providers are rarer still. VBAC bans and limited access restrictions are rampant even though ACOG maintains that VBAC is a safe and reasonable option for most women.
#ICANsavelives
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By The Well-Rounded Mama, September 13, 2013
Placenta Accreta, Part Three: Risks to Mother and Baby
Read the full article here.
Summary:
Blood loss is the most common and serious risk of accretas. Secondary to the blood loss, other complications like D.I.C., long-lasting anemia, and Sheehan’s Syndrome can occur.
Mothers can also experience damage to abdominal organs near the uterus, either from a percreta, surgical damage, or impairment secondary to blood loss.
Reposted with permission from The Well-Rounded Mama.