Amber Pillar is ICAN’s March Volunteer of the Month!
The International Cesarean Awareness Network is powered by the selfless efforts of our numerous volunteers. We cannot thank our dedicated volunteers enough for their cooperation and service in assisting ICAN with accomplishing its mission. In an effort to acknowledge some of our amazing volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to offer support, education, and advocacy for the mothers in their area, the International Cesarean Awareness Network is pleased to announce Amber Pillar as the March 2017 Volunteer of the Month. Amber is a dedicated volunteer out of ICAN of both Omaha and North Houston who’s been with ICAN for eight years. We appreciate the work she does!
How did you first find ICAN?
I found ICAN doing research online after my cesarean for a breech baby in 2007. There were no chapters in my state at the time so I got together with another mama I knew and we founded the first chapter in Nebraska (ICAN of Omaha) and I lead that chapter for 7 years until my family moved to Houston last year. Once we settled in Houston, I saw that there was not enough ICAN coverage for such a large city and started working with the board in getting another chapter opened here.
What motivates you as a volunteer?
Seeing women empowered to be responsible for their births and gain confidence in themselves.
Do you have a profession or any other passions outside of ICAN?
I am passionate about supporting childbearing families. I have been a birth doula for 4.5 years and have served as leader of the local doulas association (in Omaha). Outside of birth, I am passionate about homeschooling my three kids and being a wife to my husband. I am also a Christian and my relationship with The Lord brings me so much fulfillment, purpose, and wholeness…I am passionate about serving and loving Him well and continuing to grow in His purpose for me.
What was your proudest moment as an ICAN volunteer? What about your hardest?
Volunteering in general isn’t easy. And our role as ICAN leaders is especially hard because of all the emotions involved in this work, both with ourselves and with the women we serve. I remember one meeting in Omaha for which only one person showed up for. It was her first meeting. At first I was a bit embarrassed that nobody else came but this mom and I talked for a very long time and it turned out that she badly needed to share her story with someone and to just be heard and validated and she was actually relieved that she was the only one there. That’s the moment that I realized how important this work is and that it is worth it to help even just one mom. I was proud of myself for opening this opportunity for women in my community. My hardest moment was leaving my chapter in Omaha. I had no doubt that I was handing it over to some awesome ladies (and I’m so proud of what they are doing there!), but it was still hard to let it go.
Thank you, Amber, for all you do!
Welcome to ICAN, Victoria Lero of Baton Rouge!
Tell us about the birth climate in your area.
Our chapter covers Baton Rouge, LA. We have a high rate of cesareans and the mothers do not have access to enough (and proper) birth education through their medical providers, but it does seem to be changing toward a family and mother-centered birth mindset, and there is a hospital here with a great VBAC success rate.
Healing from a Traumatic Cesarean
Women’s emotional reactions and adjustment to cesarean birth vary widely. Although some women recover fairly quickly and accept the surgical birth as a necessary step to a healthy baby and to becoming a mother, others experience various degrees of sadness, disappointment, anger, violation, loss of self-esteem, guilt, depression, and sometimes post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Some women experience their birth as a traumatic event. Often they are not aware of how the trauma has impacted their life, their sense of self and their feelings about mothering. Because a newborn demands so much care and attention mothers often do not have the time to process these feelings and they can linger for a long time. It is normal for a mother to appreciate the fact that her birth by cesarean resulted in a healthy baby while still feeling sad, confused, or angry about the experience itself. Friends, family, and even partners of mothers who have had an emotionally difficult cesarean often do not understand why mothers don’t just “move on,” or why they “obsess” about their birth experience.
The effects of trauma after childbirth include flashbacks of the birth, nightmares, avoiding and feeling stressed by reminders of the birth, feeling edgy, and experiencing panic attacks. Often these symptoms are confused with postpartum depression by mothers, doctors, and mental health providers.
It is normal for a mother to appreciate the fact that her birth by cesarean resulted in a healthy baby while still feeling sad, confused, or angry about the experience itself. Mothers who have an unexpected cesarean, have general anesthesia, or are separated from their infants are especially vulnerable. A mother’s satisfaction with her birth experience depends on whether or not she was included in the decisions made on her behalf, if she was treated kindly and with respect by her caregivers, if she received medical interventions she feels were unnecessary, and/or if she felt she was “in control” of her birth.
Friends, family, and even partners of mothers who have had an emotionally difficult cesarean often do not understand why mothers don’t just “move on” or why they “obsess” about their birth experience. It is important that, whenever you are ready, you find the right time, a safe place, and a person you trust to resolve some of these feelings. It might be weeks, months, or years after your cesarean, or even during a subsequent pregnancy, before you will be able to talk about your traumatic birth.
If you are planning to have another baby and plan to labor for a VBAC, you will feel better about that pregnancy and birth if you first process your feelings about the difficult cesarean you’ve already experienced. Find out how you might be able to avoid the recurrence of those events. You can find out more about healing from a traumatic cesarean from the websites listed below.
Resources
- PATTCH, Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth
- The Birth Trauma Association of the UK
- Trauma and Birth Stress New Zealand (TABS)
- Solace for Mothers
- Birth Trauma Association of Canada
Reblogged with permission from Nicette Jukelevics, a member of ICAN’s Advisory Committee, from her website VBAC.com. The VBAC Education Project, as outlined at that site, is a powerful teaching tool for communities and embraced as part of the educational initiative of ICAN.
Cesarean Awareness T-Shirt 2017!
“Probably the biggest risk of the first cesarean is the repeat cesarean.” ~ Dr. Elliott Main
This quote gets a beautiful decorative lettering treatment on our 2017 Cesarean Awareness Month t-shirt. It’s available in two colors and for a limited time. Start a conversation, spread some awareness, and support ICAN’s efforts in the process!
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