International Cesarean Awareness Network

Education. Support. Advocacy.

Cesarean awareness month Toolkit

#CAM2021

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What is Cesarean Awareness Month?

  • April is Cesarean Awareness Month (CAM)
  • CAM focuses on all topics surrounding cesareans, including reducing preventable cesareans, supporting cesarean recovery, and advocating for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
  • ICAN was founded in 1982 as a grassroots movement to serve these needs
  • We need your help to grow Cesarean Awareness! Download the infographics, start a fundraiser, wear your CAM2021 T-Shirt!
CAM-2021-press-releaseDownload

What is Cesarean Awareness Month?

  • April is Cesarean Awareness Month (CAM)
  • CAM focuses on all topics surrounding cesareans, including reducing preventable cesareans, supporting cesarean recovery, and advocating for vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
  • ICAN was founded in 1982 as a grassroots movement to serve these needs
  • We need your help to grow Cesarean Awareness! Download the infographics, start a fundraiser, wear your CAM2021 T-Shirt!

Why the Need

For Awareness

  • Researchers estimate that almost half of the cesareans performed could be safely prevented.
  • If families don’t know these options exist they can’t advocate for them.
  • Cesareans can be more or less “family friendly” depending on the practices and protocols at a facility and provider support.
  • Preventable Cesareans may be responsible for up to 20,000 major surgical complications a year, including sepsis, hemorrhage, and organ injury.
Advocacy
Membership

Brianna Barker and Justen Alexander, ICAN President and Vice President speaking to care providers about the health and emotional impacts of Cesarean and VBAC
Elizbethton, TN 2019

Call to Action

CESAREAN AWARENESS MONTH

2021

Hashtags
  • CAM2021
  • ICANeducate
  • CesareanAwarenessMonth
  • CAMfacts

  • Lowering the rate of preventable cesareans is vital to improving maternal-child health
  • Policies do not override a persons’ right to informed decision making.
  • VBAC bans are unethical and unenforceable for hospitals to institute. People have the right to informed refusal, which includes declining a cesarean.
  • For most people, VBAC carries lower risks than a repeat cesarean.
  • A healthy birth incorporates emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
  • When a cesarean is necessary, it can be a lifesaving surgery, and worth the risks involved.

Share your Journey

Writing and sharing your story can be healing, and ICAN loves to amplify your stories to help reach others that feel connected to similar experiences, if that is your comfort level. And a picture can be worth 1000 words.

2020 ICAN Impact Map

Key Messages

  • Lowering the rate of preventable cesareans is vital to improving maternal-child health.
  • Policies do not override a persons’ right to informed decision making.
  • VBAC bans are unethical and unenforceable for hospitals to institute. People have the right to informed refusal, which includes declining a cesarean.
  • For most people, VBAC carries lower risks than a repeat cesarean.
  • A healthy birth incorporates emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being.
  • When a cesarean is necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique, and worth the risks involved.

Cesarean Awareness Month Profile Frames

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