Preparing For Birth

http://blog.ican-online.org/2010/02/07/mother-sized-activism-nbc/ The International Cesarean Awareness Network wants you to get involved and speak your mind about what you think of the NBC “Live in the OR” piece from last week. Here is the link to ICAN’s official response. The only way that mass media will be responsible for what they put on the airwaves is [...]

Many times over I have heard something similar to “If only my insurance would cover the childbirth class, doula, that provider or birth location. Then I could have the birth I really want for me and my baby.” That statement sadly says to me that women are settling for a provider, birth location, type of [...]

While “teaching” childbirth class the topic of being a consumer is addressed often in a variety of ways.  I have a firm belief that a woman has the ability to understand, be well educated, and make her own decisions. It is in no way in my job description to tell someone else how she must [...]

Joy Szabo has been in the news lately for desiring a second VBAC for her fourth baby (vaginal birth, emergency cesarean, and vaginal birth).  She has been denied locally in her area of Page, AZ to have a vaginal birth. Due to this situation, the International Cesarean Awareness Network has been assisting her in fighting [...]

Below is a reprinting of an open letter written to ACNM after a special alert notice.  Women and families no matter what insurance or lack thereof should be able to have access to any and all midwifery care.  Consumers CAN make appropriate choices for their own care. As a consumer the idea of shutting out [...]

Normal, natural birth is spoken of all the time in the birth world.  It is discussed on many levels from the evidence of being overwhelmingly the safest and healthiest way to birth, to the emotional aspects of privacy, safety and support,  to following the money trail of interventive birth versus natural birth and so much [...]

Today pregnant women need to be consumers and self-advocates. Many childbirth classes are teaching strategies to better these skills. This is not by chance, but rather by the often one-size-fits all packaging and management from pregnancy onset to labor through immediate postpartum in the care provider offices and hospitals of today. Many routine tests are [...]

There are many reasons why a woman chooses to birth in the hospital. Women have the right to choose where and with whom she will birth regardless of what another would choose. Women need the tools to navigate the hospital setting. She and her baby ARE unique. They are human beings. Laboring women are often [...]

This is taken from http://yourbirthmatters.blogspot.com/ written by a fellow ICAN Board member and all around amazing woman, Gretchen H. Please read, think and get involved. The VBAC ban project is finally up and running! What is this you ask? Well, simply put, we are going to call every hospital in the U.S. and find out [...]

CHOOSING YOUR MIDWIFE: INTERVIEW QUESTIONS · What is your birth philosophy? · What is your training? Are you certified? If yes, with whom and why? If no, why not?· Are you licensed in the state of _____?· What is your scope of practice? · When would you find it necessary to go outside your scope [...]