Did you know that April is Cesarean Awareness Month? According to the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), the U.S. cesarean rate stands at 32.9%, but some states have rates of more than 40%.
“Cesareans are far from the niche occurrence of yesteryear. Every woman in her childbearing years MUST sit up and take notice of this alarming and astonishing rate of surgical delivery,” says ICAN President Desirre Andrews. “Now more than ever, women and babies need access to evidence-based care.” Click here to read the ICAN blog.
Lamaze Family Center's evidence-based childbirth classes help give families real tools and support to prepare for their births and make empowered choices. We teach families to recognize the "cascade of interventions" but also be flexible and realistic.
Additionally, we offer a Review Workshop class for second- (or third- or more) time moms who want refresher for their next birth, and we are hearing more and more from moms who are seeking a Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC). Our next class meets Wednesday, May 25. This class isn't just for moms who have taken Lamaze previously; moms and their partners can enjoy devoted time to think about their next birth and reassess their priorities, hopes and plans for the upcoming birth.
Want to celebrate a recent VBAC or honor a friend? Buy your baby a VBAC onesie! Gotta love Etsie.
ICAN is asking for birth stories, and I'd love to hear some second-time birth stories to share with our readers. Email me at meredith@lamazefamilycenter.org
Read this interesting article about VBAC guidelines. Wish I could be in St. Louis for this conference:
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