ICAN is excited to announce Casey Shell as our newest chapter leader! She has completed training and will be co-leading ICAN of Huntsville!
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Tell us about the birth climate in your area.
We serve families North Alabama. Change is slowly starting to happen here. I wish that women would be given the opportunity to VBAC without fear.
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How did you find out about ICAN?
My doula first mentioned ICAN in the immediate days following my cesarean. I avoided meetings for a while, but was so overwhelmed with my birth experience that I finally decided to go. The first meeting I attended was open forum. It was wonderful to be able to share with other women who didn’t have the “healthy baby, healthy mommy” perspective. I was able to grieve the loss of the birth I desired. I wish more people knew how supportive and caring these women are.
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What part of being an ICAN Chapter Leader are you most excited about?
Education!! I want to see change in our community and I firmly believe that starts with educating women before their first birth.
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What are some of your strongest beliefs about cesarean/VBAC awareness?
All women have a right to informed consent. It’s unacceptable to me that women are given one option by their OBs and not told about the risks that are involved with each choice.
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How would someone describe you?
I’m passionate about what I believe in and will go to bat for others without a second though. Apparently I’m also funny, but I don’t think of myself that way.
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Please share a little about yourself!
I have 2 daughters. My oldest was a medicated vaginal birth in 2012. When I found out I was pregnant with my second, my husband and I agreed that we should hire a doula and try for a natural birth. At 40+1 weeks my OB discovered that my daughter was breech. After a failed version attempt, I had a cesarean. Unfortunately my cesarean left me with a seroma and I got an infection and spent a week in the hospital on IV antibiotics.
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I’ve been married to the love of my life, Hunter, for 9 years. I have master’s degree and am a speech language pathologist turned part time homemaker. I decided to stay home as much as possible and started a private practice after my oldest daughter was born in 2012. I love to sew and read.
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When is your chapter’s next meeting time, date, location, and topic?
Our next meeting is August 4 at 6:30 pm. My physical therapist will be coming to speak to the group about 1. the normal impact of pregnancy on a woman’s musculoskeletal system, 2. the effects cesarean will additionally have, 3. other complications that can develop over time.
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Welcome, Casey! We can’t wait to see how you impact your community!
