ICAN is excited to announce Julie Iovaldi as our newest chapter leader! She has completed training and will be leading ICAN of St. Louis, Missouri!
What’s your chapter’s name?
ICAN of St. Louis
How did you find out about ICAN? What drew you to our organization?
I found ICAN through facebook when preparing for my VBA2C and began attending meetings. I feel so lucky to have found the support and information that the meetings and community gave me throughout my preparation and beyond!
I found ICAN through facebook when preparing for my VBA2C and began attending meetings. I feel so lucky to have found the support and information that the meetings and community gave me throughout my preparation and beyond!
What part of being an ICAN Chapter Leader are you most excited about and why?
I am most excited about helping other mothers feel empowered, informed, and supported in their birth choices. I am also excited to continue to learn new things about birth and the local birth community.
I am most excited about helping other mothers feel empowered, informed, and supported in their birth choices. I am also excited to continue to learn new things about birth and the local birth community.
What do you wish other people knew about ICAN?
I wish people knew that it is a resource not only for VBAC preparation but also for support after a cesarean, whether or not a VBAC is in the future. So many women have trouble processing the emotions that go along with having a cesarean but very few talk about it.
I wish people knew that it is a resource not only for VBAC preparation but also for support after a cesarean, whether or not a VBAC is in the future. So many women have trouble processing the emotions that go along with having a cesarean but very few talk about it.
What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about cesarean/VBAC awareness?
My strongest belief is that as providers and mothers, we need to be more proactive about preventing primary cesareans. So many interventions that are now commonplace can lead to increased risk of cesarean but many women don’t realize that because they have become “the norm.”
My strongest belief is that as providers and mothers, we need to be more proactive about preventing primary cesareans. So many interventions that are now commonplace can lead to increased risk of cesarean but many women don’t realize that because they have become “the norm.”
How would someone describe you?
I think people would describe me as determined, sensible and nurturing.
I think people would describe me as determined, sensible and nurturing.
Please share a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. I graduated from Mizzou, where I met my husband, with a BS in Biochemistry. I worked in Research and Development for a large biotech company before becoming a stay-at-home mom. I have a wonderful husband, Nick, three kiddos, Dory (4), Cole (2), Simon (9 months) and a big fluffy goldendoodle. My husband and I love spending time with our extended families and live within a few miles of most of our 7 siblings.
I was born and raised in St. Louis, MO. I graduated from Mizzou, where I met my husband, with a BS in Biochemistry. I worked in Research and Development for a large biotech company before becoming a stay-at-home mom. I have a wonderful husband, Nick, three kiddos, Dory (4), Cole (2), Simon (9 months) and a big fluffy goldendoodle. My husband and I love spending time with our extended families and live within a few miles of most of our 7 siblings.
If you would like to share personal birth “statistics,” feel free to list that information here.
My daughter, Dory, was born via cesarean in May 2012 after a long, failed induction. Cole, my second, was born via repeat cesarean in February 2014 and Simon was born on Thanksgiving Day 2016 VBA2C!
My daughter, Dory, was born via cesarean in May 2012 after a long, failed induction. Cole, my second, was born via repeat cesarean in February 2014 and Simon was born on Thanksgiving Day 2016 VBA2C!
QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR CHAPTER
Where is your chapter (region)? What areas does your chapter serve?
We are in the midwest region and serve the St. Louis Area (including Southwest IL).
We are in the midwest region and serve the St. Louis Area (including Southwest IL).
If you could change one thing about the birth climate in your area, what would it be?
I think we are very lucky in St. Louis to have several options for providers who practice evidence-based medicine. We are definitely headed in the right direction with several exciting new changes, so I guess I would just say keep on going!
I think we are very lucky in St. Louis to have several options for providers who practice evidence-based medicine. We are definitely headed in the right direction with several exciting new changes, so I guess I would just say keep on going!
What is the best thing about the birth climate in your area?
As I said above, we have many options for VBAC-supportive and evidence-based providers and more options are becoming available each year it seems.
As I said above, we have many options for VBAC-supportive and evidence-based providers and more options are becoming available each year it seems.
Your first/next meeting time, date, location, and topic?
We meet every fourth Thursday of the month in the evenings and will hopefully also have a daytime meeting soon too.
We meet every fourth Thursday of the month in the evenings and will hopefully also have a daytime meeting soon too.
