Day 2 – Katie’s Birth Story
I had my first son in October 2009. He was 10 days late and after being induced for over 24 hours and having failure to progress during labor the doctor said that we could do the cesarean now or we could continue the induction the next day. I was tired and realized another day of induction would […]
A Dr. George Birth Story: Patience with a rocky pregnancy
Dr. George was my OB/Gyn for my second pregnancy. My first one end up with unnecessary C-section due to my lack of knowledge and too much trust in doctors. My second pregnancy was pretty “rocky”. I started bleeding at 6 weeks and experienced a couple of severe bleeding episodes at 12 and 16 weeks of […]
A Dr. George Birth Story: The Birth of Chloe
I was a mother of four boys. My three oldest were born naturally but after my third I received a hard diagnosis. I was diagnosed with Intercranial Hypertension, a rear brain disease with no cure and honestly not much treatment at the moment. I had my first brain surgery in 2010 to place a vp shunt and that is when my dream of having any more natural births vanished. […]
Lucy’s Cesarean Birth After Cesarean
by Lucy O’Connor This birth story is shared by Lucy O’Connor, and appeared originally on csectionmums.com. I found out I was pregnant in July 2008. I had a miscarriage only a matter of weeks earlier and hadn’t even got my period back! A scan (in the absence of a LMP) set my due date as St Patrick’s […]
The Birth of Baby B
By Melissa Debach This birth story is a reprint from the Spring 2015 edition of The Clarion, the official publication of ICAN. Become a member today to support ICAN and to subscribe! Photos courtesy of Erin Monroe Photography. After the birth of my daughter ended in an unnecessary cesarean, I was determined that my second […]
There’s No Such Thing as a Failed VBAC- A Letter to the CBAC Mom
This post was submitted to us by writer Aprille Donaldson. The original post can be found on her website www.beautifulinhistime.com. Dear CBAC Mom: I just want you to know that I get you. For nine months you carried your baby within you. And for nine months – maybe even longer – you dreamed about pushing that baby out of […]
Sharing our birth stories with our children: Katy’s CBA2C
Guest post birth story by Katy Rank Lev for Brain, Child Magazine. I joined my local ICAN chapter after my first son was delivered via cesarean. Over the next five years, I became a leader of ICAN of Southwestern PA and the organization supported me through my next pregnancy and VBAC attempt… then they supported me […]
Birth Story in Africa: a birth without fear
Guest post written by Sarah S. In order to tell the birth story of my firstborn, I have to back up a bit. Actually, I have to back up a lot. For as long as I can remember I have been afraid of pregnancy and childbirth. My mother threw up the entire nine months of […]
FREE Viewing of the Film ‘Trial of Labor’ for ICAN Members!
Beginning on March 20, 2015, ICAN will be providing its members with a FREE viewing of the film Trial of Labor, directed and produced by Rob Humphreys and Dr. Elliot Berlin, until March 30th. ICAN will also be hosting a number of screenings for the general public in select cities beginning in April. Look out […]
Overturning a VBAC Ban in Western PA
By Katy Rank Lev and Lauren McAnallen In late 2012, ICAN of Southwestern PA started getting calls and emails from women living in Mercer County, PA, about an hour northwest of Pittsburgh. Apparently, one of the hospitals there was instituting a VBAC ban! Some of the women contacting our chapter had already had successful VBACs […]