With one third of babies being born via cesarean, it is important to understand the process of a cesarean birth. However, there are ways to make a surgical birth less “surgical” feeling and shift the focus to a softer, gentler birth, a family centered cesarean, also called a “gentle cesarean.”
This week on Yoga|Birth|Babies we cover the topic of Family Centered Cesarean with Narchi Jovic and Suzanne Chesney, the co-leaders of the NYC chapter of The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN)
Narchi and Suzanne seamlessly discuss this topic through offering personal accounts of a gentle cesarean along with stories of supporting women who have experienced a gentle cesarean. They also discus:
- Practical ways to help prepare for a planned family centered cesarean
- The benefits of a family centered cesarean
- How the option of cesarean differs from a more traditional cesarean
- How to approach your care provider about this method of birth even if you are hoping for a vaginal birth.
The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery, and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC).
Narchi is a Manhattan based birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, certified breastfeeding counselor, and mother of three kids. She has been part of ICAN for 13 years, since she began her journey towards her first VBAC. She found tremendous inspiration and support in this wonderful group and decided to start a local chapter in 2012. Her goal is to provide support, information and resources to moms who gave birth by cesarean and/or preparing for a VBAC.”
Suzanne Chesney is a Brooklyn based theatrical costume designer and mother of 2 who has volunteered as a co-leader for ICAN of Manhattan since 2015. She hopes to support women by sharing her story, holding space for other women to tell theirs, and encouraging women to make informed, empowering choices in childbirth.
For more information in ICAN please visit http://www.ican-online.org/
