ICAN of Northern Virginia is reaching out to more women, and so the leadership of the local chapter has changed a bit.

Lori Cooper continues in her role as Chapter Leader of ICAN of Northern Virginia. Lori is the mother to three children. She gave birth to her first child in 1998, a daughter, vaginally, though induced and full of medical interventions. For her second, she decided that she wanted to labor and birth without medical interventions, but stayed with the same care provider. In turn, she received similar care - a labor that was very medically managed with unnecessary interventions, which lead to having her son via an emergency cesarean section. For her third baby, she decided that birthing at home was safest for her. She had her baby on June 30, 2005, and it was a safe and healthy HBAC (homebirth after cesarean). Lori works in the childbirth field, and through that work, and supporting women through ICAN, she is able to make a difference in lives, one woman at a time. To reach her, feel free to e-mail at lskcooper@icanofnova.org

Joining Lori in a Co-Leader position is Berna Diehl.Berna has been a member of ICAN since 2003 and has three boys. Her first child was born by cesarean and her second and third boys were both VBAC babies, her most recent being a double footling breech in December 2005. Berna has worked on the Internation Board of Directors as the Publicity Director, and has now been brought back to her roots in working as the co-leader of this local chapter. Berna can be reached at publicity@icanofnova.org

Still maintaining an active role in the organization is Sabrina McIntyre, who will be organizing ICAN of Northern Virginia's Special Events. Sabrina began attending ICAN meetings after the birth of her first daughter in 2002, who was born by cesarean. Through the support of ICAN and her care providers, she had a VBAC in 2004. Sabrina has become more involved with ICAN, in planning special events for the organization. For any information regarding special events in our area, please contact Sabrina at events@icanofnova.org