April is here, and with it warmer weather and beautiful flowers in the Northern Virginia area! Every April, ICAN celebrates Cesarean Awareness Month to bring awareness to our mission and vision, which is:
- Mission Statement
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). - Vision Statement
A reduction in the cesarean rate driven by women assuming responsibility for their healthcare by making evidence-based, risk appropriate childbirth decisions.
You can read the full statement of beliefs on ICAN's website.
In our local area, we are still dealing with a higher-than-average c-section rate, and lower-than-average VBAC rate. Providers that will support VBACs from beginning to end are a rarity, and even rarer are those who support VBAmC. We have a lot of work to do to change the birth climate, and we'd love your help!
How can I help?
Great question! For starters, we can always use your financial support. You can donate directly to our chapter or become a member. ICAN offers special CAM-only discounts, so now is the time to join! Check out the graphic below which details the special membership discounts to celebrate Cesarean Awareness Month:
Share our message
Another great way to spread the word about CAM is to help us spread the message on social media. You can follow us on Facebook and Twitter, where throughout April we'll be posting graphics and statistics to help raise awareness. Please follow us and share with your friends and followers!
If you are expecting, take this to heart! Your support staff makes a world of difference. #ICANBeEmpowered #CAM2015 pic.twitter.com/nMV2c1BUEz
— ICAN of NoVa (@icanofnova) April 7, 2015
We hear this a lot in meetings - you skipped the chapter on c-sections or did not pay attention in class! One in three...
Posted by ICAN of Northern Virginia on Friday, April 3, 2015
Attend a meeting
Check out our Meetings & Events page for the latest on our upcoming meetings. In-person support is where ICAN truly stands out from other organizations, and its a great way to brainstorm ideas for getting our message in front of more people!