New VBAC Support Group in Calgary
Calgary has a new post-caesarean and VBAC,
vaginal birth after caesarean, support group that meets on
the first Tuesday of every other month. “It is about time that Calgary had
its own group, just like Edmonton does,” said Annemarie van
Oploo, a doula and childbirth educator in Edmonton . “The
caesarean rate is a bit higher there so it follows that there
would be more women needing information about VBAC.”
According to the website for CIHI, the Canadian Institute
for Health Information, the 2004 caesarean rate in the Calgary
Health Region was 23.6 percent, while the Capital Health
Region's rate was 21.9 percent. Peer-support has a strong
influence in the rate of achievement of all human endeavours,
and this is the kind of support women receive at VBAC meetings.
By relating to other people in their same situation, women
can explore their options and put a face to their dream of
a VBAC.
Women planning a VBAC can often find themselves alone in
their quest to avoid a repeat caesarean, especially in a
medical environment that places all sorts of restrictions
on VBAC labours but allows elective repeat caesareans to
take place under almost any circumstances. VBAC support meetings
can offer women, and their partners, a forum to express their
concerns or doubts, and to find validation for their feelings
and for their determination to have a VBAC.
The Calgary group receives support from the Edmonton VBAC
Support Association/ICAN of Edmonton (ICAN is the International
Caesarean Awareness Network based in California ) in the
form of shared information about caesareans and VBAC research.
The Edmonton chapter leader, Shannon Beckett, has even attended
a few of the meetings in Calgary to share her experience
as group leader. “We admire the effort that the Calgary group
is making in getting the meetings going. Sometimes it is
hard when you try to advertise that your VBAC group exists,
and then you realize how much work it actually takes,” said
Shannon Beckett. “In Edmonton , I have the help of two other
very committed ladies and we still don't seem to have enough
hours in the day,” she added. “But once in a while you get
that one lady at a meeting that begins to cry while telling
her birth story, and then calls you later to share the news
of her inspiring VBAC. Then we remember exactly why we keep
doing this.” Shannon Beckett has had two caesareans, after
one VBAC attempt in hospital. Her third birth took place
at home with a midwife resulting in a VBAC. She is pregnant
with her fourth child and planning another homebirth.
“I certainly hope that Alberta physicians and midwives,
continue openly supporting VBAC and the rights of women to
choose where, when, how, and with whom to give birth,” says
Annemarie van Oploo. “Without full support of women's choices
in VBAC childbirth, the medical establishment will only manage
to force women into repeat caesareans they might not want,
and some may consider unassisted birth their only option.”
To reach the Calgary VBAC support group, call Janice and
Ian at (403) 278-2936 or contact them via email at
zapfesmiths @ shaw.ca.
The group is looking for additional volunteers to host some
of the meetings, and for VBAC mothers to come share their
stories with the group.
Published on Summer 2005 issue of Birthing magazine,
published by Birth Unlimited in Calgary .
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