April
2006 - Edmonton 's VBAC Support Association Celebrates 20th
Anniversary!
by: Judy Cochrane, Founder of the VBAC
Association
The Edmonton VBAC Support Association began
20 years ago, after the birth of our youngest and fourth
child, James. Our first two daughters were born vaginally,
but our third child, a son, was a cesarean birth, which was
unnecessary because I was only in labour for 6 hours (failure
to progress on their schedule!).
Although I was happy to have a son, the
cesarean was not the best experience for me, physically or
psychologically so I sought to have a better experience for
our 4th child. Most doctors at the time did repeat cesareans
and I was told my uterus had been "paper thin" for
my section and "would likely rupture" if a VBAC
was attempted. With a nursing background (BSc), I started
to do some research. I was also a childbirth educator with
ties to the International Childbirth Association (ICEA),
so I wrote to many professionals in the field, all of whom
verified my own gut feeling: VBAC, vaginal birth after cesarean,
was a very safe alternative for me.
In order to ensure a VBAC at the time,
I chose to stay home and give birth with midwives Sandy Pullin
and Noreen Walker who were in practice together. Marilyn
Shinyei, an apprentice, was also in attendance for what was
the first home VBAC in the province.
Energized and empowered by the experience,
I knew I had to get the VBAC message out to women. Within
a few short months, I packed up my family along with my very
supportive husband, Bob and attended a conference in Calgary
with Michel Odent, called Birth Reborn. I begged a display
table for free and set up a little booth with a sign "Edmonton
VBAC Support Association" and some cards with my home
address and phone number. From there, I got names of interested
people and the Edmonton VBAC Support Association became a
reality.
I started having monthly meetings at the
Parent Center in Edmonton (old Rutherford School ) on the
south side. At first it was too much business (getting the
organization going) and not enough support for women, so
I formed an executive. Monthly meetings from then on were
devoted to giving information on VBAC, having guest speakers
(midwives, doctors, professors) and supporting women who
were still healing from their cesarean experiences to have
confidence and courage to have a VBAC.
With subscription fees, we purchased books
and set up a lending library. We attended local childbirth
conferences, baby fairs, ASAC meetings, etc., to get our
name known. The Edmonton Journal and Sun frequently wrote
articles, and several reporters, who had had cesareans themselves,
(Liane Faulder and Linda Goyette) were on side and very helpful.
I appeared on many radio and television programs as well.
I also became a guest speaker at several conferences, as
far away as Regina and Saskatoon, Castlegar (BC) and Toronto
(many with my good friend and midwife Noreen Walker).
The VBAC Association sponsored a conference
at Grant McEwan College in Edmonton and brought in a well-known
VBAC advocate and author, Beth Shearer from Boston. Many
health professionals attended from as far away as Fort McMurray.
Much lobbying was done locally at hospitals
to change rules to allow women to have both their husband
and midwife in the delivery room with them. Many women having
VBACs found the support of midwives invaluable. We did surveys
of local doctors to find out who was most supportive of VBACs
and what their routines and policies were.
I was fortunate to have national and international
exposure as the chair of the Cesarean Options Committee at
ICEA and later as a Board Member. Through this position,
I was able to arrange publication of summaries of VBAC research
that was sent to major hospitals in the US, as well as Canada.
I left the Edmonton VBAC Association in
the very capable hands of Cathy Pearson [leader until 2003],
who along with her husband Loren, had been registered in
the childbirth classes I taught and became active participants
in the Association. I then moved on to work at getting midwifery
legalized in AB and was on the committee to set up standards
and competencies, examination and registration of midwives.
My hope for the Edmonton VBAC Association
was that within 10 years, it would become unnecessary: that
VBAC would be a household name and that the cesarean rate
would drop to that of the local midwives, about 4% from the
then average 16%. It appears that it was not to be...an article
in the Journal stating that cesareans may become available
on demand is a disturbing trend…therefore the need for the
Association might be greater than ever.
Women are strong and capable to give birth,
with the support they need. I had the privilege of witnessing
my grandson's homebirth on February 14, 2004. Our daughter,
Laura, laboured for 23 hours with the love and help of her
husband and family and midwife, Noreen Walker (the circle
continues, blessed be! I love this woman!). I am convinced
if Laura had been in the hospital she would have been "sectioned",
even though she was strong and the baby was well throughout.
I am convinced midwifery is the way of change...and yet,
our midwives are leaving their practices, unsupported by
this government.
Whatever I have done to support VBAC and
midwifery in this province, I am thankful for the opportunity.
I am thankful for the friends I made along the way. I am
thankful for those of you who continue this vital work of
educating and supporting women to do what their heart tells
them to do and for hugging them if it doesn't always work
out.
[With the expanded mission to include providing
information and support on cesarean awareness, VBAC, and
on avoiding the first cesarean, the Edmonton VBAC Support
Association/ICAN of Edmonton is very relevant, now more than
ever. Please attend the 3rd Annual Cesarean Awareness Public
Meeting on Saturday, April 22, 2006 at the Strathcona Centre
Hall on 10139 - 87 Avenue in Edmonton from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
The high cesarean rate is a problem, be part of the solution.]
Good luck and best wishes,
Judy Cochrane, founder of Edmonton VBAC
Support Association.
For more information on the Association
call (780) 444-3041 or preferably send an email to edmontonVBAC @ yahoo.ca .
Our mailing address is 7604-153 Street SW, Edmonton, AB T5R
1N4. To become a subscriber send forty dollars per year or
seven hundred dollars for a lifetime subscription. Your donation
supports our local and Canada-wide awareness efforts. Visit www.edmontonvbac.netfirms.com and www.ican-online.org .
Submitted for publication on Spring
2006 issue of Birth Issues magazine, published
by ASAC in Edmonton.
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