VBACs, Childbirth Trauma, Breastfeeding & Helpful Links

Especially for VBAC Families

International Cesarean Awareness Network (www.ican-online.org)

This site includes White Papers  on such subjects as how to avoid a Cesarean to how to heal emotionally after a Cesarean, It also includes fact sheets and a list of chapters for local support. There is not currently (1/10)  a Toledo area chapter.

UK Cesarean Support

This UK web site offers Cesarean Birth and VBAC information. It includes poems and writing about Cesareans and VBAC, as well as a Cesarean scar picture gallery with background information  for recent and healed scars.

kmom's web site: (www.plus-size-pregnancy.org)

Cesarean and VBAC info are toward the bottom of the page on kmom's site

Gretchen Humphries site: Birth Matters (www.birthtruth.org )

Multiple essays including "You should be grateful..." Here is Gretchen's note about this essay:

It's an angry piece of writing, but I haven't changed my feelings about the phrase "you should be grateful you have a healthy baby" or "all that matters is a healthy baby". Mostly I get positive responses, from women who never knew anyone else felt the way they did.

Disappointing and Traumatic Birth

The sad truth is that although we often plan an ideal birth, this is not always what takes place. If you are here because a previous birth was disappointing or traumatic, the following web sites may offer helpful information.

Birth Trauma Support Group/Seattle

The site contains information for mothers, fathers, babies and family members recovering from birth experiences that were stressful for them. These birth experiences can take place in any environment, and can be vaginal or caesarean. This site contains information about recovery from traumatic and stressful birth experiences of any type, including caesarean recovery. It does not specifically address neonatal loss issues.

Birth Trauma Support

This is an Australian home birth website that offers information for identifying and dealing with traumatic birth, It includes information about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder following childbirth, as well as  resources for healing, and links to other helpful web site. Especially helpful is the "Myths of Birth Trauma" essay.

Tabs

A site from New Zealand which offers very specific information for dealing with PTSD, including a list of therapies that may be helpful.

Birth Trauma Canada

Birth Trauma Canada is an organization of mothers traumatized by childbirth. Traumatic stress disorders and depression are normal reactions to severe physical and/or psychological stress. This site has three purposes: to give women a voice, to support women traumatized by birth, and to advocate for better obstetrical treatment and attitudes.

Discussion Board for Healing Birth Trauma
This message is to announce a new online discussion board called Solace For Mothers, An Online Community For Healing Birth Trauma. It is for women who have experienced trauma around the process of giving birth. For these women, giving birth has left them feeling deeply disappointed, traumatized, or even violated. We want these women to know that they are not alone, that birth trauma is very real, and that other women have had similar experiences and feelings. We have created an online community as a place for women to begin or continue their healing journey.

In the online community, there are different categories and forums, and the topics covered are issues that often come up for women dealing with birth trauma. It is our hope that women can virtually support each other on their healing journeys in this online community, and perhaps eventually connect with each other in the real world if they choose.

There is an introduction page here; http://www.solaceformothers.org/forum.html, and from this page you can register for the discussion board. Due to the very personal nature of this subject, we have made an effort to keep this community private, and women must register before being able to enter or view posts. If you do not fall into the category of a woman suffering from birth trauma, or if you would like to see a preview of the community before joining, you may visit this link to do so; http://www.solaceformothers.org/preview.html. This link is not the actual community and you will not be able to view members' posts from there, it will simply give you an overview of the topics covered.

We are sending this message out via email and posting it to online communities and to lists in order to reach these women. Please send this message to anyone who you feel may benefit from it.

Sincerely,

Jenne Alderks and Jennifer Zimmerman, creators and moderators of the discussion board

Supported by Sharon Storton and the Solace For Mothers team

Midwives as Bullies

The unfortunate truth is that even midwives may cause birth trauma. Marinah Valenzuela Farrel has written a series of four articles for Midwifery Today. Although the focus of the series discusses how midwives are bullied, much of what is written there applies to women who are also bullied by midwives. The first three articles are available at Midwifery Today on-line. The fourth is only available in the journal as of 11/07.

Bullying, Part 1

Who is the Bully?, Part 2

Bullying and PTSD, Part 3

Finding Solutions to End Bullying

The following web sites also contain helpful information about birth trauma and some resources for healing.. However, the language used in describing what happens to women during birth rape is more graphic and may be more disturbing. I offer it because it is needed.

Joyous Birth site/ birth rape essay

This site contains a descriptive (and possibly disturbing ) essay that discusses unwanted hospital procedures as a form of rape (birth rape). It is a thought provoking piece  that may help explain why women feel violated after even an uncomplicated, lovely birth.

True Birth.com

The essay in this link was written by Danell Swim. It also contains graphic and disturbing language about birth rape. It also contains a long list of comments and a discussion of the essay that may be helpful.

Not a Happy Birthday

This essay was written by Amity Reed and is published on a UK feminist website. Although it contains information about birth trauma/ birth rape, it also contains some information for healing. Amity is a mother and birth activist.

A Place to Remember

This is a web site with uplifting support materials for those who have been touched by a crisis in pregnancy or the death of a baby.

Breastfeeding Related Sites

Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine

Offers information and protocols for a variety of breastfeeding issues such as low blood sugars in the newborn and the characteristics of a breastfeeding friendly doctor's office.

Breastfeeding in Special Circumstances

Breastfeeding with PCOS

MOBI Motherhood

While general information and breastfeeding basics are to be found at MOBI Motherhood Intl’s website, our intent is to go beyond the norm in addressing extreme breastfeeding challenges. Includes a lot of information on PCOS and low milk supply

SoulCysters

A place for women with PCOS to speak from the heart. Their is a link at the bottom of the page for participation in ongoing research studies for breastfeeding women with PCOS.

Breastfeeding after Breast and Nipple Surgery

This website provides information and support to mothers who wish to breastfeed after breast or nipple surgery, and their friends and family. It is also an online resource for healthcare providers who help mothers breastfeed.

Links to Other Helpful Sites

Midwives Alliance of North America (www.mana.org)

American College of Nurse-Midwives (www.acnm.org)

Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) (www.motherfriendly.org)

Childbirth Connection (www.childbirthconnection.org)

Midwifery Today(www.midwiferytoday.com)

midwifeinfo.com

American Association of Birth Centers (www.birthcenters.org)

Waterbirth International (www.waterbirth.org)

birthNETWORK.org

La Leche League (www.llli.org)

Menstrual Cycle Education

This site was developed by Joan Moon a CNM friend and is a wonderful way to learn more about the menstrual cycle.

Michigan Midwives Association (www.michiganmidwives.org)