Discouraging VBAC Numbers

Connecticut Hospital Repeat Cesareans Vs. VBAC Statistics 2007

Hospital	VBAC	Repeat Cesarean	Total Previous Cesarean Births
Bridgeport Hospital	3.29%	96.71%	334 Deliveries
Bristol Hospital	7.06%	92.94%	85 Deliveries
Charolette Hungerford Hosp	0%	100%	67 Deliveries
Danbury Hospital	9.06%	90.94%	265 Deliveries
Day Kimball Hospital	0%	100%	54 Deliveries
Greenwich Hospital	7.23%	92.77%	166 Deliveries
Griffin Hospital	9.43%	90.57%	106 Deliveries
Hospital of Central CT	4.31%	95.69%	209 Deliveries
Hartford Hospital	2.0%	98.0%	500 Deliveries
Hospital of St. Raphael	5.52%	94.48%	163 Deliveries
John Dempsey (UCONN)	7.06%	92.94%	85 Deliveries
Johnson Memorial Hospital	14.29%	85.71%	28 Deliveries
Lawrence & Memorial	2.26%	97.74%	221 Deliveries
Manchester Memorial	15.13%	84.87%	119 Deliveries
Middlesex Hospital	1.26%	98.74%	159 Deliveries
Midstate Medical Center	2.5%	97.5%	120 Deliveries
Milford Hospital	6.85%	93.15%	73 Deliveries
New Milford Hospital	6.98%	93.02%	43 Deliveries
Norwalk Hospital	4.76%	95.24%	210 Deliveries
Rockville General	14.58	85.42%	48 Deliveries
Sharon Hospital	5.26%	94.76%	19 Deliveries
Saint Mary's Hospital	5.26%	94.74%	114 Deliveries
Saint Francis Hospital	7.41%	92.59%	324 Deliveries
Saint Vincent's Medical Ct.	0%	100%	157 Deliveries
Stamford Hospital	6.98%	93.02%	387 Deliveries
Waterbury Hospital	10.56%	89.44%	180 Deliveries
William Backus Hospital	9.23%	90.77	130 Deliveries
Windham Community Hosp.	4%	96.0%	50 Deliveries
Yale New Haven Hospital	9.95%	90.05%	583 Deliveries
Total	6.06%	93.94%	4,999 Deliveries

Change in 2010 Meeting Topics!

Below is an updated list of the ICAN of Connecticut 2010 meeting topics.
We are also currently working on alternating places to have the meeting, days of the week, and times of the day to help boost meeting attendance.

January : Dealing with an unexpected birth outcome
February : Nutrition During Pregnancy with Leigh White, N.D.
March : Open forum support meeting
April : Cesarean Awareness Month : Preventing the first cut (Special Guest Pending)
May : Childbirth Activism : How to get involved?
June : Fear in Childbirth
July : Open Forum Support Meeting/Birth Story Night
August : What are Your Rights in the Hospital? (Pending Special Guest)
September : Educating Our Children about Childbirth
October : Having a Family Centered Cesarean : When a Cesarean Section becomes Necessary (Pending Special Guest)
November : Home Birth (Pending Special Guest)
December : Informed Consent

If you would like to suggest any meeting topics, special guests that may be interested in speaking, or just have any comments about the meeting topics or input, please e-mail ICAN of Connecticut at ICANConnecticut@aol.com

Staggering Cesarean Section Numbers

Across the state of Connecticut Cesarean Section birth numbers have been increasing steadily with the national average, as well as sit above the national average right now at 34.6% as of 2007.
While I have not obtained the percentage rates I would like for cesarean sections at individual hospitals, I have obtained the number of cesarean sections that they are doing annually. At least for the time frame of January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2007. While the numbers would be much more effective and understandable with the total number of births that took place at these facilities during this time period (which I am currently working on obtaining) these numbers make a bold statement themselves. I have highlighted the highest numbers in Red, also something to note with these hospitals is they are larger city facilities.
Hospitals highlighted in blue are hospitals with current VBAC bans.

Bridgeport Hospital - 1012 Cesarean Sections
Bristol Hospital - 201 Cesarean Sections
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital - 171 Cesarean Sections
Danbury Hospital - 736 Cesarean Sections
Day Kimball Hospital - 149 Cesarean Sections
Greenwich Hospital - 814 Cesarean Sections (Note : Large Cesarean rate, not a large city)
Griffin Hospital - 247 Cesarean Sections
Hartford Hospital - 1554 Cesarean Sections
Hospital of St. Raphael - 463 Cesarean Sections
John Dempsey Hospital - 370 Cesarean Sections
Johnson Memorial Hospital - 87 Cesarean Sections
Lawrence and Memorial Hospital - 673 Cesarean Sections
Manchester Memorial Hospital - 296 Cesarean Sections
Middlesex Memorial Hospital - 441 Cesarean Sections
Midstate Medical Center - 333 Cesarean Sections
Milford Hospital - 203 Cesarean Sections
New Milford Hospital - 104 Cesarean Sections
Norwalk Hospital - 519 Cesarean Sections
Rockville General Hospital - 117 Cesarean Sections
Saint Francis Hospital - 904 Cesarean Sections
Saint Mary's Hospital - 386 Cesarean Sections
Saint Vincent's Medical Center - 539 Cesarean Sections
Sharon Hospital - 75 Cesarean Sections
Stamford Hospital - 1002 Cesarean Sections
The Hospital of Central Connecticut - 611 Cesarean Sections
Waterbury Hospital - 472 Cesarean Sections
William W. Backus Hospital - 318 Cesarean Sections
Windham Community Memoral Hospital - 129 Cesarean Sections
Yale New Haven Hospital - 1591 Cesarean Sections

Shortly I will have the total number of births that took place at these hospitals so that we can make a percent so see how these hospitals really rank.
I hope this information is able to help you, as well as mothers looking for a place to birth their baby, if they are making the choice for a hospital birth.

Class Success!

Last night we had our second successful Lowering Your Risk for a Cesarean class!
I was floored when 3 people registered, and even more excited when all of them showed up for the class itself. It was an awesome evening, and a great experience.

The upcoming dates for our Lowering Your Risk for a Cesarean Classes are....
September 26th, 2009 - 12noon - 1:30pm
October 10th, 2009 - 12noon - 1:30pm
October 28th, 2009 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
November Class dates are TBA, but they will take place one Wednesday evening, and one Saturday afternoon.
December Classes are pending due to the Holiday's.


Another important event coming up is Wednesday September 9th, 2009 at 6:00pm.
We will be viewing The Business of Being Born at Preferred Pediatrics in Milford.
All are welcome, please contact ICANConnecticut@aol.com or call 203-615-3790 to RSVP.
Bring your Pillows and blankets! Very comfortable and home like viewing!
Snacks are welcome!

Our Upcoming Events!

I got a nice big list of awesome upcoming events!

I hope to see some of you ladies getting involved!

If you would like to get involved, host a special ICAN event, or attend any of the below, please contact myself, Danielle Elwood for more details!

August 29th - Noon - Lowering your risk for a cesarean class - $20/per support team - 88 Noble Ave Suite 101, Milford, CT. Preferred Pediatrics. Please RSVP to ICANConnecticut@aol.com or 203-615-3790

September 1st - 7pm- The Webster Technique & Chiropractic Care during Pregnancy with Dr. Jason Jenkins - 97 Gulf Street, Milford, CT. 06484

September 2nd - 6pm - Lowering your risk for a cesarean class - $20/per support team - 88 Noble Ave Suite 101, Milford, CT. Preferred Pediatrics. Please RSVP to ICANConnecticut@aol.com or 203-615-3790

September 9th - 6pm - The Business of Being Born viewing - FREE!!! - 88 Noble Ave Suite 101 Milford, CT. Preferred Pediatrics - Please RSVP, space is limited. ICANConnecticut@aol.com or 203-615-3790

September 16th - 7pm - Monthly Meeting - Body Image after Pregnancy and Birth - Jenkin's Chiropractic 97 Gulf Street Milford, CT.

September 26th - noon - Lowering your risk for a cesarean class - $20/per support team - 88 Noble Ave Suite 101, Milford, CT. Preferred Pediatrics. Please RSVP to ICANConnecticut@aol.com or 203-615-3790

October 10th - noon - Lowering your risk for a cesarean class - $20/per support team - 88 Noble Ave Suite 101, Milford, CT. Preferred Pediatrics. Please RSVP to ICANConnecticut@aol.com or 203-615-3790

October 13th - 7pm - Monthly Meeting - ANGER : How to deal with an unexpected birth outcome (Guest speaker TBA!) - Jenkins Chiropractic 97 Gulf Street, Milford, CT.

October 28th - 6pm - Lowering your risk for a cesarean class - $20/per support team - 88 Noble Ave Suite 101, Milford, CT. Preferred Pediatrics. Please RSVP to ICANConnecticut@aol.com or 203-615-3790

Come join us tomorrow night!

Dar a Luz Fairfield County

Date:	Thursday, August 6, 2009
Time:	7:30pm - 9:30pm
Location:	Jewish Community Center of Eastern Fairfield County
Street:	4200 Park Avenue
City/Town:	Bridgeport, CT

Currently the national C-Section rate is 1 in 3. Find out how Connecticut fares, which hospitals have lower rates, and how you can reduce your risk.

Danielle Elwood, the Northeast Regoinal Coordinator from ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) and ICAN of Connecticut chapter leader will joins us to answer your questions and help dispel some myths.

All are welcome so please spread the word.
Free (as always)
Refreshments served

Dar a Luz Network is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing every woman opportunities for knowledge, power, and support in her pregnancy and birthing process.

Contact Jodi Green for more details or membership information.

fairfieldcounty@daraluznetwork.com

Meeting Topic Schedule for 2010

I know it seems a little early, but when I have sometime I am trying to get all my ducks in a row as far as ICAN meetings so I can find special Guest speakers.

For 2010, these are the monthly meeting topics.

January : When VBAC turns into CBAC - Dealing with an unexpected birth outcome.
February : Nutrition During Pregnancy - Special Guest Pending
March : Fear in Childbirth
April : Cesarean Awareness Month
May : Childbirth Activism - How can you get involved?
June : Pediatrics - Special care for the cesarean newborn
July : Educating our Children about childbirth
August : Birth Story Night - Meeting topic subject to change
September : What are your rights in the hospital?
October : Having a family centered cesarean - When a cesarean section becomes necessary.
November : Homebirth
December : What is informed consent?