Meet Our Board: Jill VanderZiel

Second up in our ICAN Board bios is Jill VanderZiel. Here is her story in her own words.

Jill (and husband Christian) have two children, both born by cesarean. For the birth of our oldest, our son, we took the more traditional path of having a large obgyn group, taking hospital birth classes, and as many others do, doing more research on what stroller we were going to buy than how we were going to bring our first baby into the world! My water broke at 38+6 and I went to the hospital, where I was administered Pitocin immediately. The Pitocin caused fetal distress, and we were scared into agreeing to a cesarean shortly thereafter. I never really labored at all. What had been a very healthy, easy pregnancy had ended in a dramatic, and scary birth. Our son was allowed to get too cold in the OR, which affected his blood sugar, so he was given sugar water, and sent to the special care nursery. 

After we were home, I struggled with what had happened. It never occurred to me that my birth experience would/should matter, and I was upset with myself for being upset, if that makes any sense! I found ICAN several months later when I just wasn’t “getting over it” – I was amazed to find a community of women who felt similarly and had similar experiences and struggles! 

Two years later, we had our second child, our daughter. I planned a hospital vbac with her, and had prepared by hiring a doula, taking HypnoBirthing classes, and in general doing a lot of reading and research. We ended up being induced at 41+1 due to a sudden spike in high blood pressure. This time around though, I fully understood my options, was cognizant of the pros and cons of the available interventions, and made educated decisions in regards to them. Ultimately, I had just about all the interventions you could ever want to avoid  (foley bulb, AROM, Pitocin, pressure catheter, epidural, and finally a cesarean). But my husband, doula, and caring, supportive providers and hospital staff made our daughter’s birth a positive, healing, and healthy experience. Making the call to return to the OR after a long, 27 hour induced labor (only 3 hours of which I had pain relief for), was tough, and admittedly a little heartbreaking, but it was the right decision for us.  

The birth of a child is a monumental, life-altering event in a mother’s life, and too often women’s feelings in regards to their births are belittled and ignored. ICAN provides a valuable service to women in the Twin Cities community. In want ICAN to be a safe place for mothers and mothers-to-be to come and find support, healing, acceptance, encouragement, and education. 

New Year's Babies

Every New Year's Day I brace myself for the onslaught of stories about the year's first newborns. It so often seems that most are born by cesarean just after the clock strikes midnight. But this year, two stories stand out and give me hope.

In Louisville, KY:

“I didn’t plan it that way,” Ashbaugh said from her bed at the downtown hospital. “I was paying attention to pushing and getting her out.” 

Norton officials could not recall the last time a birth other than a cesarean section delivery took place so close to the start of a new year, spokesman Steve Menaugh said. 

In 27 years at the hospital downtown, labor and delivery nurse Lynne Young said Sophia’s arrival was the first she could recall taking place just after midnight.

And even more amazing, a couple refuses a cesarean for their twins in Middletown, CT:

Bredwood delivered twins at 7:39 Sunday morning — a boy and a girl. Technincally, the couple’s newborn son M’ale was first, followed six minutes later by his sister, M’layah. 

Aadil did most of the talking during the interview, as Faith was exhausted—the couple agreed to go natural for the births—no epidural or any other painkillers, and no Cesarean section, as doctors recommended. 

Congratulations to all new mamas, papas, and babes this New Year! To any women recovering from cesarean, whether planned or not: thoughts of healing and peace to you. We are here if you need us!