The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization founded by Esther Booth Zorn in 1982. ICAN's mission is to improve maternal-child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, providing support for cesarean recovery and promoting Vaginal Birth After Cesarean  (VBAC).

ICAN of Kitsap County is an official chapter of ICAN International and was founded in September 2007 by Kristina Kruzan, a local doula and mother of three.

Join us at one of our meetings or chat with other women on our Yahoogroup:



Chapter Board Member(s)

Chapter Leader - Kristina Kruzan, a practicing doula since 2002 and childbirth educator since 2005, is married with three children. She has been involved in birth and breastfeeding advocacy/activism since 1997, including involvement with ProMoM, CAPPA, Northwest Attachment Parenting, and ICAN of Tacoma.

Kristina's first birth was an induction of convenience and her son was born vaginally. Her second birth was an induction at 36 weeks for pre-eclampsia and narrowly avoided a cesarean, her son was vaginally born. Kristina's daughter was born by cesarean at 35 weeks when she was discovered at an NST to be in distress. All kiddos are doing well.






If you are interested in joining the Board, please send an email with your interests and background. We are looking for strong communicators who are passionate, organized and committed.

Statement of Beliefs

ICAN Statement of Beliefs

We, the International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc., believe that:

1. The inappropriate over-use of cesarean surgery is jeopardizing the lives of mothers and babies.

2. When a cesarean is necessary, it can be a lifesaving technique for both mother and baby, and worth the risks involved.

3. Birth is a normal physiological process. Research shows that with emotional support, education, and an honest opportunity, the vast majority of women can have a healthy vaginal birth.

4. A healthy birth incorporates emotional, physical and spiritual well-being.

5. Research shows that VBAC is reasonable and safe for both mother and baby. A repeat cesarean should never be considered routine – it is major abdominal surgery with many risks.

6. It is unethical and unenforceable for hospitals to institute VBAC bans.

7. Women have the right to true informed consent and refusal, which entails full knowledge of the risks and benefits of all tests, drugs, and procedures.

8. It is incumbent upon every care provider and institution to facilitate the informed consent process.

9. Women must be allowed to express all of their birth-related feelings in a safe and supportive environment. The emotions of a pregnant and birthing woman have profound effects on the birth outcome and recovery.

10. Patient-choice cesareans are unethical on the part of the physician. Women are not being fully informed of the risks of this option in childbirth and therefore make decisions based on cultural myth and fear surrounding childbirth.

11. The trend of “elective cesareans” is being significantly overstated through distortion of research and data.

12. We as women must now assume more responsibility for our own births.

13. It is critical that women’s choice of care provider and location of birth is respected.

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