April Meeting - Southside Park in San Marco

Coming to the end of April, it was time for our monthly meeting.  The weather was amazing; bright, sunny, and perfect for this popular park.  All of the children loved watching the freight trains that are known for passing very close by the fence at the back of this park.

Our Mamas gathered together to allow the birth stories to unfold, the experiences, emotions, and support to gather around the tables.  Amidst children darting and playing, we came together, woman to woman.

Thank you, ladies, for coming out.  We're glad to know you and are here for you.

If you are interested, you are welcome to join us for our next park playdate meeting on May 27, 2015 at 10:30am at Crabtree Park.  Details can be found here.

ICAN of North Florida Members during the April 2015 Meeting at Southside Park.

January Meeting - Chick Fil A in Orange Park

It was a very cold day on January 28th when we decided to change from our familiar park playdate to the indoor playground at Chick Fil A.  Though ICAN is in no way affiliated with CFA, we were treated with so much hospitality.

Our moms sat together and shared experiences, hopes, sadness, fears, validations, encouragements, and love.  Birth stories were shared all around, while some nodded, others added to them, the space was held for the experience to unfold.

Thank you to our moms who braved the cold, braved showing up to a meeting, and braved being yourselves <3  It's through you that our community grows stronger!

Come join us at our next meeting on February 25th, 2015 at 10:30am at Pickwick Park in Jacksonville, Florida!  You can find details here.

Katie W. and Katie O.

Opening our meeting.

Katie O. sharing her story.

Kimberly H. snuggling a new baby love <3

Myranda C. checking out our new library this year!
We were excited to debut it at this meeting.

Invitation to ICAN of North Florida's Inaugural Cookie Swap

Do you have a tried and true favorite cookie recipe? Do you love to bake? Then this is the event for you!

Do your baking skills begin and end with Publix or Pillsbury? Do you despise baking, but love to taste yummy cookies? Then this is the event for you, too!!

This is the event for all of you!! We'd like to gather everyone together for a fun Cookie Swap just in time for the holidays. Put your talents or your local bakery to the test and bring a few dozen cookies to our swap, along with a container to take home a sampling of every cookie. Print out plenty of recipe cards, too.

Once everyone has gone around and gathered cookies and recipes to take home, we will all sit and enjoy tasting everyone's creations and getting to know one another.

*** Cookie Swapping will start around 3pm to give plenty of time for all arrivals and set ups to take place ***

Come join us at 2:00pm until 5:00pm at the South Mandarin Library at 12125 San Jose Boulevard in Jacksonville, Florida 32223.  You can show up at any time and hang out as long as you like.  However many cookies you bring is how many cookies you will be taking home.  ICAN will be providing milk, water, and coffee/teas.  We're looking forward to having you join us and making our Inaugural Cookie Swap a sweet success.

Please check out and rsvp at our event page here.

CANCELED November Playdate Meeting at Chick Fil A Tinseltown on 11/26/2014

Our image focal point for discussion for this meeting.

https://www.facebook.com/events/822920881084057/

Please join us for our playdate meeting - kids are welcome, and can play while we chat :-) Refreshments will be provided.

Our meetings will follow a basic outline, with nothing ever set in stone:
10:30 - Arrivals, chat, and play
11:00 - Birth story sharing*
11:45 - Discussion of the monthly image or quote**


*At all times the safety and happiness of our children is of utmost importance. Don't feel rude if you have to run off to rescue a child:-)

**The header of each event is the image or quote that we will discuss at the meeting (plus whatever any mom needs to talk about). How does it make you feel? What is your gut reaction? What do you think about it?

Welcome to ICAN of North Florida's Blog

ICAN of North Florida is a chapter of the International Cesarean Awareness Network serving Florida's First Coast: Jacksonville, St. Augustine, the Beaches, Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, Fernandina, Yulee, Orange Park, Green Cove Springs.  The International Cesarean Awareness Network is a non-profit advocacy and support group whose mission is to improve maternal and child health by preventing unnecessary cesareans through education, provide support for cesarean recovery, and promote vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). 

Every year we give support and information to thousands of women through our main office, local chapters, and e-mail support group. We provide impartial information, based on the latest research, which is easy to access for women and their care providers.

Chapter Leader - Kimberly Hellmuth, (904) 237-0451
Chapter Co-Leader -  Candice Young, (904) 294-3113
Chapter E-mail: north.fl@ican-online.org

Meeting Information:
Morning Meetings are held on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at a rotating playground around the Jacksonville area. Please see the events tab on facebook or the calendar for locations. These meetings are child-friendly!

Candice and Kimberly at the Great Cloth Diaper Change 2014
selling baked goods to raise funds for the chapter.