About Nicette

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Nicette Jukelevics, MA, ICCE is a childbirth educator, researcher, speaker, and author of Understanding the Dangers of Cesarean Birth: Making Informed Decisions and the VBAC Education Project (VEP). The VEP is an evidence-based online teaching tool for parents and perinatal professionals. It is available as a free download from VBAC.com.

For over 40 years Nicette had the honor and privilege of helping thousands of expectant families to prepare for childbirth, vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC), and newborn care. She has developed hospital- and community-based educational programs and presented on cesarean and VBAC issues at national conferences. She also provided advanced doula workshops on these issues across the U.S. With co-author, Henci Goer, Nicette published The Risks of Cesarean SectionA CIMS Fact Sheet, endorsed by 19 maternity care organizations. 

Recently, Nicette served on the Advisory Committee for the Toolkit to Support Vaginal Birth and Reduce Primary Cesareans, a  project of the California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative.

Vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) is a safe alternative to a routine repeat cesarean and is recommended as an option by the world’s leading professional associations of obstetricians and gynecologists. But, the majority of women with a prior cesarean are still encouraged to have a repeat operation. 

Despite evidence to support the safety of VBAC, many hospitals do not provide care for birthing families who want to labor for a VBAC. Effectively establishing VBAC bans has made a medically unnecessary, routine repeat cesarean the only birth option available in many hospitals. 

Nicette developed the VBAC Education Project to provide transparency, clarity, support, and guidance regarding birth options available to expectant families with a prior cesarean to empower them to make decisions that are right for them.

Routine repeat cesareans put mothers at risk for serious complications including life-threatening hemorrhage, blood clots, infection, surgical adhesions, cardiac complications, hysterectomy, uterine rupture, and a higher risk of serious problems related to the placenta. But, most people are not aware of these complications. 

Reproductive rights for the majority of women in the United States have been severely restricted or completely denied in many parts of the country. Nicette believes denying medical care to women who want to labor for a VBAC is also a violation of their reproductive rights. 

Nicette’s passion and goal have always been to provide expectant families with evidence-based information, guidance, and support and instill in each woman the confidence to have the empowering birth that she hoped for.   

 

Over the years, she has at times provided continuous labor support for a few mothers laboring for a VBAC and reassuring others in the operating room when they needed a cesarean. Her work was always guided by a desire to give women and birthing families a voice to help advocate for themselves and empower them to have the birth they hoped for. 

Nicette has always been a strong advocate for woman-centered, evidence-based care. When research and national obstetric guidelines established that VBAC is a safe alternative to routine repeat cesarean Nicette founded VBAC.com in 1998, the first evidence-based, online resource on the subject.

In support of perinatal advocates focused on improving the safety and experience of childbirth Nicette served on the Boards of the International Childbirth Education Association and DONA International. She is also Past chair of the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS).

Nicette is proud to have received the 2013 CIMS Advocate Award for her commitment to spreading awareness of Mother-Friendly care through direct communication and outreach and the 2015 Doris Haire Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Childbirth Education Association. 

Nicette is the proud mother of two adult children and a doting grandmother. Although Nicette has retired from teaching VBAC and childbirth education classes she continues to advocate for patient-centered, evidence-based, safer childbirth.

adult hands holding an infant hand