Campaign Purpose

The Power to Push Campaign was launched in 2010 by BC Women’s Hospital & Health Centre. The goal of the campaign is to provide up-to-date resources for pregnant women and their families in British Columbia (BC), encouraging them to know their options, advocate for their choices, and push for the safest and best birth possible. The campaign also offers research-based information and resources to maternity care providers across BC to help them support every woman’s childbirth choices.

The Power to Push Campaign was created in response to the increasing trend towards cesarean birth in BC. In many cases, cesarean birth can be a life-saving procedure for the mother and child. However, BC’s current cesarean birth rate of about 30% is at an all-time high, and it’s higher than many experts would identify as an optimal rate. While cesarean births are very safe, research has shown that cesarean birth can expose women and their babies to health risks they do not face with normal vaginal birth.

The Power to Push website was created to help you understand the options available to you in your community, and to feel confident in the choices you make. Use this website to:

Learn… about the different birth options available in BC hospitals, including your choices for maternity care providers.

Explore… videos featuring real women sharing their personal birth stories and wisdom.

Share… your own story about your birth choices and experiences at www.facebook.com/powertopush

Join… the Power to Push Campaign community and connect with others through social media like YouTube and Twitter (@powertopush)