RESOURCES
I am but one person and no matter how much I may want to do, I can only do so much. In order to do my best at what I am doing, I am compiling a list of resources to area services, online recommendations and even book suggestions to help you find your way. If there is something you need help with but do not find here, please contact me and I will help you find what you are looking for.
Do you have a service or recommendation that you think would be fitting to be listed? Submit your request and I will look it over and contact you about its placement.
Pregnancy
ICAN: The International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. (ICAN) is a nonprofit organization whose 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).
Breastfeeding/Milk Sharing
La Leche League: is an international nonprofit, nonsectarian organization dedicated to providing education, information, support, and encouragement to women who want to breastfeed.
Human Milk 4 Human Babies: The mission of Human Milk 4 Human Babies Global Network is to promote the nourishment of babies and children around the world with human milk. We are dedicated to fostering community between local families who have chosen to share breastmilk.
The Mother's Milk Bank of Alabama: is a non-profit organization that collects, processes, and facilitates the distribution of excess mothers’ milk to provide nourishment to babies in need and sick or premature infants to helps moms who can’t supply their own milk because of stress, medications, or other complications.
Baby Wearing/Cloth Diapering
Baby Wearing International of Birmingham: We are the Birmingham, Alabama, chapter of Babywearing International Inc., a nonprofit educational organization with the mission of promoting babywearing, through education and support, as a universally accepted practice with benefits for both child and caregiver.
Bereavement
Stillbirthday: Start Here
(In)Complete Retreat: A biblically based retreat
for mothers who have lost a child to stillbirth or infant loss.
The Willow Tree: Mountain Top Community Church: Miscarriage and Infant Loss Ministry
The Finley Project: 7-part holistic program to offer help mothers through the loss of their baby.
Grief.com: is dedicated to help everyone deal with the often unknown terrain that comes along with all kinds of grief. Through education, information and other helpful resources we hope to make the challenging road of grief a little easier.
The Cooper Project: Hand stamped personalized jewelry.
Bereaved Parents of the USA: is a national non-profit self-help group that offers support, understanding, compassion and hope to bereaved parents grandparents or siblings struggling to rebuild their lives after the death of their children, grandchildren or siblings.
Love Comma Dad- This Care Package is an online, video-based resource I created as a starting point to help in the healing process.
Fatal Diagnosis Support
Prenatal Partners for Life: Support information & encouragement for carrying to term with an adverse prenatal diagnosis and support for raising your child with special needs after birth
Be Not Afraid: Support for families who continue their pregnancies after a fatal diagnosis
For Dads
The Fatherhood Blog: I created this blog as a place where fathers and fathers-to-be can gather to share their stories and learn from others. Whether you’re a new dad, an expecting dad or a veteran of fatherhood, my goal is for this blog to be open and accessible to all — and that includes mothers, too. Hopefully, the women in our lives will be able to better understand what us fathers are going through before, during and after the birth of our children.
Families In Need
Positive Choices Pregnancy Test Center: Earn While You Learn Program provides parenting classes and credit that you can exchange for goods in their store for diapers, bottles, clothes and many other items.
The Rebecca Foundation's Cloth Diaper Closet: is a non-profit organization that provides in-need families with cloth diapers at no cost. Families from all over may apply for assistance and have diapers mailed to them.
Mental Health/Addiction Assistance
Addiction and Pregnancy: Pregnancy should be an exciting and empowering time in a woman’s life. Unfortunately, addiction and mental health problems can compromise a woman’s safety and well-being. There’s hope for recovery, though. Help is available for pregnant women who are suffering from addiction.
The Recovery Village: Addiction treatment options available that can minimize the risks to mother and baby, and that can help women start their lives as mothers clean and sober. Treatment must be individualized for each pregnant woman depending on many factors. But pregnant women with addictions should never be afraid to reach out. Help is available. In fact, you can learn more about our admissions right now. Why not take the first step toward a healthy life for you and your baby today?
Assistance For Low Income Families
BirthWell Partners: We train community doulas who provide caring, one-on-one support to low-resource pregnant women and teens in central Alabama.
Alabama Public Health: The Alabama Medicaid Maternity Care Program is designed to ensure every pregnant woman has access to medical care, to lower Alabama's infant mortality rate, and to improve the health of mothers and infants.
Alabama's Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC): Alabama's WIC program is designed to help families put healthy foods on their table through food vouchers and nutrition education. They also provide breastfeeding support and other health related services.
String of Pearls: The path between grief and hope is a difficult place to walk; our desire is to provide guidance, compassion and practical suggestions as plans to honor the life of pre-born babies are crafted.
Neonatal Hospice
Hospice Family Care: Perinatal Hospice and Palliative Care
Books/Audio
I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith
Companioning at a Time of Perinatal Loss: A Guide for Nurses, Physicians, Social Workers, Chaplains and Other Bedside Caregivers by Jane Heustis, RN. and Marcia Jenkins, RN. Forward by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph. D.
A Gift of Time: Continuing Your Pregnancy When Your Baby's Life Is Expected to Be Brief by Amy Kuebelbeck and Deborah L. Davis, Ph.D.
A Gift of Time: Continuing Your Pregnancy When Your Baby's Life Is Expected to Be Brief by Amy Kuebelbeck and Deborah L. Davis, Ph.D.
Local Businesses
The Dewdrop Doula: Placenta Encapsulation, Placenta/Breastmilk Keepsakes and Jewelry
Phillips Family Chiropractic: Family-centered chiropractic care. Specializes in maternity and newborn adjustments.
The Balancing Point: Acupuncture and Wellness- Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Chinese Herbal Medicine, Tuina, Cupping
Peek At Me 4D | Ultrasound Imaging: Peek at Me 4D is an ultrasound boutique that offers elective gender, 3D/4D and also HD Live Ultrasounds to expecting mothers. All of our ultrasound technicians are ARMDS certified or registry eligible.
Quest for Health Chiropractic: Through gentle, precise, and scientific adjustments, Dr. Pitts and Dr. Hallingquest use chiropractic techniques to improve the communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body. At Quest for Health Chiropractic, we are dedicated to helping all women, whether they are trying to conceive, currently pregnant, or already have children, to improve their health and prepare their body for the next phase of their life. We use a holistic approach and preventative measures, as well as treat current aches and pains you may have.