Waterbirth International still needs your help!!

World community rallies support.  

Midwives, parents, doctors, doulas, childbirth educators, grandparents, business owners - all send letters of support along with donations, membership and orders in the Waterbirth International eStore!!  In just one week enough donations came in to pay bills, wages and taxes for Waterbirth International staff. There is still a long way to go, but many groups are hosting fund raisers in all parts US and around the world.  The statement was loud, clear, strong and demonstrative -Waterbirth International MUST stay open to help millions more women and families.  

For twenty plus years WBI and Barbara Harper have been guiding mothers and their providers, offering education and birth pools all over the world. Waterbirth International is facing the very difficult truth that the Gentle Birth World Congress - a fabulous success in every way for international and local attendees - drained all of our resources. With the help of those around the world the doors will stay open while we reorganize and seek new volunteers and board members.

We still need to raise $175,000 in donations to cover the debts from the Congress.
With such a large sum to raise, we need each of you to support this cause.  When you support waterbirth, you are making a statement that you want and need options, choices and more control.

Can you help us stay open to take the next phone call? 

- to convince the an obstetrician to incorporate waterbirth into his/her practice 

- to work with the nurse midwives to install pools in their facilities

- to educate an entire hospital on the benefits of allowing women freedom of movement in the water

- to continue our resource services for parents and professionals 

We have freely given these services over the past 20 years. We want to continue to give them freely, but we need your help to keep the phones turned on and the volunteers working.
  

How much is it worth to see waterbirth become the norm in the US, like it is in the UK? 
I think we only need a few more years to make that happen. 

Women really do want waterbirth to be an available choice in every hospital.  They need choices now, more than ever.  

If we need to call every single waterbirth parent personally, we will.  We don't want 25 years of pioneering work to end and the vision of safe and beautiful waterbirth to go away.

Please do the following:

Donate – we still need a steady stream of donations to keep the office running on a day to day basis.  

Become a member – We have levels of membership for every budget, starting at $15.00

Matching donations – check to see if your employer or your spouse’s employer will match your donation

Volunteer – Can you make calls and do all kinds of grass roots activities? – we have a list ready to make assignments

Become a Board Member – do you have business or accounting skills, previous nonprofit experience, love to organize?  Send a resume and call to discuss the opportunity.

Host a fund raiser in your town – a number of doula and midwifery groups hosted a film showing of Ricki Lake’s new film and took up a collection for Waterbirth International.  You can do similar things in your community.

Buy a Birth Pool and donate it to your Midwife or Hospital – Many people did this in January and February – especially with the affordable and portable Birth Pool in a Box

Buy books, DVDs and products from Waterbirth International – we have new products, such as hot water shower filters, new books, and the best birth pools on the market. All of the proceeds help support Waterbirth International.