Our Mission is to Inform, Support, Engage, and Empower Consumers, Community Leaders and Providers with Powerful Tools to Improve Birth.
We envision a world where birth is safe for all. That all pregnant people feel supported and receive evidence based, respectful, humane care during childbirth.
When I say I do not like war, it does not mean I dislike soldiers. When I critique the current state of our education system, it does not mean I dislike teachers/educators. When I am critical of the U.S. maternity care system, it does not mean I dislike nurses/providers/hospitals.
Without critique there will be no change.
- Amanda Hardy, PhD.You are likely here because you have experienced, heard or witnessed unnecessarily difficult or traumatic births that have left you feeling frustrated and angry. You may be seeking answers, healing, accountability and/or a strong desire to prevent this from happening to other families.
We typically all grow up with a “doctor knows best” mentality. It’s often difficult to understand that they too are working within a broken system that is built on fear of liability, a system that has significant financial motivators and a system that has come to the conclusion that more interventions solve both of those issues and it's up to us to make sure it changes.
Whether you experienced it first hand or you’ve been a witness, you may be a casualty of the system. We’re here to give you the tools & strategies you need to heal, take action and focus your consumer power to make a real difference in the lives of others.
Founder of ImprovingBirth.org and former Vice President of the San Diego Birth Network. Background in public relations and marketing before becoming a birth doula in 2003, witnessing first hand the drastic difference between research and what was actually taking place in hospitals. I'm willing to have the tough conversations about how we can no longer continue doing things the same way and how we can work together to make things better.
Past President of CIMS and BirthNetwork National, Postpartum Doula and Childbirth Educator certified through DONA International, ICEA and CAPPA
Practicing Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist and Hospital Laborist at three Los Angeles area hospitals.
Women’s Magazine Editor, Branding Consultant and Documentary Filmmaker. After taking a break as magazine editor and brand consultant to have my first child I was struck by how no one was talking about the horrific treatment of mothers during childbirth in this country and realized the best thing I could do was turn my knowledge both of the facts and skills for storytelling into a movie which is my current full time project.
Leading cross-functional agency teams for brands including LexisNexis, Honda, and Volkswagen. I blend over 10 years of technology and communications expertise with a passion for advocacy that extends into everything I do. In short, I want to help connect people with ways to change the world.
Research Coordinator for PPSWCF, Former Group Home Manager for adults with intellectual disabilities at RACSB, Former Communications Director for Genocide Watch. "I believe in the importance and power of advocacy and empowerment, I believe in using evidence-based approaches to improve outcomes, and I believe in women."
Professional storyteller, PR and marketing professional working to tell the stories of and be a voice for pregnant women and moms. I don’t want my daughters to have to go through the same things I did. I want to make a change….I have heard countless stories from acquaintances and friends about how they were treated in labor and they all have the same thread -- lack of respect. It needs to change
Former Director or Operations for Dolby Laboratories, practicing doula and midwifery student. My dream is to provide evidence-based education and empowerment to every woman so she is able to experience a supportive and safe birth.
Journalism, reporting/writing/editing, magazine and editorial management, strategic communications, marketing, fundraising, event planning, community relations, media relations, public relations. After my own traumatic birth, I became a bold voice in the movement to improve birth and maternity care, advocating for the elimination and prevention of obstetric violence and assault.
ImprovingBirth social media coordinator for 4 years. Rally to Improve Birth event leader
ImprovingBirth Task Force for 6 years. Founding member and board member of ReBirth Equity Alliance of Texas.
Kindergarten teacher, and a strong advocate for every pregnant woman to have her voice heard for quality maternal care. After my own near death experience after sever preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, I am a strong advocate for all moms to have access to quality maternal care.
I cannot express how thankful I am for your organization and your help! I am just a mom with dreams of better birth options.
- Rebecca Bell, MotherSharing powerful stories of both negative and positive experiences can inspire people, helps them learn more quickly and quite possibly, inspire real change.