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A great resource for those of you who may be experiencing high risk pregnancies is the website and non profit organization, Sidelines. While Sidelines is not adoption or unplanned pregnancy specific it is high risk pregnancy specific.
Sidelines is a national non profit organization that provides support for expectant mothers who are experiencing high risk pregnancies for one reason or another. Sidelines was founded by 2 women, Laura Maurer and Candice Hurley in July of 1991 and started out as small chapters spread across the United States. In 2001, they re-worked the entire structure of the organization so that they would be able to provide support based on conditions instead of locations, launched the website, and create a central toll free number.
The concept of Sidelines is simple really. Women who have successfully made it through high risk pregnancies talk with women who are currently experiencing high risk pregnancies to provide them with the understanding and support of someone who has “been there, done that.” Women in high risk pregnancies who are need of support can call Sidelines toll free number or fill out the form online to be matched with a volunteer.
Sidelines is run by trained volunteers who have been through high risk pregnancies themselves. Currently, there are over 3500 trained volunteers and over 600 of those are volunteers that support families online. They have volunteers in each of the United States but now tend to match volunteers with women experiencing high risk pregnancies based on the condition.
The Sidelines website is pretty neat too! They have some great articles to read along with tips on how to survive bed rest. They have weekly chat sessions for women experiencing high risk pregnancies and their volunteers and they have a message boards as well.
Having experienced two high risk pregnancies myself, I would have loved to known about a resource like Sidelines. If you are experiencing a high risk pregnancy and could use support from someone who has “been there, done that” check out Sidelines!
