What is a Birth Fund?

A birth fund helps to fund the cost of the sevices of a midwife for people who could not otherwise afford it.

Rising Moon Birth Fund seeks to make homebirth a viable option for families with financial obstacles through fundraising, outreach, and education.

Why homebirth?

For many people homebirth is simply the only option which matches their belief systems. Some have had to endure painful hospital experiences which alert them to the arbitrary nature of protocols in place there. For some it is a gradual education process which begins when the first visits to the local obstetrician end poorly and the family begins to seek other options. Some have several children before finally realizing homebirth was right for them all along. Some want control of the labor process, impossible with managed care, others want control of what happens to their baby in the hours after birth. Some want God to lead the process and others want to be simply left alone.

What bonds homebirthers together, because they come from all walks of life and all income levels and all religions and creeds, is a need to be at home and undisturbed and to let nature take its course gently and easily.

Birth at home is remarkably simple and comparatively easier than hospital birth. 90-95% of the time the baby is born at home and is healthy after a labor which while longer is often more pleasant than the typical medical birth experience. You can labor in water, move around to be comfortable, you can eat. You can let the aches and pains of a healthy muscular system work the way they should, and scream or cry or be totally silent. Your toddler can run around and your husband can be where you both feel safe and protected. To labor in your own big bed, and deliver there, and stay there and spend the night is such a gentle process. No wheeled transport, or little plastic boxes for the baby, your arms do just fine. Midwives clean up the mess and chat about the beauty of what they just saw and leave you comfy and clean.

How Can I Help?

There are many ways you can help support the Rising Moon Birth Fund. A few ideas are listed here, but more can be found at How to Help.

Donate Money
Volunteer Your Time
Submit Fundraising Ideas

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About Us

Kate Fawley, CPM began the study of midwifery in 1998 after the birth of her first son. It was this experience that drove her desire to make birth better for other women. Her second son was born at home in a warm, loving environment. She attended a 3-year Midwifery School in Media, PA followed by a 2-year apprenticeship. This training was predominantly homebirth based. Her extensive knowledge in alternative modalities include: attendance at water births, use of homeopathy, herbs and acupressure.

Amy Borrelli is a doula and childbirth educator. After the birth of her first son in 2002 she was introduced to the idea of homebirth, and had her second son at home in 2006 with Rising Moon Midwifery.

Nicole Schwartz, MSW is a social worker and peaceful birth advocate. After the homebirth of her daughter, with Rising Moon Midwifery, she began her journey toward certification a doula and natural childbirth educator.