---

About the Nonprofit

Visit Our Website

Birth It Forward (Formerly KC Women's Ministry) is a Kansas City based nonprofit serving families from prenatal through the first six years of a child's life.  We believe that connecting families with the resources they need during these early years, develops strong stable family groups, who are supported by the community around them.

We accomplish through:Birth and Postpartum Doula Support

1. Doula Support is our primary goal at the heart of what we do. In America, the maternal mortality rate is higher than in most developed countries.  We are losing new mothers during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum at a staggering rate.  Women of color are most likely to face this and to be confronted with bias and racism in the birth space.
2. At Birth It Forward, we provide doula support for any family on WIC at no cost.  Our doulas meet with the family and their support team at two prenatal appointments, educating them on how they can work with their medical team and advocate for themselves.  Doulas with Birth It Forward have attended doctors appointments to give a new family reassurance worked through mental health issues, and made referrals for needed care.
3. Doulas are present for birth and follow-up with a perinatal appointment in the family's home within two weeks to go over a mental health screening and ensure nursing is going well (if this is the family's feeding choice.)
4. All WIC clients are offered 8 hours of postpartum doula services to be used within the first year after birth.

Postpartum Mental Health Warmline

1. Our Warmline is staffed by trauma-informed trained volunteers and is available to anyone in the United States who is struggling with postpartum mental health.  We have resources available and can make referrals as needed.

Mother's Closet

1. Mother's Closet hosts pop-up events throughout the Kansas City Metro.  At each event we serve an average of 30 families, providing them with gently-used clothing, diapers, and other care items.
2. Our volunteers are available to teach babywearing, answer questions about breast pumps and other supplies, show cloth diapering techniques, and so much more.
3. Volunteer Doulas and other professionals are available to answer pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding questions or make referrals as needed.

Lactation Support

1. Birth It Forward's Lactation Program has just launched! With this program, we are able to provide clients with in-home lactation support.
2. Clients on WIC receive free support, and we offer a sliding scale for families in need.

Education

1. Childbirth Education classes are provided for all families at no cost.
2. Birth It Forward provides professional educational opportunities to Ob/Gyns, Nurses, Midwives, and Doulas throughout the Kansas City Metro.  We teach evidence-based care practices, trauma support, and advocacy.  We believe that a birth team should include the entire team working together.