Sidelines National Support Network: Nonprofit Spotlight

This article is the second in a series of parenting nonprofit spotlights; the focus of this article is the Sidelines National Support Network, a 501(c)3 organization founded in 1991. Sidelines, the National High Risk Pregnancy Support Network, provides a wealth of resources for women experiencing a high risk pregnancy. Read on to learn more about this fabulous organization.

What is a high risk pregnancy?
A high risk pregnancy is one in which the mother, or the child, are at risk for complications. These complications can be due to a variety of reasons. Some of the more common reasons which lead to a high risk pregnancy determination are: pre-term labor, pre-eclampsia, placenta previa, and gestational diabetes. The organization also provides support for women experiencing more rare disorders including heart conditions on the part of the mother or unborn child, birth defects affecting the unborn child, and even pregnant mothers who are dealing with cancer. These are just a few of the categories that fall under the high risk umbrella; more can be found on the Sidelines' Resources Page.

How can Sidelines' help with your high risk pregnancy?
In addition to the wealth of information available on the Sidelines website, the organization also has an expansive volunteer network. The volunteers provide peer support, via email or telephone, for mothers (and even fathers) who are seeking help with their high risk pregnancy. The volunteers are separated into groups and the goal of the organization is to find as close of a match as possible to the parent seeking support. All volunteers have, themselves, experienced a high risk pregnancy. If you are on bedrest for preterm labor you will be matched up with a volunteer who was also on bedrest for the same condition. It is not always possible to find an exact match, especially in the cases of rare conditions, but Sidelines does their best to meet the needs of the pregnant mothers desiring support.