For most of us, when a pregnant woman goes into labor, it's a joyous event for her friends and family.  We take it for granted that childbirth is safe; that not only will we have a new baby in our lives but that the mother will still be there tomorrow to take care of it.

In Haiti, a country recently ravaged by natural disasters, it's a different story.  Due to a lack of prenatal care and the fact that the majority of deliveries are done by untrained individuals, Haiti has the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the western hemisphere.

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That's where Midwives for Haiti comes in.  Started by certified nurse-midwives, they "believe every woman in this world deserves the knowledge and care to have a safe pregnancy and birth."  By providing training and resources to wome

n in the community, Midwives for Haiti hopes to improve access to skilled care for pregnant women and ensure that more mothers and babies survive.

Now, Midwives in Haiti is asking for your help.  Already limited supplies have become even more scarce since January's earthquake, and women must use old rags (if anything) to collect postpartum bleeding.  Certified nurse midwife Jennifer S., who is traveling to Haiti in November, is assembling kits for new mothers that will include cloth diapers, a blanket, soap, a onesie for the baby, and cloth menstrual pads.  Please help her reach her goal of bringing 50 cloth pads with her to these women in need by donating today!

Want to learn more?  Read these two amazing stories by volunteer midwives: