Unusual Path Quilt Pattern

30% of all sales of this pattern go to the Philly Birth Fund a local (to me) organization that helps pregnant BIPOC in need

Philly Birth Fund’s goal is to provide access to high-quality, midwifery care for expecting parents who otherwise would be unable to afford this critical care. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many expecting families are deciding to give birth at home to limit exposure to the virus. In PA, these services are not covered by insurance, making homebirth not accessible to many. We believe that parents deserve the choice for out-of-hospital birth, regardless of their financial situation.

In-home prenatal, birth, and postpartum care largely limits the hospital visits and minimizes exposure to COVID for the expectant family and the newborn. Transferring perinatal care to home-based care also helps to take pressure off of hospital systems that are overwhelmed by the COVID-19 outbreak.

The inability to pay for homebirth services disproportionately affects low-income folks and people of color. We are also seeing that communities of color are harder hit by the coronavirus, both in death rates and financial instability. Additionally, the maternal mortality rate in Philadelphia is 27.4 deaths per 100,000 live births; well above the national average of 17.4 deaths. Statistics from the most recent data available note that 75% of those deaths were black parents. 98% were to people with Medicaid or those uninsured. These funds will be prioritized for black and people of color, reducing virus exposure to those most vulnerable and providing access to people otherwise unable to afford this choice.