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supporting expectant mothers anywhere via e-mail

This information was posted November 1, 1999

by Jayne Cravens, Virtual Volunteering Project Manager

"We have touched the lives of thousands of mothers, babies and their families -- online."

So proudly states Annie Douglas, who coordinates the online volunteer program for Sidelines National Support Network, a pregnancy-support group with more than 5,000 volunteers, of which about 250 provide online service.

Sidelines volunteers provide emotional support to pregnant women coping with long term hospitalization or home bedrest, pregnancy complications, leaving a job or "normal" life due to pregnancy complications, etc.

The online version of Sidelines volunteer program began in 1997 with just 20 trained volunteers. "Since then we have grown exponentially, and currently have over 250 trained online volunteers who are managed by six online coordinators and help more than 150 families a month from all over the world to cope with a high-risk pregnancy" says Douglas.

Sidelines is so named because "women with pregnancy complications can feel stuck on the sidelines of life," says Douglas. Online communications have provided many of these women with much needed support.

Sidelines volunteers come from many walks of life, races, religions and backgrounds. Douglas says, "The one common trait that brings them together is the desire to give hope and encouragement to other high-risk moms."

"Sidelines receives about 25 requests a month from moms to become online volunteers for us." All of Sidelines volunteers have experienced high-risk pregnancies themselves, and some would not be able to provide support to others were it not the Internet. "Some of these women live in remote areas of the US, and other parts of the world, and would have never heard of Sidelines had they not surfed into our website. They want to give back, they want to help others that were in the same situation. E-mail volunteers help bring Sidelines and its support into their communities."

"I don't think people go out less because of the Internet. A large percent our e-mail volunteers also volunteer locally (face-to-face), in their own town, for Sidelines."

Testimonials from those served by Sidelines online volunteers testify to the power and importance of e-mail support:

"I am 34 weeks pregnant and have been on bedrest for three weeks now. With my first child, I was on bedrest for seven weeks and was very depressed and had never heard of your organization. This time around it seems to be even more difficult having a two year old at home and feeling like I am neglecting him, but, I have a wonderful support person who is a Sidelines volunteer - Kris Z. She really has helped me to see the positive in this and that I can do this and she has given me many articles of other women on bedrest which helps me to realize that I am not alone and I feel lucky that I'm not in the hospital and that I am as far along in my pregnancy as I am. It has really helped me keep things into perspective. I just wanted to say thank you, you have a wonderful support group and are doing wonderful work!"

Another person helped by a Sidelines online volunteer told the organization:

"Thank you so much for your encouragement, support and friendship via e-mail during my difficult pregnancy with my fifth child. Emily was born on Aug 20 weighing just over 5 lbs at 36 weeks gestation. Her good health is due in part to the constant "good vibes" sent my way from my e-mail buddy (volunteer) Patricia, who kept me sane through weeks of hospitalizations, bedrest, mag sulfate torture, steroid injections, blown veins from IVs, and home uterine monitoring, all due to complications from preterm labor. Thank you and God Bless!"

Sidelines is yet another perfect illustration of how cyberspace brings people together, and how the Internet is not only NOT closing us off to each other, but giving people human connections and support they might not receive otherwise.

 
The Virtual Volunteering Project features additional information about Sidelines, detailing how the program was started, how volunteers are recruited and matched, and how Annie Douglas has managed the online volunteering program.

For complete information about Sidelines, visit:
http://www.sidelines.org