From Networked Advocacy

The Strength of a Common Story

Few networks have as compelling a common story as 'Sidelines', a national support network for women with high-risk pregnancies and on bed-rest.

Every year about 200,000 pregnant women are prescribed bed-rest, most often to prevent pre-term labor. Rather than a time of peaceful R&R, bed-rest can be a time of isolation, frustration and depression, and it often puts strain on relationships, both with other children and with husbands. And on top of all of that, there is the worry about the baby. Each high risk pregnancy comes with its own set of concerns, treatments and and even vocabulary.

It’s a story that most of us don’t know first hand. But those who do, are instantly bonded with each other.

Sidelines is a network of women who 'were' on bed rest, supporting those who 'are' on bed rest. Before it began in 1991, there was no support, no network. Hospitals, doctors, insurance companies had little to offer, and women and their husbands were left to figure it all out on their own.

But now a woman with a high risk pregnancy can be match with another woman who has gone through the very same thing. The network has grown so much, they are often able to match women based on the medical condition that warrants the bed-rest.

In one striking example, a coordinator in Texas learned about a woman who was 5 months pregnant and been in a car wreck. Fortunately, the baby survived, but the woman became paralyzed. Not only did she need support for her high-risk pregnancy, she need support for her new paralysis. In the network was a woman who is paralyzed and just given birth. She had just finished her volunteer training, and Sidelines was able to connect the two women, and provide the support needed.

How do they build that common story?

In addition to regular contact between the volunteers and the mothers, the Sidelines network remains strong by sharing its common story in many ways:

- Publish a magazine with articles, tips and resources - Host regular online chats - Offer a toll free number - Provide lists of resources, check lists, links, etc

This network is unique, in that half of the members cannot go anywhere! They can’t hold a happy hour, or meet for an event. But their common story is strong! And many women stay in the network long after they need its support.

To find out more about them, and to see how they’ve built their network, visit http://www.sidelines.org