The Better Birth Project is more than just an initiative

It is a movement dedicated to reshaping the maternal health landscape by bridging the gap between physical therapists and birth workers like doulas. By offering pelvic health education and mentorship, this program equips doulas with the tools they need to better support pregnant and postpartum individuals, especially in underserved communities.

Through our partnership with Origin, a nationally recognized leader in pelvic health, the Better Birth Project has opened doors for growth, learning, and collaboration. Yet, as successful as the program has been, there is always room to expand its impact. Continued support and refinement are essential to ensure this program becomes an even stronger force for change.

Building Confidence Through Mentorship

One of the most powerful outcomes of the Better Birth Project has been its ability to build confidence and capacity among doulas. Mentees frequently shared how the education they received transformed their perspectives and strengthened their practices.

For Tonya, a postpartum doula, the program was a game-changer. “I feel like I’m offering my clients more now—more resources, more guidance, and ultimately more hope for a smoother recovery.”

Jason Calloway, one of the few male birth doulas in the field, reflected on the practical strategies he gained to support laboring clients. “Some of the things we talked about were how to labor and almost passively have contractions without really stressing the perineum out. That’s super helpful.” These skills, he explained, prepare his clients to control their pelvic floor ahead of time. “There’s only so much you can do in the moment when pain is real high and emotions are real high.”

Meanwhile, Lindsey found that the mentorship gave her new tools to address her clients’ most common concerns, especially those related to pelvic floor health and postpartum recovery. “I didn’t fully realize how much pelvic PT could help clients heal after birth. Now, I feel like I have so many practical resources to recommend.”

For Heidi, the program’s insights around pelvic floor function and recovery deepened her understanding of her postpartum clients’ experiences. “Understanding the pelvic floor has completely shifted how I approach my work. I can confidently guide my clients toward resources that truly make a difference.”

Mentorship: A Fresh Approach to Education

The mentorship component of the Better Birth Project was equally enriching for the mentors. Colleen, a pelvic health physical therapist in Austin, TX, shared how the experience gave her a refreshing shift from her typical patient load:

“It was refreshing to provide education without having to solve a clinical problem. There’s a weight off your shoulders knowing people are going home with something new.”

This focus on education allowed Colleen and her mentees to explore the nuances of pelvic health in a way that was both meaningful and actionable. Doula Kai described how this collaboration opened her eyes to the benefits of working alongside pelvic health professionals:

“This program showed me the value of working collaboratively. Together, we can tackle issues like incontinence or tearing before they happen.”

By fostering these connections between birth workers and pelvic physical therapists, the Better Birth Project bridged gaps in care, creating a stronger network of support for families.

Challenges as Opportunities: Growing the Impact of the Better Birth Project

While the Better Birth Project has already transformed the way doulas approach their work and care for their clients, the program has also unveiled valuable opportunities for growth—opportunities that represent exciting potential for its future. With every challenge comes a chance to innovate, adapt, and make the program even more effective for the communities it serves.

Enhancing Education for Modern Learners

Participants consistently praised the program’s foundational video content for its depth and relevance. However, busy schedules made it challenging for some participants to engage with the material beforehand. Yet even this challenge sparked creative solutions from mentors like Colleen:
“Some people went back and watched the videos after our sessions, and things tied together. It might be valuable to encourage participants to watch the videos afterward, too.”

As Colleen noted, the way people learn has evolved: “The scope of education has changed so much with social media and virtual learning. People aren’t sitting down to watch long videos anymore—it’s about digestible, bite-sized content.”

This insight highlights an exciting opportunity to transform the program’s educational delivery. Shorter, more interactive formats—such as microlearning modules or social media-style reels—could make this crucial knowledge even more accessible for busy doulas and birth workers.

Fostering Community and Connection

Connection has always been at the heart of the Better Birth Project, and the mentorship component proved to be one of its most impactful features. Participants gained invaluable insights through their one-on-one sessions, but many mentors expressed a desire to explore small group learning or in-person formats to further enhance the experience.

“If it’s going to be virtual, one-on-one is better,” Colleen shared. “But an in-person group of four could be really fun and engaging.”

Jason Calloway also emphasized the importance of building networks to expand access to care. He imagined a centralized pelvic physical therapy directory that doulas could use to connect their clients with critical support: “What we need is a network. It doesn’t matter what state they’re in—they just go to the website, put in their address, and get recommendations for care in their area.”

Lindsey added that having a central resource to help doulas connect their clients to care would reduce stress for both birth workers and families: “Sometimes it’s hard to know where to even start when a client needs extra support. A directory like that would take a lot of guesswork out of the equation.”

This vision aligns with the program’s larger mission: to create interconnected systems of care that remove barriers and ensure every family has access to the support they need.

How Your Donations Make a Difference-Turning Possibilities Into Reality

• The feedback from participants has been invaluable in shaping the next chapter of the Better Birth Project. The program has already proven its potential to improve birth outcomes and transform the lives of doulas, birth workers, and the families they serve. With continued support from donors, these opportunities for growth can become realities:
  • Creating Modern Educational Tools: Donations can fund the development of shorter, more engaging educational content, ensuring that critical knowledge is easy to access and apply.
  • Expanding Mentorship Formats: Your support can help pilot in-person or small group mentorship programs, fostering deeper connections and shared learning among birth workers.
  • Building Resource Networks: Contributions can enable the creation of tools like Jason’s envisioned pelvic PT directory, connecting doulas and families to life-changing care.

As Lindsey said, “Having practical resources and tools gives doulas more confidence—and that confidence transfers to the families we serve.”

Join Us in Empowering Change

The Better Birth Project represents a shared mission to uplift women, birth workers, and families. Every dollar you give supports this transformative work and helps us reach even more communities in need.

Together, we can expand the program, strengthen its impact, and ensure that every birth is safe, supported, and empowering.

Donate Now to invest in the next chapter of the Better Birth Project and help turn opportunities into meaningful action.