"If you don't know your options, you don't have any."

- Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer

The Rhode Island Birth Network is the new statewide resource guide serving pregnant, birthing and new families. RIBN provides evidence-based care information, tools and support for natural, medical and planned births. We connect families with health care professionals who support gentle birth through our statewide resource directory and direct support. We are a volunteer 501c3 non-profit organization comprised of health providers who encourage informed decision-making during the childbearing years.

Our Vision

RIBN serves to bring more personalization and less procedure to birth experiences for parents and their babies throughout Rhode Island. As we expand our relationships within medical community, our goal is to raise the level of support among RI medical providers and medical facilities for gentle birth, reducing costs and health risks associated with unnecessary medical procedures. We will work with the RI Health Department to ensure that birthing statistics are current and reflect the true nature of medical facility birthing procedures throughout the state.

Mission Statement

RIBN is a 501c3 non-profit agency that provides a statewide, comprehensive evidence-based care resource guide for pregnant, birthing and new families that supports natural, medical and planned births. RIBN endorses the CIMS Mother-Friendly Initiative and the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative standards, and strives to collaborate with medical professionals to effect positive, statistical changes in birthing standards of care.

History

RIBN was founded by Erin Barrette Goodman in the spring of 2005 in response to the growing demand in RI for evidence-based information about pregnancy, birth, and new parenting.

A trained birth doula, prenatal yoga teacher, writer, and mother, Goodman understood first-hand the importance of informed decision-making. She gathered together a group of concerned professionals, parents, and educators to form what would evolve to become the premier statewide resource for new and expanding RI families.

Goodman hosted the first Fall Forum in November 2007 to facilitate thoughtful reflection and dialog about issues of concern to birth professionals and the families they serve.

The first forum, which explored the question "Why does it matter how we give birth?" featured the following panelists:

Midwife Mary Mumford-Haley
Childbirth Educator Ellen Oltman-Kellner
(Retired) Doula Lindsey Crowninshield
Pregnancy Shiatsu Therapist Karlo Berger
Midwife and Homebirth Advocate Michelle Palmer

In November 2008, Goodman again gathered together some of the foremost leaders in evidence-based maternal-infant care, for another inspiring afternoon of dialog and reflection. The topic presented was: "Empowered Decision-Making During the Childbearing Years: Rights, Roles, and Responsibilities".

And featured the following panelists:

Dr. John McGonigle, family practitioner and instructor of integrative medicine at Brown University Medical School
Deborah Erickson-Owens, CNM, PhD (c), practicing midwife at Memorial Hospital and Women and Infants Hospital
Allison Spooner, HypnoBirthing instructor, RIBN Marketing Director
Jessica Fuss, birth doula
Leah DeCesare, childbirth educator and postpartum doula
And Lisa Tener and Katie Ciccione, who each shared their experiences navigating the medical system in search of a gentle birth.

In the spring of 2009, in order to focus on her writing career, Goodman stepped down as president of RIBN. She now leads the RIBN Advisory Board, while Allison Spooner, a former Hypnobirthing® Instructor, passionate birth advocate, mother and former marketing chair for RIBN, is heading the organization.

RIBN is registered as a non-profit organization in the state of Rhode Island. Our members come from Providence, Warwick, Newport, South County, Northern RI, and the East Bay and comprise a diverse group of citizens and professionals. Browse our site to find resources, learn about events or to view our ever-expanding resource directory. We invite you to learn more about the benefits of becoming involved with RIBN and to consider joining our growing network by becoming a member or sponsor (link to membership page).