30 Safe Births To Celebrate Sarah's 30th Birthday

I have been incredibly blessed with two beautiful boys born safe and healthy at home. These experiences were two of the most transformative days of my life. Not only because I became a mother but because I was empowered by what my body was able to do. Supported by a trained midwife with access to advanced medical care if I needed it, I never once worried about my health or the safety of my babies.

However, for millions of women all over the world this is simply not the case. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of death and disability among women of reproductive age in developing countries. Over 536,000 women die during pregnancy or childbirth every year.

That translates to about one death each minute.

Even more heartbreaking are the children left behind. More than 1 million children are left motherless every year due to maternal deaths.

Every woman deserves what I received. Deciding to take the most basic human action of giving birth should not be a life or death gamble.

Please help me fund 30 birth kits from the International Rescue Committee. These kits will go to expecting mothers who must give birth in the wake of crisis when there may be few medical resources to adequately support them. These kits can provide essential items such as blankets and clothing to ensure a safe birth for a child born in a crisis zone.