Otto Matthew Fund
a community fund to support families in need
Hi! I am the mother of Otto Matthew.
I was 25 weeks pregnant when I first found Amanda and the Faithful Haven Collective for doula services. Amanda and the Faithful Haven Collective were a good fit for me and my husband because of their inclusive approach and commitment to education. We were days away from signing the doula contract when I received very scary news at my routine OB appointment about a serious pregnancy complication. The next few days were some of the scariest and most challenging moments of my life; we learned that we would have to deliver Otto Matthew early at just 29 weeks 6 days.
Even with extremely little notice, Amanda was ready to support us through the experience. I was so impressed! Thankfully, we all made it through the unexpected situation, and everyone is now safe and recovering. Amanda's compassion and readiness to help made a difference to us in our time of need. We would now like to "pay it forward" by donating and starting a fund to help other birthing people secure doula services. Please consider adding your donation!
Love, Otto’s Mom
donate doula services to families in need of financial support
Otto’s parent’s didn’t get to fully experience doula services, but had already paid the non-refundable deposit. When early delivery was eminent for the safety of mom and baby, services were offered but things moved rather quickly and little Otto was here before we knew it. In lieu of the events that had happened Otto’s mother wanted to pay her deposit forward to a family that may need it someday. Together we created the “Otto Matthew Fund”, a place where families in need could get a portion of their services covered and a place where others could donate to help this cause. Many families could benefit from doula services but not all families have the resources to afford them. We hope that by starting this fund it will continue to bless families for years to come!
Education
Preeclampsia
“Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy. With preeclampsia, you might have high blood pressure, high levels of protein in urine that indicate kidney damage (proteinuria), or other signs of organ damage. Preeclampsia usually begins after 20 weeks of pregnancy in women whose blood pressure had previously been in the standard range.
Left untreated, preeclampsia can lead to serious — even fatal — complications for both the mother and baby.
Early delivery of the baby is often recommended. The timing of delivery depends on how severe the preeclampsia is and how many weeks pregnant you are. Before delivery, preeclampsia treatment includes careful monitoring and medications to lower blood pressure and manage complications.
Preeclampsia may develop after delivery of a baby, a condition known as postpartum preeclampsia.”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/preeclampsia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355745
HELLP Syndrome
“HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets) syndrome is a life-threatening pregnancy complication usually considered to be a variant of preeclampsia. Both conditions usually occur during the later stages of pregnancy, or soon after childbirth.
HELLP syndrome was named by Dr. Louis Weinstein in 1982 after its characteristics:
H (hemolysis, which is the breaking down of red blood cells)
EL (elevated liver enzymes)
LP (low platelet count)
HELLP syndrome can be difficult to diagnose, because all of the typical signs of preeclampsia may not be apparent, such as high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Its symptoms are sometimes mistaken for gastritis, flu, acute hepatitis, acute fatty liver disease, gall bladder disease, or other conditions. While some of these conditions may also be present, there is no evidence they are related.
Early diagnosis is critical because serious illness and even death can occur in about 25% of cases. As a result, patient awareness of HELLP syndrome, and how it relates to preeclampsia, is helpful to ensure the best medical care for mother and baby.”
https://www.preeclampsia.org/hellp-syndrome
NICU
“NICU stands for newborn intensive care unit. This is a nursery in a hospital that provides around-the-clock care to sick or premature babies. It has health care providers who have special training and equipment to give your baby the best possible care.
Find out about levels of medical care that NICUs provide and what level your baby needs. Learn about equipment that your baby may need and what you can do to be involved in your baby’s care. You can feed your baby and use kangaroo care to get close to him, even in the NICU.
You may feel scared and confused about your baby’s condition. It’s OK to feel like you do. Learn about resources and support that can help you and your family while your baby’s in the NICU. Visit shareyourdtory.org, the March of Dimes online community for families to share experiences with prematurity, birth defects or loss.”
https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/the-nicu.aspx