About Granny’s Birth Initiative

We believe every person who gives birth deserves to feel supported, valued, and a true sense of belonging. We work alongside our community to uplift families navigating challenges such as incarceration, housing instability, or limited support systems—ensuring they are met with compassion, dignity, and care at every step of their journey, together striving to #BirthKYBetter.

Our Grannies

We named our organization in honor of the “Granny” midwives whose care and dedication helped shape today’s birth communities and professionals.

These midwives served as trusted caregivers and birth attendants, often supporting families in rural and underserved areas who had limited access to formal healthcare. Over time, their contributions became less visible in mainstream history, despite the important role they played in caring for generations.

Granny’s Birth Initiative carries forward this legacy of service by supporting families during childbirth and working to improve maternal and infant health outcomes. We focus on assisting individuals navigating challenges such as involvement with the justice system, child welfare, or housing transitions—helping ensure they have access to safe, respectful, and supportive care.

Our Mission

Granny’s Birth Initiative aims to support families in need during childbirth. Many of these families face challenges in accessing consistent, high-quality care or may be overlooked within the healthcare system. The initiative focuses on providing assistance to individuals experiencing incarceration, housing instability, lack of family support, and other barriers that can impact maternal and infant health outcomes.

Vision

We envision a future where all families have reliable access to the support and resources needed for healthy pregnancies, safe births, and strong beginnings. This includes expanded availability of maternal support services, childbirth education, midwife & doula care, and lactation assistance—ensuring continuity of care even when families experience separation or complex circumstances.

Goal

Our goal is to expand access to essential maternal and family support services, including doula & midwifery care, lactation support, childbirth education, and legal resources. By strengthening these supports, we aim to improve maternal and infant health outcomes and ensure families have the tools and guidance needed for safer, blissful beginnings.

Our First Steps

No one should have to birth alone, even behind bars or shackled. Dignity Bill 1, passed in 2018 deemed shackling during labor yet so many express this is their experience. One, many are not educated on their new right, and the staffing of this system remains ignorant of the law. We want to provide doulas not only to advocate but to educate both the prison population and staffing.