Safer Birth in Bama formed as a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2015.

Jessica Thompson, a registered nurse and her husband Dr. Jeremy Thompson laid the foundation for Safer Birth in Bama in 2015. They founded with the mission to increase access to care and improve outcomes through education about the importance of not only access to care, but access to high quality evidence based care in and out of hospitals across the state for birthing mothers. The Thompsons have 5 biological children. 3 of the 5 were born outside of a hospital facility.

As medical professionals the Thompsons see the importance of filling in the gaps in care. Alabama mothers specifically face hurdles to access certified midwifery care in and out of the hospital and while that is a matter of preference many others lack proper access to an obstetrician or family physician within a safe driving distance as well as a safe place to deliver. In 2019 only 28 of 67 Counties in Alabama had a hospital offering maternity services. Today that number has declined to 24/67 counties. Rural hospitals closing the doors on their labor and delivery units while mothers already struggle to access care is appalling.

Helping our Community!

In an effort to start local we began hosting Shoals Mom Prom. Shoals Mom Prom has raised over $60,000 in the past 7 years! Because of our generous sponsors this year we have financially been able to contribute to the following Alabama organizations as they work to prioritize an evidence based increase of access to care:

Helen Keller Hospital
North Alabama Medical Center
The Dandelion House
Alabama State Nurses Association
Alabama Birth Coalition
Alabama Midwives Alliance
ACNM Alabama
Eliza's Legacy
Oasis Birth Center
Alabama Birth Center
Birthwell Partners
Alabama Prison Birth Project
Birth Sanctuary Gainesville

In addition, We are also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to provide assistance with start-up costs as well as basic equipment for two new midwives choosing to serve rural/underserved areas of Alabama.

Our board member Debra Harris, RN is an Evidence Based Birth instructor in the Tuscaloosa area. Through SBB and a partnership with Evidence Based Birth she was able to provide courses free of charge to professionals and consumers in the community she serves.

We hope that our impact will continue to grow so that every family can access high quality evidence based care in whatever setting they choose!

SHOALS MOM PROM 2026