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The Cradle Lifeline Fund
Facing an unplanned pregnancy can be scary for anyone. But for women who are struggling with financial difficulties, family problems, abusive partners or other life challenges, the stress of pregnancy can be unmanageable. The stress takes its toll on the women and sometimes on their unborn babies. You can help The Cradle provide resources to these women by clicking here, or read on to learn more.
Most of the pregnant women who contact The Cradle are just marginally employed, with no sick pay, maternity leave or other benefits. It is not uncommon for women to lose their job in the final months of their pregnancy. Some must choose between dropping out of school and parenting. Others are victims of domestic violence or have mental health issues.
That’s where The Cradle’s Lifeline Fund comes in. The Lifeline Fund provides essential financial support to these pregnant women so that they can make a truly informed and willing choice. With the generous support of our donors, these vulnerable women and their children can have basic necessities, including:
- food (average cost for one pregnant woman and her child is $75 per week)
- transportation assistance (a one-month Chicago Transit Authority pass is $86)
- rent assistance (average cost of one month’s rent is $750)
- medical care (cost for an uninsured delivery is $2,500)
- prenatal vitamins, toiletries, other essential non-grocery items (average cost is $25 per week)
This year, more than ever before, pregnant women are coming to us with significant basic needs. Many are living a hand to mouth existence, never sure where they will be sleeping in the coming weeks. One pregnant woman recently came in with her 3-year-old son for a late afternoon appointment with a counselor, asking for $1 for the vending machine since neither she nor her child had eaten that day. Another pregnant woman came to a meeting in December wearing flip-flops, with no winter coat. Often, The Cradle is their only resource.
Help insure that these vulnerable women receive the basic things they need to be safe and supported, and to keep the infants they carry healthy as they weigh the life-changing decision before them.
Support The Cradle Lifeline Fund
Read stories of women who have received services from The Cradle’s Birthparent Services program.
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Last year, 852 women facing an unplanned pregnancy contacted The Cradle. Of those, 281 (33%) received some level of counseling services. Yet just 97 (35%) of the women who received services went on to complete an adoption plan. 
