Birthing our Future

The future of maternal care in the United States is at a crossroads. Our maternal mortality rate continues to rank the highest of developed nations while over half of rural hospitals are discontinuing birthing services due to financial constraints with hundreds more at risk of closure. Structural inequities, including a lack of culturally competent care and systemic factors such as implicit bias, contribute to the stark disparities in maternal health outcomes. The current system is failing birthing people. Models incorporating doulas and midwives have demonstrated significant promise, and integrating advanced technology enables more precise monitoring of vital signs before and after delivery, ensuring the health of both mom and baby. Will our generation be the one to shift the paradigm of maternal health? This group of health leaders certainly thinks so!