Maternity Care Deserts on the Rise in California

KQED's Forum

In the last decade California hospitals have shut down nearly 50 maternity wards, leaving pregnant people in large swaths of the state without a place to deliver their babies. That’s according to an ongoing CalMatters investigation which has found that the closures have accelerated in the last four years as hospitals cite high costs, labor shortages and declining birth rates. We look at the scope of the problem and who’s most affected – and how midwives and birthing centers are advocating for solutions. And we’ll hear from you: Have you had trouble accessing maternity care, or have you had to travel a long distance to give birth?

Guests:

Kristen Hwang, health reporter, CalMatters

Holly Smith, certified nurse-midwife and co-lead, Midwifery Access California

Tiffany Leonhardt, director of business development, Plumas District Hospital