Alabama Hospitals Cease Maternity Services
Three hospitals in Alabama are set to close their maternity units due to staffing issues, rising costs, and low birth rates, leaving expectant mothers with limited access to maternal care. This closure trend is affecting over 5.6 million women nationwide who live in areas with little to no access to maternal care. The lack of nearby care can pose risks to both mothers and newborns, forcing expectant mothers to travel long distances for necessary medical attention. The closures have sparked concerns about the loss of important connections between expectant mothers and their delivering physicians.