The Human Cost: How Maternity Ward Closures Harm Mothers and Babies

This is the second post in a series examining the nationwide rise in maternity ward closures and why they matter. While the first post covered the systemic causes behind these shutdowns, here we explore their direct consequences on maternal and infant health, especially in rural and underserved communities. If you missed the first post, feel free to check it out here.

Maternity Ward Closures Are a Growing Public Health Crisis

Closures of labor and delivery units are more than a troubling trend, they represent a serious and growing threat to maternal and infant health across the United States.

As more hospitals shut down their obstetric units, here’s what happens:

1. Longer Travel Times and Delayed Care

Expectant mothers are increasingly forced to drive 30 miles or more to access maternity care. Additionally, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, fewer than 50% of rural women can access perinatal services within 30-miles of their home. And more than 10% must drive 100 miles or more for access.

These extended travel times delay emergency interventions during labor and can increase the risk of complications for both mothers and babies.

2. Higher Rates of Preterm and Out-of-Hospital Births

Research shows a clear link between obstetric unit closures and increased preterm births. A 2018 study in JAMA found that when counties lose hospital-based obstetric services, there’s a measurable uptick in:

  • Preterm births (birth before 37 weeks of gestation)
  • Out-of-hospital deliveries, often occurring in emergency rooms or en route to distant facilities

Both outcomes are associated with higher rates of maternal and infant complications, including low birth weight, respiratory issues, and developmental delays.

3. Unsafe Birth Environments

Without access to dedicated maternity care, some women are left to deliver in emergency departments not equipped for labor and delivery, or even in ambulances on the way to far-off hospitals.

These unplanned birth environments increase the risk of:

  • Hemorrhage or unmanaged complications
  • Delayed neonatal care
  • Limited access to cesarean or surgical intervention

4. Disproportionate Impact on Black and Low-Income Mothers

The effects of maternity ward closures aren’t felt equally. According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, Black women in the U.S. are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women. Reduced access to maternity care deepens this disparity.

Low-income mothers, who are more likely to rely on Medicaid-covered maternity care, also face heightened risk when local services disappear. With fewer options and limited transportation, they often experience delayed or inconsistent prenatal care.

These Aren’t Isolated Incidents—They’re Symptoms of a Broken System

The ripple effects of maternity ward closures highlight a broader failure in our maternal healthcare infrastructure. From workforce shortages to poor reimbursement models, systemic barriers are pushing essential care out of reach for the most vulnerable. The growing number of rural hospital maternity ward closures is more than a logistical inconvenience—it’s a matter of life and death. We must treat this as the urgent public health crisis it is and commit to building a system that ensures every mother, regardless of zip code or income, has access to safe, high-quality maternity care.