To: U.S. Congress
Don't put babies at risk - stop closing maternity departments!
Mothers living in rural areas are being left behind.
As one of over a million members of MomsRising, I implore you to address this issue, immediately, and ensure: no one gets left behind! There are currently over two million women, right now, living in maternity care deserts -- counties, often in rural areas, where there are no hospitals or birthing centers that help with pregnancy, and there are no doctors who specialize in pregnancy care -- and 19 million women living in contraception deserts. This means that over 21 million women have little to no access to doctors that could provide contraception, doctors who can answer questions about our reproductive health, provide information about abortion services, and are living without reasonable access to health centers that offer the full range of reproductive care methods.
Black, Indigenous, and Latinx women, along with those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, living in rural areas, are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to proper maternity care. These disparities result in higher maternal mortality rates among these groups, reflecting a deeply ingrained injustice within our healthcare system.
Everyone of your constituents deserves the right to access the best possible maternity care, regardless of their background or geographic location. I am counting on you to champion this cause and take the necessary steps to improve access to maternity care and reproductive facilities.
Why is this important?
This is the current reality for many women in communities across the country:
There are currently over two million women, right now, living in maternity care deserts -- counties, often in rural areas, where there are no hospitals or birthing centers that help with pregnancy, and there are no doctors who specialize in pregnancy care -- and 19 million women living in contraception deserts. This means that there are over 21 million women who have little to no access to doctors that could provide contraception, doctors who can answer questions about our health, provide information about abortion services, and are living without reasonable access to health centers that offer the full range of reproductive care methods.
Receiving maternity care, prenatal and postnatal treatment, mental health services, contraception, and abortion-care are not just about showing up to the appointment. There’s so much more to consider here: traveling long distances to receive prenatal care or give birth, which increases the risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery; childcare (finding and paying a babysitter); hotel lodging; taking time off work; and having all of this to consider even under emergency situations.
The harsh impacts of limited access to maternity care, the closure of maternity wards, strict or prohibited abortion laws, racial and socioeconomic injustices, and the consequences on pregnant women and their babies collectively form a complex and nuanced crisis in our healthcare system that leaves vulnerable populations at high risk.
Everyone deserves the right to accessible and high-quality maternity care regardless of their geographic location.
We need Congress to address this immediately!