A midwife crosses 'maternity deserts' to make a difference for Black moms and babies

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A midwife crosses 'maternity deserts' to make a difference for Black moms and babies

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A midwife crisscrosses Alabama to care for pregnant women and deliver babies. It's an important profession as maternity deserts expand across the U.S., according to the latest March of Dimes report. Maria Fabrizio/NPR hide caption

Nadia Gramby cherishes quiet moments with her baby girl River Emmanuel, who's starting to talk. They exchange snuggles and baby coos each morning.

"Did you sleep well last night?" Gramby asks her little girl, who has dark curls and a big smile.

Besides being a mother

Published 2026-08-11 20:57:00 UTC · Published by JQJO

Prepared by Sidra · AI assisted

More context

Timeline

· On Sep 2023: Alabama trial court blocked birth center hospital licensing rule.
· On May 2025: State trial court again ruled in favor of birth centers.
· On Jul 4 2025: President Trump signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law.
· On Jan 9 2026: Alabama appeals court reversed, favoring state health department.
· On Mar 23 2026: Midwives sought Alabama Supreme Court review of ruling.
· On Apr 2 2026: Atlanta Birth Center director spoke against Georgia restrictions.
· On May 15 2026: Alabama Supreme Court declined to hear midwives' appeal.
· On Jun 2 2026: Black midwives sued Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi states.
· On Aug 11 2026: March of Dimes released 2026 maternity desert report.
· On Aug 11 2026: NPR published Gramby profile with Kristin Wright reporting
· On Aug 12 2026: Gramby continues driving hundreds of miles daily.
· On Aug 12 2026: Birth centers operate under legal uncertainty in Alabama.
· On Aug 12 2026: March of Dimes report garners national media attention.
· On Aug 12 2026: Lawsuits over midwifery regulations remain ongoing in courts.
· On Aug 12 2026: Medicaid cuts threaten rural hospital maternity units nationwide.
· Birth centers may close if hospital licensing rules take effect.
· More labor and delivery units will close due to financial pressure.
· Lawsuits may reach federal courts if state appeals fail.
· Midwife workforce shortages will worsen without policy changes.
· Maternity desert expansion will continue across Southern states.

Why it matters

Immediate US impact: One in three counties lacks any birth facility access. Possible long-term US impact: Maternal mortality gap may widen without policy intervention. Most affected groups: Black women, rural residents, low-income families in Southern states. What readers should prioritise: Verify local hospital status and midwife availability near you.

Coverage notes

Left: Highlights systemic racism, Medicaid cuts harming Black maternal health. Center: Reports March of Dimes data and Gramby's work with neutral tone. Right: Emphasizes government overregulation and licensing burdens on small providers.