Frequently, millions of mothers unknowingly live in a maternity healthcare desert where access to timely and adequate obstetric and prenatal care is severely limited. According to March of Dimes in 2022, an estimated 150,000 babies were born in these maternal health deserts where there is no hospital, no OB/GYN or no maternal health care and as a result, they faced heightened risks of complications during birth.
 
Independent community-based birth centers provide a home-like atmosphere where mothers who have a low-risk pregnancy can experience patient-centered and culturally competent care from midwives. Research indicates that birthing centers can improve birth outcomes and overall public health. When low-risk mothers receive prenatal, birth, and postpartum care from a birth center, they are less likely to have a C-section, experience fewer hospital transfers, and have a lower risk of pregnancy complications.
 
For those reasons, I will be introducing a resolution to designate the week of September 14-20, 2026, as “Birth Center Week” in Pennsylvania to raise awareness to the maternal health crisis and to recognize the substantial impact birth centers have in our communities from rural to urban Pennsylvania.
 
This week aims to celebrate the dedication that birth centers have made to providing a healthy, positive, and safe experience for both mothers, newborns, and families.
 
I urge you to join me in supporting this resolution to recognize the importance of birthing centers and how they advance maternal health for all moms in our Commonwealth.