Maternity Care Workforce

Despite offering high-quality perinatal care, 80% of California’s licensed birth centers have closed in five years. This fact sheet examines the compounding challenges that birth centers face.

Midwives, ob/gyns, and family physicians are trained to deliver babies in California. In California, a worsening ob/gyn shortage paired with hospital labor and delivery unit closures have generated urgency for expanding access to midwives.

This series of conversations takes a look at the critical roles of doulas, lactation professionals, mental health professionals, and midwives.

Doulas improve birth outcomes and advance health equity, especially for families of color. California covers doula care for Medi-Cal enrollees, but opportunities remain to further expand access to doulas.