Researchers Showcase New Maternal Health Findings

- In Virginia, recent legislation reflects a significant push to expand the role of midwives to address maternity care shortages, with about 36% of counties considered "maternity care deserts." As of July 1, 2025, new laws (HB1923, HB1352, and HB1904) will provide insurance reimbursement parity for Licensed Certified Midwives and Licensed Midwives with their Certified Nurse Midwife counterparts, and allow them to serve on 24-hour on-call rosters for nursery care when physicians are unavailable. - The World Health Organization is advocating for a global expansion of midwifery-led models of care, which are shown to increase the likelihood of healthy vaginal births and higher patient satisfaction. Research indicates that universal access to midwives could prevent over 60% of maternal and newborn deaths, saving an estimated 4.3 million lives annually by 2035. - Digital health technologies are increasingly integrated into maternal care to bridge gaps, especially in underserved areas. These include telemedicine for remote consultations, AI-powered predictive analytics to identify high-risk pregnancies, and wearable devices that monitor vital maternal and fetal health data in real-time. - Despite an overall decrease in U.S. maternal deaths from 817 in 2022 to 669 in 2023, significant racial disparities persist and are widening. In 2023, the mortality rate for Black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, more than three times the rate for white women (14.5). - New care models are moving toward a more patient-centered and collaborative approach, sometimes called a family-integrated care model. This model emphasizes shared decision-making and active involvement of the family in the mother's and infant's care, which has been linked to shorter hospital stays and improved maternal-infant bonding. - Evidence-based "care bundles," which are sets of specific practices for managing obstetric situations, are being implemented to improve outcomes. For example, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has developed a "Maternal Safety Bundle" focused on reducing peripartum racial and ethnic disparities. - In Virginia, a licensed certified midwife who has practiced for fewer than 1,000 hours is required to have a practice agreement with a licensed physician or an independent practice midwife for consultation. After completing 1,000 hours, they may practice without this agreement upon receiving an attestation from their consulting provider. - Research continues to identify non-clinical interventions that improve birth outcomes. Studies show that continuous labor support from a doula is linked to shorter labors and lower cesarean rates, while comprehensive childbirth education correlates with fewer interventions and greater birth satisfaction.