New Law Helps Clear the Way for Birthing Centers in Iowa

‘Expensive and complicated’: Most rural hospitals no longer deliver babies

Originally published June 13 on IdahoCapitalSun.com.Nine months after Monroe County Hospital in rural South Alabama closed its labor and delivery department in October 2023, Grove Hill Memorial Hospital in neighboring Clarke County also stopped delivering babies.

New law helps clear the way for birthing centers in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa -- At Des Moines Midwives Collective, they do prenatal and checkup appointments for expecting mothers, but they're not allowed to use this facility for the actual birthing process. They have to either go to the family's home or the hospital. But they say some mothers want an in-between, a home-like environment with a birthing tub and cozy feel, while still having the medical backup and professional facility. Right now, there are…