Story perspectives

LA Maternity Ward Closures Force Women to ERs

1/26/2026

50 10

Summary

Story summary

Maternity ward closures in Los Angeles push births to emergency rooms.
From 2016 to 2023, more than 26,500 women used emergency rooms for labor and delivery, while births fell 26%.
The maternal health crisis disproportionately affects women of color, with severe morbidity highest among Black women.
California's legislative efforts to improve maternity ward accessibility have faced setbacks.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital expands midwifery, but challenges persist.

1 of 1

Story summary

Maternity ward closures in Los Angeles push births to emergency rooms.
From 2016 to 2023, more than 26,500 women used emergency rooms for labor and delivery, while births fell 26%.
The maternal health crisis disproportionately affects women of color, with severe morbidity highest among Black women.
California's legislative efforts to improve maternity ward accessibility have faced setbacks.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital expands midwifery, but challenges persist.