Midwives Challenge Regulations
Black Midwives Sue Southern States Over Regulations Hindering Vital Maternal Care
Black midwives in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi are suing their states over rules they say block them from helping patients — especially Black women, who die from pregnancy-related causes at 2.5 times the national rate. Associated Press The U.S. maternal mortality rate stands at 17.9 deaths per 100,000 births. For Black women, that number jumps to 44.8.
The lawsuits target rules that force midwives to pay doctors up to $1,000 a month just to keep practicing — even when those doctors never show up to a single birth. Midwives say the rules are squeezing them out of a field where Black women are desperately needed. Sun Sentinel
Georgia Bans Direct-Entry Midwives Entirely
Georgia is the most restrictive of the three states. It bans direct-entry midwives — those who trained outside of nursing — from practicing at all. Orlando Sentinel On April 2, 2026, midwives Jamarah Amani, Tamara Taitt, and Sarah Stokely filed a federal lawsuit challenging that ban. Amani had to move to Florida in 2008 because Georgia law made her practice illegal.
Georgia already has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the U.S. — 30 deaths per 100,000 births. The March of Dimes gives it an "F" grade. More than one-third of Georgia counties have no obstetric providers at all. Press Democrat Savannah's oldest birth center, open for nearly 40 years, shut down in February 2026 because of rising regulatory pressure.
Alabama Forces Birth Centers to Meet Hospital Standards
In Alabama, the fight centers on how birth centers are licensed. The state wants to regulate them like full surgical hospitals — even though birth centers only handle low-risk pregnancies. Greeley Tribune On May 15, 2026, the Alabama Supreme Court refused to block that rule. Advocates call it a "de facto ban" on birth centers.
Dr. Yashica Robinson, founder of the Alabama Birth Center in Huntsville, has led the legal fight there. She argues birth centers are a lifeline for Black and rural Alabamians. Research shows midwifery care saves an average of $2,010 per mother and baby by cutting unnecessary C-sections and NICU stays. Daily Camera
Mississippi Sues Over Costly Physician Agreements
On January 20, 2026, the American College of Nurse-Midwives filed a federal lawsuit against Mississippi's medical licensing board. Trentonian The suit challenges a rule that forces nurse-midwives to maintain a formal agreement with a physician. Mississippi declared a state of emergency over infant mortality just five months earlier, in August 2025.
Critics call these "collaborative practice agreements" a paper barrier. Midwives must pay doctors up to $1,000 a month for a signature. The doctor is not required to be present or involved in any care. Pottstown Mercury A bill introduced in the 2026 Mississippi legislative session would remove the requirement, but it has not yet passed.
A Mostly White Profession Blocks Black Women From Practicing
Midwifery has deep roots in Black Southern history. Enslaved Black women, known as "Grandmidwives," delivered babies across the South for generations. Today, 82% of certified midwives in the U.S. are white, according to a 2025 report from the American Midwifery Certification Board. Press Enterprise Plaintiffs argue the current rules lock out the very women whose communities need them most.
Tamara Taitt, executive director of Atlanta Birth Center, says restrictive laws treat midwives "like criminals." Delco Times State health officials counter that physician oversight is the "gold standard" for safety and protects patients when complications arise. Legal experts expect Georgia to file its first formal response to the lawsuit by the end of June 2026.
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