Having access to a hospital that delivers babies in your community may not be possible if you live in a rural area. Many of our state’s hospitals, including some that deliver babies, have had to close over the years due to lack of funds. Here, we will talk about what options you may have, and what you can do to remain healthy and reduce complications during your pregnancy. We will also discuss pregnancy support people, including doulas, who can help your obstetrician/midwife educate you during pregnancy and help during delivery, and lactation consultants who offer support during your breastfeeding journey. We will discuss midwifery in Alabama, including some history and options available now.

We will add to this category frequently, as pregnancy and childbirth are such beautiful and often challenging events in a woman’s life. I will include a variety of resources and articles that I’ve found to be helpful, including scientific research. An example of that is the following article from the NIH National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, which examines the relationship between a mother’s age when she first gives birth and how long she lives. You can read the full article below: