100 Midwifery Advocates Flood the Halls of the State House
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, over 100 advocates from across Massachusetts flooded the halls of the State House in support of midwives. Specific policies on the advocacy agenda would achieve sustainable insurance rates for midwifery care, investments in midwifery education, and programs to improve maternal health statewide. The event was held during Black Maternal Health Week, a national week of awareness building and action to eliminate racial inequities in maternal health care and outcomes.
Participating organizations included Bay State Birth Coalition*, ACNM Massachusetts*, NACPM Massachusetts*, AABC Massachusetts*, Baystate Midwifery Education*, Boston College Nurse Midwifery Program*, BEE Collaborative*, Neighborhood Birth Center, Worcester Community Midwifery, Seven Sisters Midwifery and Birth Center, Embrace Midwifery, Mind the Gap Coalition, BEJMA, Center for Maternal Health Advancement, Mystic Valley Action for Reproductive Justice, Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, Repro Equity Now, Resilient Sisterhood Project, MomsRising, UMass Boston Nursing, The Boston Foundation, Our Bodies Ourselves, Vital Cxns, HRiA, League of Women Voters, and MA Mom Advocates.
* event organizers
The morning speaking program included remarks from State Senator Liz Miranda, State Representatives Marjorie Decker and Manny Cruz, Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha of the Center for Maternal Health Advancement, midwives Rachel Blessington, Zev Colsen, Rebecca Herman, and Katie Hutchinson. Emily Anesta of Bay State Birth Coalition prepared advocates for conversations with their representatives, providing information and handouts on pending bills and budget priorities.
Advocates broke off into groups to visit the offices of 56 State Representatives and 30 State Senators, advocating for a maternal health agenda that expands access to community birth options including home births and birth centers, and the midwifery model of care in all settings:
Bill H.5016/S.785, “An Act promoting and enhancing the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce” filed by Senator Joan Lovely, Representative Manny Cruz, Representative Lindsay Sabadosa
Bill H.4334/S.697, “An Act to increase access to nurse-midwifery services” filed by Senator Brendan Crighton and Representative Marjorie Decker
Funding for freestanding birth centers, midwifery education, perinatal mental health support, and implementation of the 2024 maternal health law in the annual state budget