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Spring & Black Maternal Health Week Events 2026

Please join Bay State Birth Coalition this spring for renewal, gathering, learning, and action!

We are gearing up for a big ADVOCACY DAY on April 14. The Massachusetts ecosystem is also host to a rich variety of events and activities. Check back, as we will add more to this page as events get added.

Friday, March 20, From Preconception to Infancy: Embodying Maternal Health Equity Conference, organized by NeighborHealth with community partners (in person, Chelsea)
Sat-Sun, April 4-5, Midwifery + The Black Birthing Family, soft launch of the upcoming four-part documentary series from Stefanie D. Belnavis.
- April 4, Photo Exhibition and Film Prescreening (Cambridge)
- April 5, FORESYTHE Anthology Launch (Boston)
Fri-Sat, April 10-11, Black Maternal Health Conference at the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts (virtual + in person)
Tues, April 14, Midwife Advocacy Day on Beacon Hill (in person, Boston)
Wed, April 15, Kuumba Conversations: A Discussion with Senator Liz Miranda on Maternal Health at YW Boston (in person, Boston)
Thurs, April 16, Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office webinar to launch a new Maternal Health Resource Guide, (virtual), 2 PM
Thurs, April 16, Holding Justice & Joy: Reimagining Black Maternal Health roundtable – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health students, the Harvard Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Harvard Medical Students Offering Maternal Support (MOMS), and the Resilient Sisterhood Project, (in person) 6-8 PM
Tues, April 21, Community Grounding Hour, hosted by MA Mom Advocates in partnership with Bay State Birth Coalition (virtual), 12 PM
Tues, May 5, International Day of the Midwife — Stay tuned!

Emily AnestaMarch 2, 2026news, Events

Committe votes YES on bill for Birth Center Sustainability and Midwife Workforce Development

In the Massachusetts legislature, both the House and Senate Committees on Financial Services voted “yes” to advance a bill that will require insurers and Medicaid to provide fair reimbursement rates for birth centers and midwifery care in Massachusetts. Currently, midwifery practices and birth centers struggle to remain open and provide care due to low or no insurance reimbursement for their services.

H.5016/S.784, An Act promoting and enhancing the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce, was proposed by Massachusetts legislators Senator Joan Lovely, Representative Manny Cruz, and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa at the start of the legislative session in January 2025.

With favorable reports from the Financial Services Committee, the bill heads to the Health Care Financing Committee.

Emily AnestaFebruary 16, 2026news

Powerful Hearing on Sustainability for Birth Centers and Midwifery

On October 14, 2025, the Joint Committee on Financial Services in the Massachusetts State Legislature held a hearing about An Act promoting and enhancing the sustainability of birth centers and the midwifery workforce, filed by Senator Joan Lovely, Representative Manny Cruz, and Representative Lindsay Sabadosa (H.1117/S.784). 20 individuals showed up to testify at the hearing in support of this bill, (accompanied by one very patient baby) . Over 50 organizations signed onto letters of support for the legislation.

Emily AnestaNovember 3, 2025news

Recap of “Maternal Health: Policy Implementation & Impact,” June 10 briefing at the State House

It was standing room only for the Maternal Health: Policy Implementation & Impact briefing at the Massachusetts State House on June 10, 2025 co-hosted by Bay State Birth Coalition, Mind the Gap Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, and the Ellen Story Commission on Postpartum Depression.

The program celebrated the passage of the 2024 Midwifery and Maternal Health Omnibus Law, provided updates on the law’s implementation, and delved into the impact of the law on the health and well-being of birthing people and families in Massachusetts. The Bay State Birth Coalition and Mind the Gap Massachusetts presented Maternal Health Champion awards to State Senators and Representatives who played a key role in shaping and passing the law. The program featured speakers Senator Liz Miranda, Representative Marjorie Decker, Representative Brandy Fluker Reid, Dr. Elaine Fitzgerald Lewis, Stephanie Crawford, Steven Pascal, and midwives Dr. Jo-Anna Rorie, Rebecca Herman, and Katherine Rushfirth.

BillEmily AnestaJune 26, 2025news

Massachusetts Senate passed $1.1M for birth centers and $220K for maternal mental health support!

Here is the breakdown:

Senator Liz Miranda secured a third consecutive year of funding for $1M for a statewide birth center grants program.
In addition, Worcester Community Midwifery received a dedicated $100K with the adoption of a budget amendment championed by Senator Robyn Kennedy.
Senator Miranda also secured $220K, the first infusion of funding for the Moms Matter Act mental health grants program that passed in the 2024 Maternal Health Omnibus Law, making it a real program not just a framework on paper.

Emily AnestaMay 29, 2025news, budget, birth centers, mental health

10 Orgs to Support on Giving Tuesday

Midwives save lives. These organizations help more families have access to midwives, offer essential birth and reproductive care options, and make the world safer, healthier, and more equitable.

Seven Sisters Birth Center - Help sustain this Western Massachusetts birth center
Neighborhood Birth Center - Boston needs a birth center!
Worcester Community Birth Center - Build a birth center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
NACPM Massachusetts - Strengthen the midwife workforce statewide
Bay State Birth Coalition - Advocate for access to midwifery and birth options statewide
Birth Future Foundation - Make grants to support Black, Brown, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ midwives in the United States
Resilient Sisterhood Project - Educate and empower women of African descent affected by diseases of the reproductive system
Prospera Institute - Advance Latinx health prosperity
Propa City Community Outreach - Support families experiencing pregnancy loss
True Alliance Center - Support Haitian migrant families in Massachusetts (Read about Pastor Keke’s work)

Emily AnestaDecember 2, 2024news

Governor Signs Comprehensive Midwifery and Maternal Health Bill

We did it!

On August 15, 2024, the Massachusetts Legislature passed the bill H.4999, An Act promoting access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options, a “Momnibus” package of legislation that expands access to midwifery care, birth centers, home births, and much more. After unanimous votes in the House (June 20) and the Senate (July 30), the conference committee combined the two versions into a final compromise bill that has now been passed. The bill was signed into law on August 23 with a ceremonial signing event on August 26 by Governor Maura Healey.

Massachusetts families can look forward to greater access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options at home or in birth centers.

BillEmily AnestaSeptember 6, 2024news, bill

Senate UNANIMOUSLY Passes Comprehensive Midwifery and Maternal Health Bill

On July 30, 2024, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a comprehensive maternal health and midwifery omnibus bill. The bill now goes to conference committee for the House and Senate to compromise on final bill language.

BillEmily AnestaAugust 2, 2024news, bill

House UNANIMOUSLY Passes Comprehensive Maternal Health Bill

Bill will expand access to midwifery care and out-of-hospital birth options

The package passed unanimously by the Massachusetts House on June 20 includes provisions to create a pathway to licensure for Certified Professional Midwives and to instruct the Department of Public Health (DPH) to update and revise the regulations that govern freestanding birth centers in the state.

Emily AnestaJune 21, 2024news, bill

Celebrating Midwives!

May 5 is the annual International Day of the Midwife. We love and celebrate midwives this day and every day! Thank you midwives, for all you do to care for us.

Emily AnestaMay 5, 2024news