Imagine going into labor and realizing the nearest delivery ward is over an hour away. For millions of women, that’s not a nightmare, it’s reality. These regions, known as maternity care deserts, are spreading, leaving moms and babies without the care they deserve.

In this episode, we explore why these deserts exist, who suffers most, and how cuts in Medicaid funding are making matters worse. Then, we turn to Dr. Amanda Williams, who is at the forefront of efforts to make pregnancy and childbirth safer and more equitable across the U.S.

Because safe delivery shouldn’t depend on your zip code.