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A recent national study shows that hospitals across the U.S. are offering fewer obstetric (maternity) services, and Kansas is one of the states seeing a significant drop, especially in urban areas.

The study looked at nearly 5,000 hospitals from 2010 to 2022 and found that many have stopped providing maternity care due to money and resource problems, even though groups are trying to keep these services.

In some states, rural hospitals lost the most maternity services, but in Kansas, 30.4% of urban hospitals stopped offering obstetric care, which is one of the highest rates in the country.

This loss worries many because it means moms in Kansas, especially in cities, might have to travel farther to get prenatal care and deliver their babies. Rural areas are also affected, making it harder for families to access important maternity care.

Experts say Kansas needs better support and funding to help hospitals keep these services so that moms and babies can stay healthy and get care close to home.