A growing maternal healthcare crisis is unfolding in Texas. According to a recent report, 47% of counties in the state are now classified as “maternity care deserts.” That means nearly half of Texas counties have no obstetric providers, no birthing centers, and no hospitals with labor and delivery services. For rural moms, that can mean driving long distances — sometimes an hour or more — just to see a doctor or deliver a baby. In emergencies, those extra miles can make all the difference.
When mothers don’t have easy access to prenatal and delivery care, the risks increase for both mom and baby. Missing prenatal appointments can mean that complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, or high blood pressure go undetected. Long commutes can also cause families to delay or miss important postpartum checkups, which are critical for monitoring recovery and preventing maternal health emergencies.
Some families are even forced to schedule inductions simply to avoid the chance of delivering in a car on the way to the hospital. In rare but very serious cases, babies have been born en route — a dangerous situation without the immediate support of trained medical staff.
While many rural hospitals across Texas have been forced to close their labor and delivery units, Goodall-Witcher Healthcare in Clifton remains committed to serving local families. Our Labor & Delivery Department continues to provide comprehensive services, including prenatal care, delivery, and postpartum support — ensuring that Bosque County residents don’t have to travel far for safe, reliable care.
“It’s very much needed,” says Casandra Cox, RN, Labor & Delivery Manager at Goodall-Witcher. “A lot of these families wouldn’t be able to access maternal care if we weren’t here.”
Goodall-Witcher CEO Adam Willmann also emphasizes the importance of maintaining local services:
“If we don’t have the capability of doing prenatal care here, what’s going to happen? That could put our community at risk, forcing moms to travel 40 minutes or more to deliver. We’re committed to making sure that doesn’t happen.”
Keeping maternal care local isn’t just about convenience — it’s about safety, dignity, and peace of mind. Every mother deserves the ability to receive prenatal checkups without driving for hours, and every family should feel confident that expert care is available nearby when it’s time to deliver.
Goodall-Witcher’s Labor & Delivery unit is staffed 24/7 with skilled providers who understand the unique challenges faced by rural families. By investing in maternal care close to home, we are helping ensure healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, and brighter futures for the next generation.
As lawmakers and healthcare leaders continue to search for long-term solutions, Goodall-Witcher Healthcare will remain dedicated to providing maternal care in rural Texas.
For more information about our Labor & Delivery services, or to schedule a prenatal appointment, call us today at [phone number].
This article is based on reporting by Emily Brindley in the Dallas Morning News (subscription may be required).
