Maternity care deserts are areas where there is limited or no access to maternity health care services. According to a 2020 report published by the March of Dimes, 47% of Virginia counties are Maternity Care Deserts (March of Dimes, 2020)

Licensed Midwives in Virginia are restricted from administering medications that are within their scope of practice. Virginia is one of only two states that license midwives, yet restrict them from accessing these medications. Providers should be able to work within their full scope of practice. Virginia Midwives for Safe Community Births is a group of Virginia Licensed Midwives, freestanding Birth Centers, and consumers interested in improving community birth by updating Virginia's outdated midwifery law prohibiting Licensed Midwives from being able to possess and administer medications that make community birth safe.