Jeanine Valrie Logan had to drive almost two hours in labor to get to a birth center, showing how few of these facilities are close to her home in Chicago’s south suburbs.
Her long trip to the center revealed a bigger problem: there aren’t enough birth centers nearby. Logan highlighted that many people face the same issue and stressed the need for more birth centers in local communities.
Six years later, Logan, a certified nurse midwife, is working to address this gap. She has collaborated with lawmakers to increase the number of birth centers in Illinois and is currently seeking state approval to open a new birth center on Chicago’s South Side.
This area, predominantly Black and facing significant challenges related to pregnancy and childbirth, has seen several hospital birthing units close in recent years. Logan’s project aims to fill this critical void and provide much-needed maternity care in a region with stark disparities in maternal health outcomes.
Michelle Adeniyi of the March of Dimes supports Logan’s initiative, stressing the importance of quality maternity care for marginalized women on the South Side.
Logan, who has been involved in childbirth care for nearly two decades, felt compelled to act in 2020 following the George Floyd protests and the closure of several South Side birthing units.
This situation exacerbated the already limited options for prenatal and birthing care in the area, prompting Logan to push for legislative changes and seek funding for her birth center.
Logan’s efforts culminated in a 2021 bill that expanded the number of birth centers in Illinois and allowed more flexibility in their operation. She has since raised $1.9 million, primarily through grants and crowdsourcing, to support the establishment of the Chicago South Side Birth Center.
The center, which is planned to be housed in a former church building, will offer comprehensive maternity care, including prenatal visits and community classes on childbirth and breastfeeding. It will cater to women with low-risk pregnancies and transfer those needing more medical intervention to nearby Advocate Trinity Hospital.
The birth center’s philosophy is to treat pregnancy and childbirth as natural wellness states rather than medical conditions requiring intense interventions. Logan envisions the center delivering about 225 babies in its first year, with an expected opening in 2026, pending state approval and full funding.
The initiative has garnered strong support from organizations like Chicago Beyond, which is backing Logan’s efforts financially and logistically, highlighting the pressing need for improved maternal health care on the South Side.
The South Side of Chicago has been described as a “birthing desert” due to the recent closure of several obstetrics units. This has left a significant portion of the population, predominantly Black, with limited access to essential maternity services.
The disparities in maternal health outcomes between Black and white women are stark, with Black women in Illinois facing higher risks of pregnancy-related complications and deaths.
The establishment of a new birth center aims to address these issues by providing local, high-quality care, reducing the need for long-distance travel, and improving continuity of care for pregnant women in the community.
