Preliminary data for 2023 shows a decrease in Indiana's infant mortality rate for the first time since 2019, according to a new report.

Black patients in Indiana have a higher infant and maternal mortality rate than White patients despite having fewer births overall.

At a time when many rural hospitals continue to make the tough choice to shutter their obstetrics units and stop delivering babies, some have found ways to make their units survive and, sometimes, even thrive.

One of the few, narrow exceptions of Indiana's near-total abortion ban is if the pregnant person's health or life is at risk. However, some providers say because the bans language is vague, they have concerns about the potential legal risk of determining what qualifies under the exception.

State officials said Indiana's lack of access to obstetrics care is growing, which is driving the state's high infant and maternal mortality rates. Some lawmakers said more funding and better Medicaid reimbursements could help keep birthing centers open.

Indiana lawmakers recognize that doulas can improve maternal outcomes. So, they passed new laws and dispensed millions of dollars in grants to expand access to doula services with no real progress.

Policy experts say one way to help close the racial gap in maternal health outcomes is to ensure people on Medicaid dont lose coverage two months after pregnancy.

A bereavement program at Riley Maternity Tower at Riley Children’s Health, called Pathways to Hope, aims to meet the emotional needs of grieving families after the loss of a pregnancy or child.

It's been 10 years since Indiana made reducing maternal and infant mortality a top priority. But despite a lack of improvement in those rates, State Health Commissioner Dr. Kris Box said progress has been made.

Between 2018 and 2020, eight Indiana counties have seen improvements in access to maternity care: Adams, Daviess, Delaware, Fulton, Johnson, Lagrange, Miami, Vermillion and Wabash. And nine have gotten worse: Fayette, Greene, Henry, La Porte, Orange, Pulaski, Ripley, Scott and Steuben.