Why Sifra

Wisconsin's Growing Maternity Care Crisis

For over a decade Northern Wisconsin has been living with a growing maternity-care crisis. One rural hospital after another has chosen to close their obstetric units due to lack of both profitability and care providers. Families now have limited provider options, drive farther for care, and face greater risks simply to welcome a baby.

This map shows the region Sifra Birth Center will serve. Highlighted in green are the few rural hospitals still delivering babies; in tan, the many that have stopped offering birth services since 2012. It makes clear just how much our communities need additional, reliable maternity-care options close to home.

Map of the Northern Wisconsin region Sifra Birth Center will serve, showing rural hospitals still delivering babies in green and those that have stopped offering birth services since 2012 in tan
  • Rural hospitals delivering babies today
  • Rural hospitals no longer delivering babies
  • Local level II trauma center, level III NICU
  1. Local midwives are overwhelmed. As a result, at least one out of three mothers seeking midwifery care is turned away.
Graphic illustrating Wisconsin's growing maternity care crisis
  1. The need to hire more midwives is urgent; however, without a birth center, it is almost impossible to recruit additional midwives.
  2. Rural hospitals in Wisconsin continue to close labor and delivery units.
Graph showing the decline of hospital labor and delivery units in Wisconsin
  1. Maternal death is rising and has doubled in the last two decades.(Shellpfeffer et al., 2015) (KFF/CDC) (March of Dimes, 2025)

The Results

Women freebirth, drive long distances for maternity care, or settle for birth options they aren't comfortable with.

Sifra's Unique Offering

  1. Comprehensive Midwifery Care that includes:
    • Compassionate, personal care
    • Regular, comprehensive prenatal visits
    • Routine labs and imaging
    • Personalized birth experience
    • Emotional support
    • Lactation support
    • Personal autonomy
  • Newborn exams & screening
  • Home-like birth suites
  • A 20 minute drive to emergency medical care
  • Affordable & transparent pricing
  • Opportunities for midwifery students
Architectural rendering of a homelike birth suite at Sifra Birth Center in Merrill, Wisconsin

Rendering