Across the United States, there is a lack of nurse-midwives compared to other countries. In Delaware, there are only 41 nurse-midwives, which directly correlates to the lack of maternal healthcare statewide.

The University of Delaware announced the opening of its nurse-midwife master’s program May 28, with a goal to counteract this shortage, making it the first program available in Delaware. The grand opening of a new program comes with challenges. With only so many nurse-midwives in the state, UD has to be extremely selective with the program to ensure students are properly placed.

Amanda Watson, nurse-midwife program director, understands the need for selective placements in a less-populated field.

"We have to scaffold the placements and move slowly to address workforce gaps without overwhelming the workforce," she said.

As June comes to a close, Watson just finished reviewing the first set of applicants, and eight students will be accepted into the program’s first cohort this fall. While she wishes more students could be accepted, Watson parallels growing the program to growing a forest.

“It will take roughly four years before this upcoming set of students will graduate and become a part of the workforce," she said. "At that point, our progress will start to snowball itself as we make more and more relationships throughout the state and the region in terms of placements through hospital systems.”

The need for maternal healthcare workers across the state is urgent. There are not enough providers for everyone to be seen as quickly as they need. According to the Maternal and Child Death Review Commission Data Report, there were 49 maternal and child deaths in 2025, with 23 infant and 26 fetal. In 12% of those cases, women did not receive prenatal care, and 25% had a late entry to receive prenatal care. Eight deaths involved Sussex County residents, with 63% of cases receiving late or no prenatal care at all. 

With eight students selected for its new nurse-midwife program, the University of Delaware has taken the first step to reverse the effects of a lack of maternal healthcare availability in the state.