This National Midwifery Week, we talked with four midwives serving families in Fresno and the Central Valley to share a little about their work, the advice they give their patients, and the things that make midwifery so meaningful to them. There is a large and growing body of research that shows how midwifery improves maternal and infant health outcomes. And midwives do much more than deliver babies. They provide education, listen to their patients’ concerns, support informed

The following information is from the California Department of Public Health’s Newborn Screening Program website. Some babies are born with serious but treatable medical conditions. Newborn screening is important because many of these conditions do not cause signs or symptoms at birth. A baby may look healthy even when they have a condition that could cause serious health problems later. Newborn screening helps identify these conditions early, so your baby can receive follow-

Updated: 2026 If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant and have sickle cell disease (SCD), there are steps you can take to help protect your health and your baby’s health. SCD can increase the risk of serious complications during pregnancy and after giving birth. Getting early and regular prenatal care and working with healthcare providers who have experience caring for people with SCD can help you manage these risks and support a healthy pregnancy. Image: Sickle ce