Over the past 50 years, France has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of maternity wards, from 1,369 in 1975 to just 457 by 2025—a drop of more than 66%. This decline has occurred in waves, with 12 new closures recorded in 2023 alone, eliminating 351 obstetric beds. As a result, more than 716,000 women of childbearing age now live more than 45 minutes away from a maternity ward, increasing the risk of unexpected births occurring outside of medical facilities. These changes have raised concerns about maternal and infant health, especially in rural areas. The decline in maternity wards can be traced back to a 1998 decree on perinatology, which required each maternity ward to handle at least 300 births annually to stay open. The goal was to ensure medical staff remained sufficiently active and skilled. However, this rule led to the closure of many small, local maternity units, particularly in rural areas where birth rates were too low to meet the threshold. In 2024, the Court of Auditors warned that 20 maternity wards were already below the required 300 births per year, raising concerns about the quality and safety of care in these facilities. Data from INSEE, France’s national statistics office, reveals a troubling trend: since 2011, infant mortality rates have risen, reaching 4.1 deaths per 1,000 births in 2024. This means about one in every 250 newborns dies before their first birthday, a rate that places France among the poorer-performing European countries in this regard. Critics argue that the closure of small maternity wards may be contributing to this rise in infant deaths, especially in rural areas where access to emergency care is limited. In response to these concerns, a cross-party bill was introduced to the Senate in early 2025, explicitly linking the closures of maternity wards to the increased risk for mothers and newborns. The proposed legislation calls for a three-year moratorium on closing small maternity units to allow time for a thorough evaluation of their impact on public health. The National Assembly has also supported a similar measure, adopting a proposal in first reading to freeze closures for three years. These efforts reflect growing bipartisan concern over the long-term effects of reducing access to maternity care in France.