Having a baby is already stressful. Now imagine having to drive an hour or more to the hospital.

That’s the reality is some parts of Connecticut.

But on Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont signed two new laws to open more birthing centers and offer more support for expectant parents.

When Lydia Moore gave birth to her third child, she only had minutes to get to the hospital.

“My water broke in the car – on the way to the hospital,” she said. “And our daughter was born 40 minutes after we arrived.”

Luckily, Sharon Hospital was just a few miles away. But the maternity ward was nearly shut down because this corner of Litchfield County is so remote.

“I live one hour from Danbury Hospital and 50 minutes from Vassar Brothers in Poughkeepsie,” Moore said.

Across Connecticut, maternity units are disappearing, especially in rural areas where low population and hospital mergers combine to form a perfect storm.

But one of the new laws requires the state Office of Health Strategy to craft a plan strategy for opening new birthing facilities, including possible state incentives.

“What can we do to bring more birth centers into the state? What can we do to help prepare an expectant mom?” said Dr. Manisha Juthani, Connecticut’s public health commissioner. “What can we do to help parents who are trying to decide where to go? Can they see a report card of comparable places to give birth across the state?”

Two years ago, Connecticut began allowing freestanding “birthing centers,” an alternative to larger, full-scale hospitals. The first one opened in Danbury in 2023.

Plus, Community Health Center now operates a Mobile Maternity Unit in rural northeastern Connecticut.

“We wanted to ensure that women did not have to travel a ridiculous amount of time to get to where they need to get to,” said CHC’s Yvette Highsmith.

The other law creates a panel to expand mental health services for new mothers, support for same-sex parents and doulas.

Doulas are pregnancy advocates that are popular with Black parents. Connecticut now offers doula certification in an effort to reduce the staggering number of Black mothers who die in childbirth.

Both laws passed with bipartisan support.

“Republicans proudly supported these important policy investments in maternal health and family strength,” said Connecticut House GOP leader Vin Candelora (R-North Branford). “Both pieces of legislation represent meaningful progress – working toward ensuring exceptional care for mothers and infants at birth centers and hospitals while actively engaging fathers in the health journey.”

A pilot program already offers new parents free at-home nurse and community health worker visits – but only in Bridgeport and Norwich.

Back in rural Sharon, Moore wondered what could have happened if she had to drive an hour away.

“What if my wonderful, but untrained, husband had to pull over on the side of the road – in the dark, no less – to deliver my baby?” she said.

Thanks to a deal between Sharon Hospital’s new owner, Northwell Health, and the Connecticut Attorney General’s office, the birthing unit will stay open for at least four more years.

“Miles and minutes matter when it comes to labor and delivery,” Tong said in a statement. “This is a strong, enforceable agreement for healthcare access in Connecticut. I will continue to aggressively pursue all available tools, and to advocate for even stronger measures, to address any harmful impacts of healthcare consolidation for Connecticut families.”