City and state officials swung ceremonial sledge hammers last September to ring in the next stage of renovations for a birthing center at Mary & Elizabeth Hospital in Louisville's Hazelwood neighborhood.

Hospital officials promised South End mothers “exceptional maternity care close to home.”

Now, it appears the project may never happen.

U of L Health confirmed to LPM News Tuesday that The Birthing Place project is delayed indefinitely and will not open later this year as expected, citing the recent cuts to Medicaid championed by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans. The Birthing Place would have allowed expectant mothers to give birth west of Interstate 65 for the first time in more than 50 years.

In a statement to LPM News, U of L Health public relations director Davi

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