My heart breaks reading this new report about mistreatment in childbirth. I have heard too many of these sad stories, and have even been a witness as a doula to abuse during birth. It’s terrible, inhumane, and inexcusable, yet it happens every day. “The Giving Voice to Mothers study: inequity and mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth in the United States” has striking findings:
“…17.3 percent of women reported experiencing one or more types of mistreatment and percentages were even higher for women of color compared with white women.”– read more
I am grateful to all the people who shared their stories to create a unified voice demanding maternity care to do better. As Maureen Corry said to me years ago:
"statistics are people with the tears washed off making it easier for us to read.”
For each person, their story often goes well beyond the moment of mistreatment and extends for their lifetime because as we know – birth is a day we never forget.
The “Giving Voice to Mothers Study” only further ignites my excitement to be named Co-Chair of the new International Childbirth Initiative (ICI). Learn more about the ICI 12 steps that are moving us in the direction to end mistreatment in childbirth – learn more
Together we can and are making a difference – please share your thoughts on this new study, and join us as we continue to work to improve people experience in childbirth.
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