How you are likely to be treated is partly predictable
Mistreatment in maternity care is measured, and it is not rare.
This is not a matter of luck or personality. It has been surveyed.
In a 2023 national survey of 2,402 US mothers, 20.4% reported at least one form of mistreatment during maternity care. The most common single item was being ignored, or having a request for help refused or go unanswered, reported by 9.7%. Others reported being shouted at or scolded (6.7%), having their physical privacy violated (5.1%), or being threatened with treatment being withheld (4.6%).
| Group | Reported at least one form of mistreatment |
|---|---|
| All mothers surveyed | 20.4% |
| Black mothers | 30.0% |
| Hispanic mothers | 29.3% |
| White mothers | 17.8% |
| Asian mothers | 14.8% |
| Uninsured | 28.1% |
| Medicaid | 26.1% |
| Private insurance | 15.9% |
Questions that predict how you will be treated
- "If I disagree with a recommendation, what happens?"
- "Who will be in the room, and can I ask someone to leave?"
- "Will you ask before an examination every time, including in labor?"
- "What is your practice's policy if I say no to something?"
Where this comes from:
253. Mohamoud YA, Cassidy E, Fuchs E, Womack LS, Romero L, Kipling L, et al. Vital signs: maternity care experiences, United States, April 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(35):961-967.
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This page is educational. It supports the conversation with your own clinicians. It is not consent to any treatment, and it cannot assess you. If you are worried about a symptom now, see urgent warning signs.