Findings from the "Listening to Mothers" Survey

Report of the First National U.S. Survey of Women’s Childbearing Experiences published in October 2002:

“About one-third of all of the mothers reported that they either had a limited understanding or none at all about their legal right to clear and full explanations of any procedure, drug or test offered them, and their right to refuse or accept any care offered them. . . . Caregivers, facilities, and childbirth educators should provide women with clear information about their right to fully informed consent, and caregivers and facilities should fully implement ethical and legal standards for informed consent.”

“Doulas and midwives were the most highly rated providers of labor support, yet were used for this purpose far less frequently than other types of providers (5% and 11% respectively).”

“Compared to first-time mothers, experienced mothers were less likely to . . . use pain medications and various other labor interventions, report negative feelings during labor, have a physician as a birth attendant, or give birth by cesarean.”

“Although immersion in a tub, showering, and use of ‘birth balls’ received high ratings for help with labor pain, these approaches were used by 8% or fewer women.”

(Maternity Center Association. Listening to Mothers: Report of the First National U.S. Survey of Women’s Childbearing Experiences Executive Summary and Recommendations Issued by the Maternity Center Association. New York: Maternity Center Association, October 2002. See website.)