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In recent years, there have been more conversations surrounding healthcare, particularly maternity care, with discussions often centered on the urgent need for a patient-focused approach. Despite medical advancements, a significant proportion of U.S. women perceive the healthcare system as being designed more for the convenience of providers rather than the patients themselves.
Data from The Harris Poll’s 3rd Annual State of Maternal Health In America report finds that an overwhelming 72% of women feel that the current healthcare system primarily serves the interests of the health care provider or facility during childbirth rather than the birthing patient, shedding light on the glaring disconnect between patient needs and healthcare delivery.
The Fight for Access
Data reveal a troubling trend: over three in five women (62%) believe women like them must fight to get the medical care they need, a noticeable increase from 53% in 2024. This stark reality reflects a healthcare system that fails to meet the needs of its most vital stakeholders—the patients.
Educational Gaps in Childbirth Procedures
Furthermore, there appears to be a significant knowledge gap in understanding the practices and procedures during childbirth. Fewer than 1 in 5 women (18%) are aware that provider-directed pushing can have adverse effects on both the mother and the baby. This is particularly disturbing as nearly half of the women (46%) incorrectly believe the opposite, and more than a third (36%) are “not at all sure”. In fact, “research does not support the widespread practice of directed pushing, which has been shown to stress the maternal cardiovascular system, reduce circulating oxygen, and trigger changes in the fetal heart rate. Goer and Romano (2012) found evidence to demonstrate that directed, forceful pushing had the potential to increase pressure on the baby and the umbilical cord and the tissues of the perineum resulting in more tears and a weaker pelvic floor musculature, which can result in urinary incontinence” [1].
Elective inductions, often chosen for convenience rather than medical necessity, present another area of concern. Less than half of women (45%) are aware that choosing to induce labor without a medical reason can increase complications, risking the well-being of both the mother and the baby [2].
The education gap extends further to cervical checks during labor, which are often unnecessary and can be declined, yet are routinely performed. While ACOG says “every patient has the right to refuse treatment or a procedure, and that decision should be respected,” alarmingly, only 14% of women understand that cervical checks during labor are not required. [3] Younger women (ages 18-34) appear to be somewhat more informed than their older counterparts (22% vs. 10% ages 35+), suggesting that education on this topic may be more prevalent now, but nowhere near where it should be.
The Need for Better Communication and Support
Despite these troubling statistics, 64% of women who have been pregnant say they felt well-informed about the risks and benefits of the interventions offered during labor and delivery. However, 1 in 5 (20%) say they did not feel well-informed, and another nearly 1 in 10 (9%) could not recall if they did, indicating a significant area for improvement in communication and education.
Call to Action: Prioritizing Patient-Centered Care
The technological approach of interventions in hospitals coupled with the gaps in proper patient education are likely limiting women from experiencing a potentially safer, more autonomous physiologic birth, something that every woman should have a right to, should they choose. These data call for a radical rethinking of our approach to maternity care. It is imperative that healthcare providers prioritize patient-centered care, ensuring that women are not only well-informed but also actively involved in the decision-making processes regarding their bodies and their babies, throughout pregnancy, labor, and delivery.
Further, educational programs need to intensively focus on demystifying the childbirth process, accurately informing women of their rights, the implications of potential interventions, and fostering an environment where they feel supported and confident to express their needs. More emphasis should be placed on educating women of the physiological aspects of childbirth in addition to the medical aspects, allowing women to make the most informed choices during labor and delivery.
The voices of mothers and mothers-to-be are clear and powerful, demanding a shift towards a healthcare paradigm where their well-being is the priority, and not merely an afterthought. It’s high time the healthcare system listens and reforms accordingly, ensuring that each woman’s journey through pregnancy and childbirth is safe, respected, and empowering.
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Survey method: This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll April 23-28, 2025 among 4,170 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 2,370 are women, of which 1,597 are/have been pregnant and 1,583 have given birth. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. This credible interval will be wider among subsets of the surveyed population of interest. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact our team.
[1] Healthy Birth Practice #5: Avoid Giving Birth on Your Back and Follow Your Body’s Urge to Push
[3] Do you need cervical checks during pregnancy?
