What is Obstetric Violence and How Can We Prevent It?

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By Ana V. Soto-Sánchez, Ph.D.

The next excerpt is an illustrative instance of obstetric violence and could also be triggering for fogeys who’ve skilled medical or beginning trauma:

Elena was nervous about giving beginning however excited, as this was her first wholesome being pregnant after attempting to conceive for the previous two years. It was necessary for her to have a vaginal supply, as different girls in her household had performed for generations. On account of restricted area within the supply room, her accomplice stayed exterior. Throughout the supply, she began bleeding closely. Elena didn’t perceive what was taking place. She was in ache and requested medicine to which the supplier responded, “For those who can’t deal with ache, you aren’t prepared for a pure beginning, now cope with it.” and “You’re overreacting. Loads of girls undergo this.”

Elena feared for her life and the lifetime of her child. Nurses needed to rapidly take away the infant from the room because the attending supplier held Elena down. As she noticed the nurses arguing with the attending supplier, Elena felt betrayed and never in management. Upon waking within the Intensive Care Unit, she discovered she had obtained a blood transfusion with out her household being knowledgeable in regards to the severity of her situation.

As the primary few weeks postpartum handed, Elena usually had flashbacks that made her really feel as if she have been within the working room once more. At any time when she was breastfeeding, she couldn’t assist however tearfully take into consideration her beginning expertise. She prevented speaking about it with relations and felt anxious at any time when she considered her upcoming postpartum follow-up. This was not the expertise she had wished for herself or her child. She felt offended, remoted, and unprotected by the medical employees.

Sadly, it is a widespread incidence for birthing mother and father worldwide. Much more unlucky is the notion amongst obstetric suppliers and oldsters that it is a regular supply expertise. In actuality, a few of the actions described above are types of obstetric violence. And Elena’s response represents only a fraction of its penalties.

What’s Obstetric Violence?

Obstetric violence, a time period that originated in Latin America, refers to a variety of violent practices towards birthing people throughout childbirth, resembling mistreatment, disrespect, or varied types of abuse. This consists of pressured medical procedures, disrespectful language, neglect, sharing personal info with people who find themselves not concerned within the birthing mother or father’s care with out their permission, and discrimination based mostly on socioeconomic standing, ethnicity, race, or gender identification (Hakimi et al., 2025). Some examples of those types of mistreatment are:

Threatening the birthing mother or father with bodily hurt in the event that they don’t adjust to orders.
Performing an episiotomy with out informing the birthing mother or father of the advantages and dangers and with out confirming consent.
Performing a C-section with out medical necessity.
Forcing the birthing mother or father to remain in a selected birthing place.
Ignoring ache complaints or requests for ache aid medicine.
Shaming or humiliating the birthing mother or father throughout childbirth.
Not offering lactation assist after childbirth.
Making feedback or gestures of a sexual nature throughout childbirth.

Of their analysis, Hakimi and colleagues (2025) calculated a pooled international prevalence of 59% for obstetric violence, with medical procedures carried out with out the birthing mother or father’s permission at a charge of 37%. Which means that roughly 6 out of 10 individuals who have given beginning throughout the globe have skilled some type of obstetric violence. In some circumstances, spontaneous modifications to the beginning plan and addition or modification of medical procedures are mandatory to make sure the protection of each the birthing mother or father and the infant, which may be hectic for the mother and father and the suppliers. Two key elements differentiate this from obstetric violence: knowledgeable consent and justification by medical necessity.

Which means that suppliers should clarify all medical procedures, the rationale for recommending such procedures, together with the dangers and advantages of the process and of selecting to not have the process. Suppliers should additionally verify that the birthing mother or father agrees to such procedures. Clear communication relating to potential modifications to the beginning plan ensures that the suppliers respect the birthing mother or father’s autonomy in surprising conditions. In accordance with the American School of Obstetrics & Gynecology (2021; pg. e39), suppliers are nonetheless anticipated to provoke and preserve shared-decision making with birthing mother and father about potential modifications to supply plans and “provoke as full an knowledgeable consent course of as potential in time-limited situations.”

Why Does It Matter?

Obstetric violence is related to a better threat of postpartum despair and posttraumatic stress, difficulties with breastfeeding, accidents associated to childbirth, problem adapting to parenting, poorer vanity, and decreased want to have extra youngsters (Church, 2024; Hakimi et al., 2025; Kohan et al., 2025). Individuals who have confronted racial discrimination in medical settings could also be extra prone to expertise obstetric violence (Church, 2024), which may result in worse well being outcomes. For instance, neglecting or delaying remedy for Black birthing mother and father throughout being pregnant resulting from racial stereotypes may contribute to greater charges of problems throughout childbirth and stillbirth amongst this inhabitants (March of Dimes, 2021). These experiences can result in posttraumatic stress or birth trauma, during which a hectic or life-threatening birthing expertise leads to signs that impression wellbeing and functioning.

Alternatively, mother and father who understand that they’re supported, their beginning plan is revered, and that their healthcare supplier communicates with them respectfully usually tend to report optimistic childbirth experiences and fewer psychological well being signs (Silva-Fernández et al., 2023). The standard of communication between birthing mother and father and healthcare suppliers is a device to protect the lifetime of each the birthing mother or father and the new child and might both strengthen the mother or father’s self-confidence or end in emotional hurt (Kohan et al., 2025).

What Can Anticipating Dad and mom Do?

Many mother and father have secure and optimistic childbirth experiences. In case you are anxious about giving beginning, the next are some methods you will get assist and really feel comfy along with your medical crew:

Focus on your issues and values throughout your prenatal care along with your healthcare suppliers.
Have a companion (e.g., doula, coparent, shut buddy or member of the family) with you throughout your prenatal visits and the birthing course of. Ask them to take notes on the matters mentioned so that you can evaluate later.
Know your rights as a affected person! In accordance with the U.S. Affected person’s Invoice of Rights and Tasks, you may have the proper to:
- Respectful, dignified, and responsive care.
- Obtain info that’s straightforward to grasp about the advantages, dangers, and prices of medical interventions and coverings.
- Have your selections relating to medical interventions and coverings revered.
- Other rights and responsibilities.

Problems throughout childbirth may be scary, particularly whenever you really feel a lack of management and autonomy over the beginning whereas additionally worrying about your child’s wellbeing. For those who’ve skilled obstetric violence or mistreatment and are fighting psychological well being or would really like additional assist, search assist from a psychological well being skilled and be a part of mother or father teams resembling PSI’s Birth Trauma Support Group or the Birth Trauma Support for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) Birthing People for emotional assist and connection. You need to be heard, validated, and valued. Many medical and psychological well being suppliers are dedicated to making sure respectful and dignified childbirth experiences and to supporting those that have skilled obstetric violence or beginning trauma.

How Can Suppliers Advocate Towards Obstetric Violence Inside Their Establishments?

Obstetric violence is a public well being problem, a human rights problem, and a girls’s rights problem. The World Well being Group (WHO) encourages an individualized method to maternal care that respects the birthing individual’s autonomy. In accordance with WHO (2025), sufficient maternity care prioritizes each bodily and emotional security, together with:

Making certain sufficient circumstances at establishments.
Making certain the birthing mother or father’s info is personal and confidential.
Participating in clear and empathetic communication.
Offering emotional assist.
Involving relations or companions within the birthing course of.
Making certain the birthing mother or father’s energetic participation and knowledgeable consent.
Respecting the birthing mother or father’s selections relating to their physique.
Offering well timed ache aid.

Definitely, obstetric violence may also be hectic for healthcare suppliers, significantly when they’re restricted by a scarcity of sources inside their establishments, which may allow dangerous practices. The next are some suggestions to encourage respectful maternity care:

Some obstetric violence practices have change into normalized in healthcare settings. Ask your self: Is my method speaking respect for this individual’s autonomy? What’s the reasoning behind the medical interventions I’m recommending, and what does the newest literature say?
Establish the enablers of obstetric violence practices. In accordance with WHO (2025), these may be particular person elements (e.g., burnout), organizational elements (e.g., insufficient coaching), cultural elements (e.g., gender norms), or policy-related elements (e.g., lack of legal guidelines towards obstetric violence in some international locations).
Encourage using trauma-informed approaches in your establishment.
Invite audio system to case conferences and share instructional content material amongst colleagues.
Familiarize your self with the WHO’s strategies to improve the maternity care experience of pregnant and birthing people in addition to their Compendium on Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care for clinic administrators.
Advocate for incorporating reporting techniques and observances for obstetric violence practices (Sadler et al., 2016).
Be part of the dialog! Obstetric violence has been a subject of worldwide debate and analysis for the previous decade. There are nonetheless many facets left to outline to find out probably the most acceptable options for this problem.

Elena’s Story

Let’s take into account Elena’s expertise. Her beginning plan included a vaginal supply, which had been necessary to her. Elena skilled problems that challenged these expectations, leading to emotions of worry. Initiating an ongoing dialogue about her beginning plan, together with potential problems and medical procedures, and being clear about modifications to the plan throughout childbirth could have helped forestall unfavourable facets of Elena’s expertise. For instance, “We deliberate for a vaginal supply, and every little thing seems good thus far. I need to make sure that we take time to debate the emergency medical procedures which may be wanted to make sure each your security and your child’s security in case we expertise surprising problems.”

It’s necessary to all the time test the birthing mother or father’s understanding of the knowledge supplied. Healthcare suppliers also can attempt to be interested by what birthing mother and father are keen to be versatile on and be aware of potential elements that enhance a mother or father’s threat of beginning trauma (e.g., Elena’s two-year journey to conceive and any previous losses). In some circumstances, fast decision-making is perhaps key to saving a life. On this case, sharing what is going on in easy phrases (e.g., “You might be bleeding closely, we have to offer you blood.”) can go a good distance to make sure mother and father are dignified, knowledgeable, and stay energetic individuals of their remedy.

Elena’s household felt uncared for and uninformed in regards to the severity of her situation resulting from studying about her childbirth expertise and remedy from her somewhat than from her care suppliers. Members of the family and companions additionally deserve clear and respectful communication in regards to the interventions carried out and their medical justification as quickly as potential (e.g., “There was an surprising hemorrhage throughout Elena’s supply. She obtained a blood transfusion and is now steady. She and the infant are doing effectively and resting within the ICU.”).

A part of what contributed to Elena’s unfavourable expertise was witnessing her medical crew arguing amongst themselves when she requested ache aid— a request that was shamed and ignored by the attending supplier, leaving her feeling betrayed, fearful, and helpless. Clear and respectful communication amongst crew members is essential throughout surprising medical interventions (e.g., “Please prioritize ache aid whereas we handle hemorrhage.”). For crew members witnessing mistreatment, a reporting protocol would permit the reporting of obstetric violence practices and assist the birthing mother or father.

Elena skilled postpartum posttraumatic stress signs, resembling flashbacks, intrusive recollections, tearfulness, rumination, avoidance, and anxiousness. Making certain follow-up and emotional assist after the beginning could have helped forestall Elena’s worsening temper signs and contributed to sufficient postpartum adjustment and high quality of life.

Conclusion

Dad and mom, keep in mind you may have energy. You will have autonomy and the proper to transparency, knowledgeable consent, and respectful care. Obstetric violence has change into normalized and might have severe penalties for birthing mother and father, their relations, and the medical crew caring for his or her sufferers. This matter just isn’t solely the accountability of healthcare suppliers— it requires collaboration between professionals throughout disciplines, mother and father, and folks locally.

Notice: Particular due to Dr. Lindsay Sycz, Dr. Victoria Atzl and Dr. Keisha Bell for his or her priceless enter and considerate contributions that strengthened this piece.

References:

American School of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2021, February). Knowledgeable consent and shared determination making in obstetrics and gynecology (Committee Opinion No. 819). Obstetrics & Gynecology, 137(e34–e41). https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000004247

Church, A.C. (2024). “Don’t push!”: Experiences of obstetric violence in U.S. hospital settings. Social Sciences & Drugs, 363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2024.117497

Hakimi, S. Allahqoli L, Alizadeh M., Ozdemir, M., Soori, H., Veber Turfan, E. Sogukinar, N. Alkatout, I. (2025). World prevalence and threat elements of obstetric violence: A scientific evaluate and meta-analysis. Worldwide Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. 169, 1012-1024. https://doi.org/10.1002./ijgo.16145

Kohan, S., Mena-Tudela, D., & Youseflu, S. (2025). The impression of obstetric violence on postpartum high quality of life by psychological pathways. Scientific Experiences, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-88708-8

March of Dimes. (2021, October 15). Well being disparities contribute to being pregnant and toddler loss. March of Dimes. https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/blog/health-disparities-contribute-to-pregnancy-and-infant-loss

Sadler, M., Santos, M. J. D. S., Ruiz-Berdún, D., Leiva Rojas, G., Skoko, E., Guillen P. & Clause, J. A. (2016). Transferring past disrespect and abuse: Addressing the structural dimensions of obstetric violence. Reproductive Well being Issues, 24(47), 47-55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rhm.2016.04.002

Silva-Fernandez, C. S., De la Calle, M., Arribas, S. M., Garrosa, E., & Ramiro-Cortijo, D. (2023). Elements related to obstetric violence implicated within the growth of postpartum despair and post-traumatic stress dysfunction: A scientific evaluate. Nursing Experiences, 13(4), 1553-1576. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13040130

U.S. Division of State. (2025, August). Affected person Invoice of Rights and Tasks, Rev. 08.2025 [PDF]. U.S. Division of State. https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Patient-Bill-of-Rights-and-Responsibilities-Rev-08.2025-Accessible-8.11.2025.pdf

World Well being Group, Human Replica Programme, UNICEF, UNFPA, & Jhpiego. (2025). Compendium on respectful maternal and new child care (ISBN 978-92-4-011093-9). World Well being Group.

World Well being Group. (2023, October 12). Enhancing the expertise of pregnant and birthing girls [Departmental update]. World Well being Group.

Concerning the Writer

Ana V. Soto-Sánchez, Ph.D.

Ana Soto obtained her Ph.D. in Scientific Psychology from Ponce Well being Sciences College in Puerto Rico. She is at the moment finishing her fellowship in Built-in Care Household Psychology with a focus in Obstetrics & Gynecology from the College of Rochester Medical Middle. Ana’s doctoral dissertation explored the impression of obstetric violence on beginning outcomes in Puerto Rico, a topic she is keen about. Ana is devoted to bettering look after underrepresented perinatal populations and advocating for equitable reproductive healthcare.

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