Exclusive: Birthrights report says women are being told they are ‘not allowed’ and are being denied genuine choice
Women feel put under pressure to have medical procedures such as caesareans during their maternity care, according to a report.
The charity Birthrights collated the experiences of 300 people in England who said they had felt or witnessed coercion within a maternity setting.
It said caregivers used authoritative language that undermined the idea of women being able to make informed decisions regarding their maternity care.
Experiences shared in the report include healthcare professionals telling women they must accept a vaginal examination or they will not be able to be admitted to the birth centre, and women feel put under pressure to accept an induction without it being explained why it was necessary.
