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Listening to Mothers I Survey and Report (2002)


Our landmark 2002 Listening to Mothers survey was the first time that U.S. women had an opportunity to describe their maternity experiences and assessment of those experiences at the national level. Harris Interactive conducted the survey, and a multi-disciplinary National Advisory Council of representatives from diverse organizations contributed to survey planning, implementation and reporting.

Listening to Mothers I results provide a new level of understanding of many dimensions of the maternity experience and have been appreciated by a broad range of groups and individuals involved with childbearing families, as well as mothers themselves. Survey results and Childbirth's Connection's Recommendations based on the results are being used to improve policies, programs and services; to educate women and health professionals; and to identify research priorities.

In 2003, Doulas of North America awarded Childbirth Connection (then known as Maternity Center Association) its first John Kennell and Marshall Klaus Award for Excellence in Research, in recognition of the first Listening to Mothers survey.

Inside Listening to Mothers I:

About the Survey

Explains survey objectives, participants, and topic areas, as well as groups involved with the survey.

Go to About the Survey

Survey Results

Includes survey highlights focusing on women's prenatal and birth experiences; after the baby is born; looking at some important variations in experience; and attitudes about birth and understanding of maternity rights. A full and free PDF of the survey results is available here.

Go to Survey Results

Recommendations

Describes Childbirth Connection's recommendations based on the survey results.

Go to Recommendations

National Advisory Council

Identifies multi-disciplinary Council members who provided guidance on the planning, implementation, and reporting of this survey, and the organizations they represented.

Go to National Advisory Council

Forum & Supporters

We released the survey results at the Manhattan Center in New York City on October 24, 2002. Learn about the event and the collaborating organizations and forum supporters who participated.

Go to Forum & Supporters

Most recent page update: 9/11/2012
© 2013 Childbirth Connection. All rights reserved.

Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality and value of maternity care through consumer engagement and health system transformation. Childbirth Connection promotes safe, effective and satisfying evidence-based maternity care and is a voice for the needs and interests of childbearing families.
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Listening to MothersSM III is the third national survey exploring women’s experiences in pregnancy and childbirth. Commissioned by Childbirth Connection, conducted by Harris Interactive, and funded by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the survey polled 2,400 women who gave birth in U.S. hospitals from 2011 to 2012. Results show that medically intensive experiences are typical, and evidence-based practices are underutilized. Childbearing women need better support and knowledge to navigate their maternity care.
Access the full report and supplementary materials

New Report: Maternity Care and Liability
Go to report and supporting materials

New Report: The Cost of Having a Baby in the United States
Go to report and supporting materials

New Cesarean Resources:
Go to Best Evidence Report
Go to web pages and booklet for women

 
For 95 years, Childbirth Connection has been dedicated to improving the quality and value of maternity care for all women and their families. Learn more about our rich history through our interactive timeline and give $95 for 95 in honor of our 95th birthday.
 
Childbirth Connection works to ensure that all women and babies get the best possible maternity care. We have the collective vision and we know how to get there, but we can't do it alone. Join the transformation today.

 
The Transforming Maternity Care website focuses on maternity care system improvements designed to engage diverse stakeholders in quality improvement efforts. The site offers full access to the landmark reports 2020 Vision and Blueprint for Action, features a Blog, and other resources such as an Action Center, a database of quality improvement projects, an interactive data center, and many more tools for advocates and stakeholders.

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