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Listening to Mothers Surveys and Reports



Childbirth Connection's landmark national Listening to Mothers surveys are valuable resources for understanding and improving women's childbearing experiences. They focus the discussion on views of those who care most about maternity issues: mothers themselves. With over 4.3 million births every year in the United States, the surveys describe a crucial period in the lives of a very large number of mothers, babies and families.

The surveys cover the time from planning pregnancy through the postpartum period, and shed light on women's attitudes, beliefs, preferences and knowledge, as well as maternity care practices and family and employment life. They report on many items that are not otherwise gathered at the national level. They also provide what are likely to be more accurate estimates for many items that are collected but are known to be undercounted on birth certificates and in hospital discharge records. Survey results also reveal the size of gaps between women's actual experiences and experiences they should have in light of their preferences, best maternity care practice, their legal rights and a just society with care and respect for all.

Three national Listening to Mothers surveys have been conducted by Harris Interactive, and three reports are freely available here:

Listening to Mothers I survey and report (2002)

Landmark first national U.S. survey of childbearing experiences
Learn more, and get the report and related documents

Listening to Mothers II survey and report (2006)

Unparalled look at childbearing experiences in United States.
Learn more, and get the report and related documents
Buy a paperbound copy of the report

New Mothers Speak Out report (2008)

Experiences of U.S. mothers of young children
(presents results from Listening to Mothers II survey and Listening to Mothers II Postpartum follow-up survey, which reached most Listening to Mothers II participants six months later)
Learn more, and get the report and related documents

Most recent page update: 8/4/2008


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Childbirth Connection is a national not-for-profit organization founded in 1918 as Maternity Center Association. Our mission is to improve the quality of maternity care through research, education, advocacy and policy. 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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"Too much to do, too little time, especially since it is so inviting to just gaze at the baby."
-Listening to Mothers® survey participant
Every woman has the right to unrestricted access to all available records about her pregnancy, her labor, and her infant; to obtain a full copy of these records; and to receive help in understanding them, if necessary.