Birthrights is dedicated to ensuring women and birthing people receive the respect and dignity they deserve in pregnancy and childbirth.

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Your rights in childbirth

Every person has a right to:

safe and appropriate maternity care that respects their dignity;
privacy and confidentiality;
make choices about their own pregnancy and childbirth;
equality and freedom from discrimination.

Our values

Dignity

Autonomy

Humanity

Expertise

Practicality

Inclusion

Latest news

Birthrights and GMC – what does informed consent mean in maternity care?

17th September 2021

Informed Consent Human rights law requires every individual to be treated with dignity and respect and for their autonomy to be upheld. These principles are at the heart of guidance given to doctors by their regulator the General Medical Council (‘GMC’). We’ve worked with the GMC to explore what women and birthing people can expect … Read more

BLOG: The cost of disproportionate response

27th July 2021

The pattern has been the same throughout the pandemic. A simple explanation followed by a seemingly inevitable consequence “Due to rising COVID, visitor restrictions have been reintroduced”. Sometimes followed by an acknowledgement of how difficult this is for everyone concerned. What is often missing is a detailed explanation of how a decision has been reached. … Read more

COVID-19 has created a maternity mental health burden of £17.5 billion

27th July 2021

Perinatal depression and anxiety could cost society an additional £17.5 billion in England, an analysis commissioned by Birthrights, the UK’s charity for protecting human rights in childbirth, has concluded. The article, written by health economist and Associate Professor (UCL) Rachael Hunter and published by the Journal of Quality in Health Care & Economics, discusses the … Read more

Birthrights’ responds to article published in The Sunday Times

12th July 2021

Yesterday, The Sunday Times published an article containing criticisms of Birthrights by the author Milli Hill. Until recently, Birthrights has worked alongside Milli to champion women’s rights in pregnancy and childbirth. As reported, in November Milli posted comments on social media disputing that obstetric violence could happen to trans or non-binary people. We were also made … Read more

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Right now, more women and birthing people than ever need our support