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We want a maternity care system that recognizes

YOU OWN YOUR BODY

We are working to dismantle the monopoly that tells us how, where, and with whom we are ‘allowed’ and ‘not allowed’ to give birth.

Free Quick Guide – Know Your Rights!

Learn about your most important basic rights during hospital birth

AND START MAKING EMPOWERED CHOICES!

THE FACTS

ON AMERICAN MATERNITY CARE

At least 98% of U.S women give birth in hospitals

At least 98% of U.S births happen in hospitals, over 90% with physicians rather than midwives

most expensive, worst performing maternity care system

We have the most expensive, worst performing maternity care system in the developed world

Birthing people are regularly subject to traumatic, dehumanizing care and rights violations

There are tremendous restrictions on our ability to opt out of the broken system due to a state-enforced hospital monopoly

A state-enforced hospital monopoly severely restricts our ability to opt out of this system

What is obstetric violence (mistreatment in maternity care)?

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WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT

New! Obstetric Violence Course for Advocates

A "Must" Course for All Birth Pros

Mistreated in Birth? What To Do Next

Hi, I’m Cristen, founder of Birth Monopoly

When I was pregnant and gave birth to my son, I saw the dysfunction in our maternity care system firsthand. Many of the messages I received were intended to encourage a compliant patient, not an informed and active participant. As the woman giving birth, I felt more like a passenger than a driver.

My experience sparked a career change from public affairs to study American maternity care and women’s rights within it. Since 2012, I have been passionately raising awareness about the abuse of power and obstetric violence running rampant in the maternity care system. My goal is to support birthing people in demanding their rights, options, and power.  Together, we can topple the monopoly on childbirth that constrains those rights and options so much… and put birth on birthing people’s terms.

Meet me and the Birth Monopoly team >

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LATEST ON THE BLOG

We Are Now a Licensed Continuing Education Provider

We Are Now a Licensed Continuing Education Provider

Birth Monopoly is excited to announce we are now a licensed Continuing Education Provider approved through the State of California Board of Registered Nursing, able to provide nursing contact hours within the U.S. That means we can help nurses, nurse midwives, and...

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