Five X More launched their powerful new report this week: the ‘Black Maternity Experiences Report 2025’.
Once again, the findings demonstrate what Black women and birthing people have long been saying: racism and discrimination in maternity care remain widespread. Poor communication, lack of empathy, and denial of basic rights continue to shape experiences while leaving many feeling dismissed, unsafe, and unheard.
It is encouraging to see more Black women and birthing people informed about their rights and advocating for themselves. But this is happening against a backdrop of an increasingly rigid and racialised system where being labelled “high-risk” is often based on blanket assumptions rather than individual need or clinical evidence. We’ve seen this in our own recent report Access Denied: Restrictions to Home Birth in the UK, where racialised risk assessments and inconsistent criteria lead to unequal care and the erosion of choice.
These findings make clear: we urgently need transparency, accountability, and care that listens to, respects, and protects Black women and birthing people.
We fully support the report’s recommendations, including the call to improve access to complaints and support mechanisms in maternity care.
If you need support with understanding and advocating for your rights, a helpful resource is our FREE human rights factsheets which cover 14 relevant topics around your human rights in maternity care, including ‘Making a complaint’.