A major study adds to mounting evidence that Black and mixed-ethnicity women are consistently failed by the UK’s maternity system.
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More than half of Black women in the United Kingdom who raised concerns during labour felt ignored, according to the largest study of its kind into Black maternity experiences.
The Black Maternity Experiences Report, published early this week by campaign group Five X More, surveyed over 1,100 Black and mixed-ethnicity women who were pregnant between July 2021 and March 2025.
The findings paint a picture of clear systemic failings within maternity care, including widespread accounts of neglect and discriminatory treatment.
Dr Sarah Tade, one of the women who shared her experience said her first labour was marked by pain and disbelief.
“My first labour experience was horrendous, I was in agony,” she said. “And there was definitely racial undertones in how I was communicated to. So when I kept voicing that I’m in pain, I was questioned, patronised, really”. She said one healthcare worker asked her: “Are you sure you’re not just high?”.
More than half of the respondents said they faced challenges with healthcare professionals during their care. Of those who raised concerns while giving birth, just under half said they were not taken seriously or adequately supported.
A significant number reported being denied pain relief when they asked for it (23 per cent), and many said no explanation was given. Others described being questioned, dismissed or patronised while in severe discomfort.
Furthermore, over a quarter (28 per cent) of those surveyed said they had experienced discrimination, with one in four of them believing it was because of their race.
“One woman was told that, you know, thank goodness you got that monkey out of you, which was absolutely shocking,” said Dr Michelle Peter, one of the report’s authors.
“Another woman had a health visitor compare the care that she was having here in the UK to the care that she might get in Africa, in an attempt to kind of make her feel grateful that she was having her care here. These are very specific examples of overt racism that these women are facing. And we need to do something about it”.
Previous data has shown that Black women are up to four times more likely to die in childbirth than white women, and face higher risks of serious complications and mental health challenges during and after pregnancy.
Five X More, the grassroots organisation behind the research, is calling for urgent action, including mandatory training in cultural competence for healthcare professionals, clearer accountability in complaint systems and better data collection around ethnicity and outcomes in maternity services.
