New Report Reveals Where US Maternal Healthcare Falls Short

America has a long way to go in better supporting mothers. The US maternal mortality rate remains the highest among high-income nations; triple that of Sweden, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany, the United Kingdom and France. And as a new survey of more than 2,300 women shows, it’s not just about what happens in the delivery room.

Now in it’s third year, The Harris Poll’s 2025 State of Maternal Health Report confirms what many parents already know: moms are being let down at every stage of pregnancy, from a lack of information during prenatal visits to limited support in the weeks after birth and inadequate attention to mental health. Knowing where the system is falling short is the first step toward making meaningful change. The report highlights three key areas where mothers say they need more care and advocacy.

Gaps in Education and Preparation

For many parents, the first pregnancy feels like uncharted territory. The 2025 State of Maternal Health Report found that only half of women felt adequately prepared for their first birth, and more than half said they would have made different choices had they known more at the time

Lack of education is a recurring theme:

• More than 3 in 5 women (62%) said their experience would have been easier if they had been better educated or had someone to advocate for them
• Nearly 9 in 10 women (87%) didn’t know cervical checks aren’t required during labor.
• Around 54% say they didn’t recieve enough information about birthing positions and about 2 in 3 (66%) didn’t know lying completely flat during birth can reduce blood flow to the baby.
• Nearly half (45%) didn’t receive enough or any information about kick counts, a tool that can help prevent stillbirth.

When women do seek alternative support, access is uneven. Only 1 in 5 women used a doula, but nearly 3 in 4 believe doulas should be covered by insurance. Among those who did use one, 90% found it helpful.

Postpartum and Mental Health Shortfalls

The report shows that care steadily declines after delivery: while about half rated prenatal, labor, and delivery care as adequate, only 2 in 5 women said the same of postpartum care.

Postpartum care remains sorely needed but widely unavailable:

• 77% of moms say there isn’t enough focus on maternal health after birth.
• Nearly 2 in 3 (65%) feel mothers are forgotten once the baby is born.
• 84% believe the standard 6-week postpartum check-up isn’t enough.
• While 66% of mothers experienced postpartum mental health issues, but more than half (56%) say they received little or no support.
• Beyond mental health 61% reported sexual health issues and 59% reported pelvic floor issues, with about half receiving subpar or no help from providers.

Breastfeeding is another area where moms feel unsupported:

• 67% struggled with breastfeeding, and nearly 40% didn’t receive enough or any information from their providers.
• Only 19% of mothers breastfed for as long as they wanted; among younger moms ages 18–44, that number dropped to 8%.
• 65% said they could have breastfed longer with better access to supplies, longer leave, or more support.

Barriers to Access and Insufficient Leave

Even before delivery, many parents struggle to access basic care: more than 2 in 5 women reported barriers to attending prenatal appointments from not being able to find childcare to not being able to take time off work. The US remains the only high-income country without federally mandated paid maternity leave. Most women (71%) say the leave offered by employers is not enough, and on average they believe 15 weeks should be the minimum. Importantly, more than 3 in 4 (78%) women say employers should provide the same amount of paid leave to parents who experience miscarriage or stillbirth as they do for live births.

“This year’s report makes clear that U.S. maternal healthcare needs a shift toward patient-centered models that prioritize mental health, postpartum support and equitable education,” Harris Poll authors said in the report. “Doing so will not only improve health outcomes but also empower women to make informed choices for themselves and their families.”