Birth Rights: A Resource for Everyday People to Defend Human Rights During Pregnancy and Birth

This resource was created by Pregnancy Justice, Elephant Circle, and Birth Justice Bar.

This resource was created with the goal of affirming and advocating for the human rights of pregnant people in the United States, as well as to provide concrete tools for pregnant people, doulas, partners, family members, and friends. Many folks have reached out to us for more information about their rights or the rights of their clients during childbirth; we have heard resounding feedback calling for more advocacy tools both to identify these rights and promote their observance, as well as more accessible information about avenues for redress of harm after it has occurred.

After the Dobbs decision has shifted the landscape significantly and as maternal mortality and morbidity continues to worsen, this guide was updated in 2025 to provide additional information and resources to pregnant individuals, families members, health care providers, and advocates.

This includes additional information about racism in medical and obstetric care, and additional guidance about how to file civil and human rights complaints after a violation.