A few years ago, when I had the opportunity to tour the Capitol building in Washington D.C., I witnessed a protester outside being slammed against a wall by a police officer. Despite the peaceful nature of the protest, he was detained by police and quickly restrained with a zip tie. The protest continued around him, but that moment remained imprinted in my mind. The frightening fact is that I had no idea if the officer was abusing his power or simply doing his job.

Not all birthing experiences are created equal. This truth is painfully evident in the United States of America as this nation holds the worst maternal mortality rates for similarly wealthy nations. Furthermore, this trend is only getting worse with a steady rise in pregnancy-related deaths spiking for the past two decades.