Hi,
My name is Ruth Darvill and I am doing a Phd on women's experiences of
childbearing from a psychological perspective. I am not a midwife and
so my research has been very much using the immigrant mentality.
I have been fascinated by the recent debate about CS and fear. I think
fear is a central part of our lives today, and it is how society is
controlled by those in power. The fear of childbirth could be related to
the argument regarding the male medical model maintaining control over
women's reproductive system, and would explain fear on both sides
(controlling and controlled.
In my current research I have done some qualitative interviews with
first time mums and have concluded that there is a process which women
go through from the moment they fall pregnant whereby their self concept
(beliefs about the self) begins to fragment. All the beliefs that women
have about how they will be when pregnant, through labour and when they
have the baby are eroded one by one as all their expectations are not
met. I suspect that the self concept remains fragmented until some time
after the baby is born, at which point it must be reintegrated if an
individual is to remain psychologically healthy. This new self concept
must include new, previously unthought of, beliefs about the self and
include a realistic concept of self as mother. A lack of reintergration
of the self concept could lead to the development of post natal
depression.
I would love to hear anyones views on this theory as I am in the process
of planning the next part of the research. All thoughts gratefully
received.
Ruth Darvill
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive health
research. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of kathy
Carter-Lee
Sent: 10 November 2004 10:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE CS on Request
I congratulate Else for her proposed study as it is obviously something
that really gets people talking! May we have more.
I have no research but have heard a woman about 14 weeks pregnant
hospitalised in (New Zealand) with hyperemesis talking about how more
than 50% of her "coffee group" had been offered CS by their
obstetricians... So...is it the chicken or the egg which is influencing
the change in societal attitudes? Is the fear coming from women
themselves and their experiences and their friends and relatives
experiences? Or is also (or otherwise) coming from professionals who
themselves are afraid of normal birth for whatever reason?
Another angle is whether women are operating an "informed" choice in
asking, or are reflecting what they have been told by family or
professionals. This is shown here in Afghanistan, where oftentimes women
with money will "ask" for a quick labour and be given oxytocin "to
help". Fear of childbirth is rather more evident here than most
countries I have worked in. Both here and in the West, one big reason
for fear is perhaps linked to a lack of control on the process and on
circumstances.
Thanks
from
Kathy Carter-Lee
RN RM MSc MCH
Women's & Reproductive Health Advisor
SCA, Afghanistan.
|