Influence of Social, Cultural, and Healthcare Systems on the Childbirth Experience
The birth experience has an impact on parental attachment to the infant, which can affect the quality of parenting for the child. Research on the birth experience has traditionally focused on the role of the woman. However, recently there has been a growing body of evidence that focuses on the birth experience of the father. The focus of this research is in determining the factors that facilitate stronger attachment of the fathers to their infants (Williams and Umberson, 1999). Cultural constraints of the past considered having children to be solely the role of the woman. However, recently these social roles have changed and fathers are now expected to be concerned over their pregnant spouse and to take a more active role in the birth experience. Despite these findings, fathers still report that they feel a lack of emotional involvement in the childbirth experience (Williams and Umberson, 1999). Evidence supports the suggestion that greater levels of involvement by fathers results in lower levels of stress. This helps both parents make the transition to parenthood (Williams and Umberson, 1999). One of the factors thought to affect this lack of participation by fathers is the medical nature of today's c
This change in attitude makes childbirth appear to be an unnatural event that needs to be controlled through the use of outside intervention. BM is a 57 year old woman with one child. This stemmed from a lack of knowledge and the amount of control exerted over patients by the modern hospital setting. The importance of a support person is now recognized, as is the importance of parent contact with the infant as soon as possible after the birth. She received little prenatal care and it was apparently not informed about the pregnancy or birth process by her doctor. This is the opposite of what one would expect. Cultural Differences in Reactions to the Childbirth Experience Demographic changes in patent population have led to the need for increased cultural awareness among medical professionals (Berlin and Fowkes, 1983). Attitudes towards childbirth changed and it is now largely considered to be a medical procedure (Williams and Umberson, 1999). She expressed that if she had it to do all over again she would want her best friend with her. The attitudes expressed in BMs interview regarding her childbirth experience reflect more traditional experiences of the time. They must not be made to feel as if they are an object of the medical profession. The demographics reflect a lower socioeconomic status southern community in the south. She did not participate in the initial care of her baby. Schools are now beginning to incorporate cultural sensitivity into their curriculum as well (Tervalon and Murray-Garcia, 1998). This was true throughout her pregnancy and birth experience.
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