PSYB20H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Ventouse, Father, Natural Childbirth
30 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
Customs surrounding childbirth reflect beliefs, values, & resources of culture. Reproductive role = source of social status among 1st nations peoples, & women who raise families successfully are influential in their communities, with wisdom of elderly women recognized in esteem in which grandmothers were held. Yucatan, mayan woman gives birth in hammock in which she sleeps every night; both father-to-be & midwife are expected to be present. Ngoni in east africa, men are excluded from birth. While cultural differences abound, differences can also be seen across time within many countries, as childbirth & labor became increasingly medicalized & moved from home to hospital settings. Childbirth in earlier times was (cid:498)struggle with death(cid:499) for both mother & baby. 17th - & 18th -century france, woman had 1/10 chance of dying while/ shortly after giving birth. 1000s of babies were stillborn, & 1/4 who were born alive died during their 1st year.
