Medicalised maternity : an investigation into women's experiences of medicalised childbirth

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dc.contributor.advisorJubber, Kenen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorHumphreys, Katherine Louiseen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-11-04T10:31:15Z
dc.date.available2015-11-04T10:31:15Z
dc.date.issued1998en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: leaves 169-175.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation reports on a qualitative study of the childbearing experiences of 20 women having their first child. The study attempts to examine the dominant discourses surrounding pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood, with specific reference to the medical discourse, and to describe the way in which these impact on the women's experiences. The non-probability, convenience sample used in the study comprised women attending an antenatal class held at a Cape Town private hospital. The sample was relatively socially and medically homogeneous. The size and nature of the sample makes broad generalisations tentative. Individual interviews based on in-depth and open-ended questions were conducted. These were aimed at gathering qualitative data on the women's perceptions of their experiences. The women were interviewed during the last trimester of pregnancy about their experiences of pregnancy and their anticipation of childbirth. A further interview conducted a few weeks after birth focused on their experience of childbirth within the hospital setting and their impressions of early motherhood. It was found that the women's accounts of their experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood were shaped to a large extent by the discourses within which the process of childbearing has been constructed. These include the medical, 'natural' birth and feminine discourses. The dominance of the medical discourse of birth was evident in the fact that the medical view was thoroughly incorporated into the women's perceptions of their childbearing experiences. This view of birth, along with the dominance of scientific medical knowledge, was found to limit the perception of acceptable birthing practice. The medical discourse intersected with both the 'natural' birth discourse which, as a social construction, was shown to uphold essentialist and prescriptive notions of motherhood, and the feminine discourse. This discourse, along with its assumptions regarding the mothering role, was fom1d to impact on the women's experiences through the creation of unrealistic expectations and ideals, which contributed to the shock and stress of first-time motherhood.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationHumphreys, K. L. (1998). <i>Medicalised maternity : an investigation into women's experiences of medicalised childbirth</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14634en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationHumphreys, Katherine Louise. <i>"Medicalised maternity : an investigation into women's experiences of medicalised childbirth."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14634en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHumphreys, K. 1998. Medicalised maternity : an investigation into women's experiences of medicalised childbirth. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Humphreys, Katherine Louise AB - This dissertation reports on a qualitative study of the childbearing experiences of 20 women having their first child. The study attempts to examine the dominant discourses surrounding pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood, with specific reference to the medical discourse, and to describe the way in which these impact on the women's experiences. The non-probability, convenience sample used in the study comprised women attending an antenatal class held at a Cape Town private hospital. The sample was relatively socially and medically homogeneous. The size and nature of the sample makes broad generalisations tentative. Individual interviews based on in-depth and open-ended questions were conducted. These were aimed at gathering qualitative data on the women's perceptions of their experiences. The women were interviewed during the last trimester of pregnancy about their experiences of pregnancy and their anticipation of childbirth. A further interview conducted a few weeks after birth focused on their experience of childbirth within the hospital setting and their impressions of early motherhood. It was found that the women's accounts of their experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood were shaped to a large extent by the discourses within which the process of childbearing has been constructed. These include the medical, 'natural' birth and feminine discourses. The dominance of the medical discourse of birth was evident in the fact that the medical view was thoroughly incorporated into the women's perceptions of their childbearing experiences. This view of birth, along with the dominance of scientific medical knowledge, was found to limit the perception of acceptable birthing practice. The medical discourse intersected with both the 'natural' birth discourse which, as a social construction, was shown to uphold essentialist and prescriptive notions of motherhood, and the feminine discourse. This discourse, along with its assumptions regarding the mothering role, was fom1d to impact on the women's experiences through the creation of unrealistic expectations and ideals, which contributed to the shock and stress of first-time motherhood. DA - 1998 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1998 T1 - Medicalised maternity : an investigation into women's experiences of medicalised childbirth TI - Medicalised maternity : an investigation into women's experiences of medicalised childbirth UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14634 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14634
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationHumphreys KL. Medicalised maternity : an investigation into women's experiences of medicalised childbirth. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Humanities ,Department of Sociology, 1998 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14634en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Sociologyen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Humanitiesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherSociologyen_ZA
dc.subject.otherChildbirthen_ZA
dc.titleMedicalised maternity : an investigation into women's experiences of medicalised childbirthen_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMSocScen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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