Hw # 45

Utopia/Ally made a good point we don't for a fact know that all woman drape and cover themselves during a procedure in India unless we go visit India ourselves, something I hope to do one day. But we can infer from this quote, that most traditional(keyword) woman tend to do this. Thank you for reading my blog, I enjoyed you and Leah's elevator speech, where you guys also researched about birth in India but specifically about their birth rituals.

Steph I am glad that like I, you could see the contrast between U.S. 's male role and India's and I agree it is important to know what other countries do and not just look at it through American perspective but through other places too. Which can help future mothers on what decisions to make during pregnancy and childbirth.

Leah I thought it was interesting when you said, "No matter where your from all the women seem to have the same stigma." Something I was trying to say when analyzing this quote but you said quite beautifully, and I find this true in my own life. When I go to a regular check - up at a hospital, I always tell them I prefer to have a female doctor. Showing that the male presence during birth may not be as great as everyone thinks but it should depend on each individual mother's opinion on whether allow father or partner to attend or not.

Jay thank you for finding interest in my project after the speech, and while reading your comment I found myself nodding my head when you said, "Those who shun others for their customs are ignorant and uneducated." Sometimes one does forget that there are many different cultures, ideas and views besides the ones here in the US and we only find this out once until we leave the country. For example, the first time I went to Mexico, it was eye - opening for me, because before that I thought there wouldn't be much of a difference. But I found that there were many differences, making me want to visit other countries to learn of other customs. Like you said, just because they have different customs then our own we must not be blind and ignore them, we should instead let them help us make our decisions for our childbirth or any other crucial decision in our lives.

Rossi I am happy my blog has taught you something new about birth in another country, something that believe we should all be open to. Another thing is that you saw that I was in no way trying to be judgmental of males, because in the end of my blog I try to make it clear that even after all my research, one can not make a generalization about the male role in India and much less in the US where there are so many different backgrounds. Thank you for seeing the effort i put into my research and I will keep in my mind the constructive feedback you gave me on how to improve my project in the future.

Evan you say "As you stated Indian woman value their men but they don’t want them in the room while they give birth unlike in America where wives want there husbands in the room with them." With this project, I found it difficult not trying to make a generalization in either country, but yes after my research found that most woman in India not all would rather have a woman with them during childbirth. I am glad you have learned something new after reading my post, and I'm sure you will continue to do so while visiting other countries.

Hw # 44

Stephanie

You chose to go into depth in a topic that you had a connection to; adoption. By calling agencies, you had the chance to learn more about the restrictions involved in this procedure and specifically on the sexuality of the parents. I enjoyed reading your post because for me it was a breath of fresh air. Something we had not touched much base upon during our unit. I found this project important to me because if I one day chose to adopt a child this blog taught me of the restrictions there are for example in a domestic adoption. Something that would have been the next step after calling these agencies, was to do actual research on this and see if it is allowed in all states for same sex marriages or partners to adopt. Besides that good Job!

Raven,

After researching ACOG, you help the reader understand what ACOG means and the lies it made to women in thinking it was good, when in fact C-sections rose! It was an informative project because it taught me something new. This is a matter that is significant because it shows us the other side of the usual "good" and squeaky clean view of hospitals we are used to seeing in TV. Your project mattered to me because it helped me see in a new view hospitals as has this entire unit. Making me have a change in heart of how I would like to give birth one day. The only thing would add to your project would be what was ACOG's opinion on all this? thank you enjoyed reading this.

Kristen

Abortion is the easy way out in case of unprotected sex and pregnancy happens just as the morning after pill is for, but when it is too late. Abortion was seen as a trend but in Brazil it is considered as a sin. I valued the topic of this quote because again it was something we have not discussed in class so you took it your hands to research about it. This matters to me because it is interesting to learn about whether it is accepted in Brazil as it is in US, particularly in NY. But after reading your work I learned that it was not, that it is more like it is in Mexico where people are very religious catholics, so it is seen as a sin and most abortion sites are illegal and not safe for woman. I enjoyed this blog, you could have compared it US or a bit more depth research of abortion. But other than that good job!

Amber,

The bond between mother and child some say differ whether have had a c-section or a vaginal birth but some say it is even before give birth that they feel this bond. So you decided investigate this topic more deeply. A topic I had never heard of before but that many can connect to because they have been the result of a pregnancy. It made me think of my own birth and wonder what this project mean to it because I was a C-section does that my mother doesn't same bond if I would have been born vaginally? But after reading your project and from the bond I have with my mother, it doesn't affect whether was born through a C-section, like the opinion some of the woman you found research on said. But then again if I had been born vaginally, I most likely would not be here today because my mom did not dilate enough and I had the umbilical cord around my head. Only thing you could have done to make post perfect is after quotes you used was to analyze them more to support what your main argument was but nonetheless good job!

David,

Looked at C-section stats in China and compared to U.S's and why they the c- section rates have increases. The fact this project was about birth in another country I valued this and had to go read your blog after hearing your elevator speech. This subject is important because now when I have a child and a doctor tells me should do C-section due to to its convenience, now can make he right decision and have baby natural unless of course I have complications. Something to make your project better would be more research on C-sections in China or maybe birth in general in China and rituals or differences they have with U.S. But other than that good!

Evan,

In the beginning you went in to interview and have them confirm what we have seen in the movie Business of Being Born, but ended up leaving with the realization that not all midwives think hospitals are "evil". An aspect I valued instead of staying at home doing research, you went out to find out the answers at a hospital. Also enjoyed hearing what this midwife had to say and her opinion, for example the response to why she worked at hospital instead of a birthing center, she said, "I can be the midwife in the birthing center but if anything goes wrong I have a hospital one floor above ready for any emergency. It’s the best of both worlds." The reason this matters to me is that it shows me and any future moms that you can also have best of both worlds when giving birth, having hospital a floor away if any complications occur. SOmething that would have made your post even better, would have been in your concluding paragraph analyze more what you just heard and what we've learned for more depth to conclude. But besides that it was an enjoyable read.

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To me:

From Protege -

Michelle,

It's all about what the ideal father's role is during childbirth and what the typical father's role is in child birth in India. In reality, the father's are not usually present during childbirth in India, even though you say we can make an assumption of country as a whole. One aspect of the post I valued was "We cannot generalize because of the different views one country can have, especially in the U.S. :melting pot" with so many ideas, cultures, and religions, so how can one infer that the father is always present..." As a male, I know that in the U.S. as a father you always have to be there for your child, even at childbirth. However in India that this is not the case, they neglect the mother and child and this type of action can be harmful to child's psychology. As a suggestion having more evidence to support your claim.

From Mentor -

Michelle,

In India the males role is more overpowering then in the U.S., in India men make decisions for their women, women have no voice they are silenced. Over population is a growing concern especially for India and China as mentioned with low food supply. It matters to me, because I think that apart from religion it is about doing what is right, because what if I was in the woman's "shoes"? I would like to make my own decisions, do what I want during birth and not be measured by the man I am with. I believe further investigation is required to see what impact there is during pregnancy and birth when men make decisions.

Having explored what birth is in U.S. it is important to look at it from another perspective, another country. So I chose India, because their culture and U.S.’s are not similar. In HW # 42, I researched what the typical male role is versus the ideal male role during childbirth is in the U.S. and after doing so I found the topic to be interesting and wondered what the typical male role might be in another country, for example in India.

The birth rate in India is large; they have about 20.3 births per 1,000, with a population of 1,189,172,906 people. This fact helps one understand what birth is like in India and that just as China, India is afraid of overpopulation.

Birth rate: 20.97-births/1,000 population (2011 est.)

Year	Birth rate	Rank	Percent Change	Date of Information
2003	23.28	91		2003 est.
2004	22.32	91	-4.12 %	2004 est.
2005	22.32	91	0.00 %	2005 est.
2006	22.01	93	-1.39 %	2006 est.
2007	22.69	86	3.09 %	2007 est.
2008	22.22	86	-2.07 %	2008 est.
2009	21.76	87	-2.07 %	2009 est.
2010	21.34	85	-1.93 %	2010 est.
2011	20.97	85	-1.73 %	2011 est.

("Indexmundi")

But going back to what the typical male role is in India during childbirth, I decided to learn more about childbirth in India and came upon this book that showed what the average childbirth is like in many countries from Mexico to China. For India it said, “Traditional women in India will act subservient to their husbands and will not make their own decisions…Women from India are modest and will prefer to be draped and covered during procedures and during childbirth.” (Murray, and Huelsmann 202). Women due to their culture and religious are more modest, they like to be covered and let the male make their decisions. So this quote says that the male is in charge of the decisions during this pregnancy, while normally in U.S. it tends to be the female’s choice.

To better understand why it is male’s choice, I looked at what the gender roles are in general in this country. To help us see why typical male role is what it is during childbirth, this article a woman named Hanlon writes about what the gender roles are like in India; “ In India, their view's on gender roles is still one considered backward compared to Western society. The role of each gender in Indian society is one that is steeped in religion and culture and makes for an oppressive tradition. There are many factors that contribute to the oppression of women in India; these include geographical locations throughout the country, education, and economic and religious reasons. Indian women usually suffer from a low social status compared to men and are sometimes treated negatively. But on the other hand women are revered in Hindu practices with many ceremonies dedicated to them, but Indian society and laws still fail to treat women with equal rights as men.” (Hanlon) Hanlon’s quote gave me a better understanding of what the gender roles are in India, evidence of why the male is charge of pregnancy. That the laws still let men have more power than the woman even in 5their own childbirth.

The male role not only can be the partner but the doctor, and how the gender of the doctor taking care of these women during childbirth are women just like them, “The main reason given for the need to train medical women in India was that the cultural practices of purdah prevented Indian women from going to see male doctors. Indeed, cross-cultural studies in many parts of the world suggest that women prefer to be attended my woman doctors during childbirth due to cultural notions of modesty, regardless of whether or not women are secluded for religious purposes such as in purdah.” (Hollen 43) When reading this I thought ahead when I one day will give birth and how uncomfortable I’d feel having all my parts out to a doctor much less a male doctor, so I sympathize with Indian women on why they would rather have woman doctor. Showing how a male in the delivery room is not wanted by these Indian women due to their cultural background, but this quote even shows that it is not only religious women who want a doctor of their gender. So if a male doctor is not wanted in the delivery room, I can only imagine even the father would not be allowed but I continued to research further.

When searching what average/typical male role was in the delivery room, I found an advice column for birth partner from a baby center in India. “A woman's birth partner is a vital support at a crucial time in her life. Although these days it is often the father who attends the birth, many maternity wards welcome whomever the mother has chosen as partner. Many women ask their mother, sister or sister-in-law to help them.” ("Baby center") This is current from 2010 from a baby center in India, and it says its hospital policy being the 21st century, is that men are allowed to be in delivery room, BUT the women tend to ask their mother or sister to help and be there. So still Indian women today rather have their mother or woman figure with them, and when I read Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent, she explains why this is for many different women, because for them they’d rather have someone who “speaks” the same language and their rhythm of body movement. For these Indian women I believe it is more because of their culture and religion that they follow, men are not allowed them until it is over and fully cleansed.

While researching I found a study two men Singh and Ram who collected data to find out men’s involvement during pregnancy and childbirth by interviewing men ages 15 – 54 from rural Ahmadnagar in India. And these were their results; “ Men who had egalitarian gender role attitudes were more likely to assist their wives during pregnancy compared to men who had traditional gender role attitudes… More than half the men were present at the time of delivery of their last child. A majority of men among those who were absent at the time of delivery reported that their wives were at their parents’ house. Going for delivery to the parents’ house is a very common feature in rural areas of India. Especially the birth of first child generally takes place at the parental home…. In such cases men may not be allowed to go to their in-laws house to assist their wives even if they wished to do so.” (Singh, and Ram 83- 102) The data shows that the males (fathers) did or did not attend their wife’s childbirth depending on their gender role attitudes. Also this data shows that the women’s parents did not allow the man to be present during his wife’s birth, being more traditional.

After all this research, I still cannot make a generalization of how all Indian men are not being present during the woman’s childbirth. Although there was certainly a correlation between the men and women who were more traditional and religious who did not allow father to be present during delivery while those who weren’t had the male/father there. Just like in the U.S. we see TV and how father is always there in delivery room, how can we be so sure that during most of these births that the father is present? We cannot generalize because of the different views one country can have, especially in the US “the melting pot” with so many ideas, cultures and religions how can one infer that the father is always present, and even if he is there the extent of his ability to comfort her will differ. Hope you enjoyed finding out what typical male role is like another expanding one’s view outside, that few us of do until we leave the country and see another’s!

Hanlon, R.L. "India's views on gender roles." Helium. N.p., 24 April 2008. Web. 5 Apr 2011. .

Hollen, Cecilia. Birth in the threshold: childbirth and modernity in South India. Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press, 2003. 43. eBook.

"India Birth Rate - Demographics." indexmundi. N.p., 11 March 2011. Web. 5 Apr 2011. .

Murray, Michelle, and Gayle Huelsmann. Labor and delivering nursing: a guide to evidence - based practice. New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, 2009. 202. eBook.

Singh, Abhishek, and Faujdar Ram. "Men’s Involvement during Pregnancy and Childbirth: Evidence from Rural Ahmadnagar, India." 48. (2009): 83- 102. Web. 4 Apr 2011

"10 tips for labor partners." baby center. Baby center India, 2010. Web. 4 Apr 2011. .

Hw # 41 - Research

10. Ideal versus typical male roles during pregnancy & childbirth

A. Bibliography

1) Two to Tango: the father’s role in pregnancy by Pamela Wilson (http://health.ninemsn.com.au/pregnancy/planning/693682/two-to-tango-the-fathers-role-during-pregnancy)

This article suggests that father be included more from the beginning, from the minute the woman begins to get her regular checkups because if not many tend to be left out. It also suggests father must help her be stress free which might mean helping around the house, creating a relaxing environment and most of all keeping communication open. But it also says even today some men like to be in dark and let woman make all the choices because birth makes them uncomfortable. Two to Tango main point is to show what the ideal man is and how this has become “normal” no longer weird in the western world/culture. Where male participates and helps make their partner’s life much easier during this time. But at the same time it reminds us that there are still some of the typical men who would rather watch by on sidelines than be a part of pregnancy, because it is uncomfortable or have been taught or grown up seeing the typical role.

2) The History of Childbirth – Ouch! By James Martell (http://www.thehistoryof.net/history-of-childbirth.html)

History of Childbirth shows what the typical male role has been through the years and how it has evolved, due to development of society. During the 1880s, the man/partner was nowhere to be seen during the hospital birth not even if the father was a doctor. “It was not really until the 1970’s that fathers were allowed into birthing rooms, and at that time it was not so that they could help, they had to stand in the corner and just watch!” In hospital births today, 2011 the father or partner is still standing in corner watching while doctors and nurses are working. If man has enough courage and not feint at the sigh of blood, he stands by her and comforts her as much as he is allowed. This article also says that even midwives back then had a problem with men being same room during birth! “Midwives tried hard to discredit him; they also complained that it was unfavorable and distasteful to have males present during such an intimate female “process”.” The article is evidence that proves what the typical man has been through the years during childbirth, and how it has changed and is today. You can now have your husband attend, even a sister, friend, doula, midwife, family or all! But I recall sitting in waiting area with my older brother, sucking on lifesavers in the middle of night bored but excited for the arrival of our new sibling, but also upset because we weren’t allowed to be with my mother. And I asked why this was, my curious five year old self and my uncle who was watching us told me it was because we were “germy”(five year old vocab), the germs we carried would not be safe for baby or the birth. So I guess, even today you can’t really have everyone in the room but from what we’ve learned and read during home births it is ok.

3) Phone call to Uncle Francisco in Mexico – (Doctor)

I call my uncle and ask him what he has seen through the years during birth about the male role because he used to be a gynecologist but now has his own clinic as a regular doctor. He says that in Mexico when he was doing births, fathers were not allowed to be in the room during childbirth. Then when I later ask my mom whether my dad had been allowed to be there with her for support, and proved what my uncle has said – he was not allowed. I didn’t have time to ask because accidentally spent most minutes catching up with my grams. But I believe have my own explanation for this, the reason I think it is that the poverty in Mexico has not allowed for technology development or access in comparison to western world like US. Times I have gone, my cousins tell me that in the high schools there are no computers, that they must go to a cyber café instead which are like the Starbucks here, except they don’t own their laptop are simply renting it. Might be wrong or there is more to this but it shows how different typical male role is in US compared to those in other countries around the world.

4) Fathers and Homebirths (http://www.homebirth.org.uk/blokes.htm)

Fathers and Homebirths show what the ideal male role of a father is during a home birth and I saw great examples of this in the book I read Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent. Like in the book, woman comment on how great it was to have their partner there during birth, participating and even helping process with out feeling conscious, as he would have in a delivery room. There are even those who are hands – on partners, from making tea, making sure blankets are warm and ready for baby, massaging/ comforting woman, and even will even want to catch the baby. This is the ideal male role during birth, because it allows the male to be part of it and not feel like awkward just watching not being able to do anything but watch their naked wife moan and scream, without being able to fully comfort her.

5) The seven secrets to being a home birth dad (http://www.homebirth.org.uk/blokesven.htm)

Seven Secrets to being a home birth dad is a perfect read for a future father, so an hear from experience of one who has already gone through this and understands what feelings he may be having. It enjoyable read and comical toward regular hospital birth, letting them know that here he will have so many little jobs to do he wanted be standing around to get fearful. It again shows what the ideal man is birth in general, like he says if I would rather to recognize my baby’s father then be unconscious and not have him by my side comforting me.

B.

I could use this research to support my academic project, where I would explore it more in depth and possibly on what male role in general is in US compared to other countries OR interviewing several woman asking them what their child’s role was during birth and if they wished it was different or would have preferred.

Hw # 40 - Insights from the Book: Part 3

"Hi! – Thank you for writing Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife.

Your book’s main idea made me rethink pregnancy and birth and taught me the image of being rushed to the hospital is not our only option.” But the author, surprised a teenager had read and seemed so enthusiastic about her book instead of the usual pregnant ladies, responded "Really, which parts were most effective or important for you?" I answered, "Well, in the last third of the book you focused on and supported your main idea by telling more birth stories and analyzing your many many years in midwifing. And telling us your tragic ending of having to return to the hospital after losing insurance because of a mishap in pregnancy you were not even in charge of. But to you it was more important to keep doing what you love doing… catching babies. The act of catching the baby covered in blood and white coating seem magical and life – changing to everyone from mother to the random strangers who happen to observe this.

Which further developed from the first 2/3 of the book, but specifically on page 306 “Rog and the kids knew how sad I was at the abrupt end of my dream occupation, and their compassion often brought tears to my life. In so many ways, our family life had revolved around my work, my crazy hours, the sometimes bizarre nature of our dinner table conversations.” While reading this it showed me how important this was for you and how still midwives were being treated unfairly. A story I thought was comic and first I’ve heard a woman say this after her birth on page 216, (Mark is the husband and Julie is the woman giving birth) “ Mark reached toward Julie and then paused, glancing at me. When I nodded, he touched her shoulder, a tentative touch, as if he were reaching across a vast space to connect with something bigger than he’d ever faced before. Gently he said, “Julie don’t be afraid.” She jerked her gaze from the ceiling light and stared at him like she’d never seen him before. Spewing spit with each word, she screamed, “ I’m not afraid! It’s just so…so…so INTERESTING!” I too, like you grinned at this comment that I had never heard from al stories I’ve heard about. Then toward the end of your career, you wrote on page 322 that it was heartwarming and reassuring to be able to pass on the torch to a new midwife who was going to take it to Yemen to make it available to Muslim women. “ Then I knew the source of my tears. I cried with pride as I looked into the face of a midwife from the next generation of baby catchers.”

"But what could I have done to make this a better book - that would more effectively fulfill its mission?" Ms. Vincent asks. " Your book sought to provide narratives from your own perspective for the book-reading-public to better understand pregnancy & birth in our culture. But I would have found hearing another’s perspective or more of your thoughts after retelling birth stories refreshing. Of course that would have made your already great book into fantastic one. I appreciate the immense amount of labor you dedicated to this important issue and particularly for sharing the birth stories you have witnessed & letting me discover that there is another choice for a woman giving birth that is just as safe as it would be in a hospital. In fact, I'm likely to do my own birth experience differently as a result of your book." The author replies, "Thanks! Talking to you gives me hope that one day midwifery will become a norm of society!"

Hw # 39

Vincent, Peggy. Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife. New York: Scribner, 2002. Print.

1)

- detailed explanations of various complications that can occur during birth

- not every birth is the same: many stories to prove this

- gives women independence and in many mothers even thought they could do it on their own; which can be very dangerous

- extreme cases the baby can die; from her own to one of her patients

- the idea of a spirit baby

- teenagers tend to have difficult labors, but usually go very fast.

- Sometimes the women who come to midwifery aren't actually pregnant ( One case of a women stomach full of tumors not a baby:( )

2) Not much of a new major insight but again birth stories showing the reader that every pregnancy is not the same. The major insight in 2 of the chapters in the second 100 pages is letting readers & future mothers know that the death of baby can occur, not that it means one should expect for the worse but it can happen. That not even a midwife or hospital can help it. It also shows the hurt a mother goes through when losing baby, for example author tells of her loss but before she did, all she thought about was how could it have happen when she was too "old" to have a normal pregnancy. But the minute Peggy lost the baby she mourned child, wishing the baby had been born. For me, it showed me that the trauma a mother faces after losing baby can be very hard on them and tends to never go away no matter how years go by.

3) First aspect that should be addressed is the agony of mother has when losing her baby and how this even occurs. Which author explains using her own experience to using one of her patients. Her twelve year old son helped her in a way that made it seem losing a baby was magical, "Don't you know about Spirit Babies?..... Well Mom, here's how it is. See I was one myself, so that must be how I know. Anyway, every woman has a circle of babies that goes around and around above her head, and those are all the possible babies she could have in her whole life.Every month one of those babies is first in line. If she gets pregnant, ten that's the baby that;s born... now listen, Mom because here's the really cool part. It goes back into the circle, but it becomes a spirit baby, and all the other babies give it cuts. Each month it's always first in line. Isn't that great?" - pg. 126

4)http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/medicalresources_teenpregnancy.html

"A teenage mother is at greater risk than women over age 20 for pregnancy complications, such as premature labor, anemia and high blood pressure (7). These risks are even greater for teens who are under 15 years old (7)." This proves true what this midwife says about teenage mothers; they give birth more quickly but most have difficult labors due to them having more risks. She retells a couple of teen pregnancies and even mothers who are still children when giving birth. Her evidence I believe is factual because one can't make up such a story and make it seem so realistic.

Hw #38

" But the next moment an army of nurses and doctors pushed past the curtain, propelling a stretcher ahead of them. Zelda's cries and grunts had been heard, and within half a minute they wrestled her onto the stretcher and whisked her toward the delivery room. She screamed and kicked and begged to leave her alone, but there were too many of them. I followed them. I followed like lifeline, a way out, a piece of floating debris on a stormy ocean." - pg. 22

Baby Catcher

By Peggy Vincent

This book is organized in the author telling her life story from starting as a nurse to a midwife and the pregnancies she saw along the way and new things she learned about them every new time. The major question this book is trying to answer along the way so far is her figuring what is better hospital birth or home birth and she seems to see home birth in simple words more “natural” unless serious complications come up.

The major insight the book wants the author to take away so far is how different home birth and hospital birth are and so specifically that during her retelling of several of her pregnancy stories I feel like I’m there when mother is in labor, can only imagine the pain the woman feels, the terror she feels when doctor’s and assistants disrupt her instinctive feelings to instead be laid flat and drugged up and even the moment Peggy catches the newborn baby seems like most beautiful thing to her, when before reading this book believed it was a simple no thought process.

Interesting aspect of pregnancy and birth that I believe deserves public attention is that from all the pregnancy she talks about every single one is different. One person had baby on stairs while one in bathtub and another on all fours. This is important aspect because sometimes soon to be moms listen to the stories of friends and mother but it does not mean her pregnancy or giving birth will be the same, so future moms do NOT freak out. I of course after this unit am definitely scared of this whole process before all I thought was “yep I will one day have kids, no stress… yea right!” but has helped me become more informed about this whole process and hopefully help me make me the right decisions when I in the far future will want children.

Her evidence is her personal experience to support her arguments and is reliable I believe because I’d think I’d be pretty hard to make up the whole process of so many women first hand. The evidence sometimes does stall the book a bit but it also helps reader see many different births.