I am an Australian postgraduate student interested in the subject of
birthing environments, for a research project I am doing.
I became interested in this as a result of my own birth experience (twins,
in hospital, total obstetrician(male) control, dehumanising, depressing)
and my realisation that this is not an isolated experience. So many of the
women I have spoken to in recent years have had similar experiences that I
am beginning to wonder what all this 'natural childbirth' talk has
achieved.
It seems to me that, in hospital anyway, as soon as the first complication
arises all pretense at respect disappears, and control takes dominance.
I now wonder if there are differences in the experiences of women giving
birth in different environments, eg at home. I suspect that I would have
felt more power in my own home, and would have found it easier to
communicate. (This would have been too dangerous for me having twins, but
maybe next time....?)
If anyone has any interesting information for me, I would appreciate
receiving it through this service.
Such things may include;
-Gender aspects of the various birthing environments which in Australia
might include hospital delivery suites, birthing units, homes, and those
environments chosen by aboriginal women, for example.
-Details of where you had your children (if you have any), how it was, why
you chose that place, what were the gender aspects of that choice, etc.
-The power relationships which exist between women in labour, and their
birth attendants. For example I am interested in the role of men as
obstetricians, and the controlling influence they have had on childbirth
over this century.
I hope this gives you an idea of what I'm thinking about.
I look forward to any responses,
Fiona Chambers.
