This paper will interview mothers from different cultural and social backgrounds about their birth-giving experience. Miranda, a 30-years old woman from Colorado, has given birth to her first child this April. She and her husband live in an affluent region of their town, receiving an average yearly income of $100 000. Miranda gave birth in a private hospital conducted by a surgeon and obstetrician. Her one-week residence in the hospital that charges about $6 000 included a full-range health investigation of the newborn and mother. As Miranda experienced delivery during the pandemic time, her experience differs from regular cases. Greenlees et al. (2021) mentioned that newborn babies and mothers were isolated from family and friends during the pandemic to avoid infections. Miranda and her husband planned to have partnered birth; however, her husband was not allowed to participate in the process. She states that it was complicated to give birth without moral support. Nevertheless, the medical personnel provided good facilities and helped to overcome all barriers. The process overall took for an hour resulting in satisfactory state of the mother and the baby. Despite having difficulties, Miranda refers to her experience positively.
Yawo, a 23-years old woman living in the rural area of Northern Ghana, has delivered her fourth child last March. Her husband is a local farmer with an average income of $1000-1500 per year. Yawo gave birth at her home under the control and regulation of a local healer. The process included all rules and traditions associated with delivery. The healer conducted her sixth childbirth, two of which were with tragic endings. As highlighted by Adatara et al. (2019), the mortality rate during childbirth is extremely high in the country’s Northern regions because women, especially in rural areas, refuse to receive professional assistance. Yawo gave birth to a healthy son; however, her state reported as unsatisfactory due to bleeding. The therapist strongly recommended avoiding pregnancies because of uterus erosions and past miscarriages. She requires medical help, but most likely she would be treated by local traditional medicine.
Katya, a 27- years old woman from Russia, gave birth to her second child. She lives in a region with high criminal activity, and her annual salary varies between $6 000 and $7 000. She did not know who the father of her child was, as she had several sexual partners at that moment. Nevertheless, the father of her first child and her family supported her financially as well as morally. This allowed her to give birth at a separate department in a public hospital by cesarean section. The process was prolonged for 30 minutes and resulted in satisfactory conditions for mother and child.
Comparing these dramatically different cases, it could be seen that childbirth was conducted under professional medical control regardless of country and income. The issue of Yowa shows how traditional and cultural visions could detrimentally affect woman’s health. Considering the situation of Miranda, the high level of service and medical support that correspond American healthcare system is observed. In the case of Katya, her social and financial status differs. Despite having a considerably lower income compared to affluent American citizens, Katya is recognized as the average income in her country. The absence of the influence of cultural and traditional methods on her childbirth provides a positive outcome. Contrary, taking into account the overall income, financial state of Yowa, her situation is the most tragic in this chart.
References
Adatara, P., Strumpher, J., Ricks, E., & Mwini-Nyaledzigbor, P. P. (2019). Cultural beliefs and practices of women influencing home births in rural Northern Ghana. International Journal of Women’s Health, Volume 11, 353-361. Web.
Greenlees, J., Ford, A., & Read, S. (2021). How women’s experience of birth during Covid-19 can help improve childbirth in future. Web.