Experiences of Being a Mother: Meanings of Childbirth, Pain and Birth
Journal Title: Fronteiras: Journal of Social, Technological and Environmental Science - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 3
Abstract
The experiences of delivery and birth profoundly shape the lives of women, couple and family. The objective of this study is to understand the meanings attributed to childbirth, pain and birth, by Portuguese and immigrant women in Portugal, and identify the meanings and feelings experienced by the woman who becomes a mother. It is a qualitative study, resorting to semi-structured interviews and content analysis, to 60 immigrant and 22 Portuguese women, supported by Nvivo10. The results suggest that the meanings of childbirth, labour pains, and birth are diverse and ambivalent, according to the experience of each woman. Labour pains presented disparate meanings between being horrible or necessary, but rewarding. Often perceived as painful, from the processes of labour and delivery, also surfaced positive/rewarding sensations and feelings, ranging from anxiety to happiness, or a good and unforgettable experience. Childbirth was associated with more negative perceptions than birth, but both were more positive than negative meanings.
Authors and Affiliations
Emília de Carvalho Coutinho| Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, IPV/CIDETS, Viseu, Portugal, Alcione Leite da Silva| Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, UA, Aveiro, Portugal, Carlos Manuel Figueiredo Pereira| Escola Superior de Saúde de Viseu, IPV/CIDETS, Viseu, Portugal, Diana Filipa Chaves Rouxinol| Viseu, Portugal, Vitória Barros Castro Parreira| Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, Porto, Portugal
Keywords
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- EP ID EP15423
- DOI 10.21664/2238-8869.2014v3i3.p259-274
- Views 353
- Downloads 15
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