Childbirth, Complications and the Illusion of `Choice': A Case Study

Abstract

Over the last 30 years or so, feminists have developed a strong and influential critique of the medicalization of pregnancy and childbirth. Within Britain, especially among middle-class circles, this has resulted in the predominance of a strong cultural push towards `natural' childbirth in which `birthing mothers' resist medical and technological procedures in an attempt to preserve a sense of control and `empowerment' over the course of pregnancy and childbirth. Focusing on an in-depth case study, this article proposes that the `natural discourse' towards childbirth may create idealistic expectations that are totally at odds with the reality of the actual birthing encounter. The tension arising as a result of this discrepancy between expectations and outcomes may have unfortunate negative psychological and emotional consequences, especially for first-time mothers. Accordingly, the uncritical advocacy of `natural' approaches towards childbirth often found within feminist-influenced perspectives needs to be questioned.