Birth Process Essay

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The birthing process is known as a physiology, biological, and cultural event. Birth is globally marked as a life crisis that is also a biological phenomenon. Each cultural has their own pattern of birth which includes individual beliefs and practices around the birth (Sargent, 2004). “We find that within any given system, birth practices appear packaged into a relatively uniform systemic, standardized, ritualized, even morally required routine”. The life cycle of conception is recognized pretty much universally. Reasoning for why sometimes conception happens and other times does not varies very widely among cultures. In Africa the Kgatla believe when semen mixes with menstrual blood conception occurs. In Australia a group of people called …show more content…
The process of given birth changes a women’s status in society to mother and adult. Food taboos and prescriptions occur almost in every culture these taboos help determine gender, ensure healthy development of the fetus, and ease childbirth. The Manus people of New Guinea pay rarely any attention to those pregnant among their people n adwomen give birth all alone. The U.S. developed a more traditional childbearing practice in the 20th century. It entitled less medication, birthing coaches, early infant mother bonding, and semi upright positions for birth. The U.S. see pregnancy as a biomedical event, requiring hospitalization, episiotomies, and drugs. Birth can involve little to a high amount of technology in childbirth. With Scandinavia’s and Mayan’s, use of biomedical technologies is little. They give birth in natural positions (sitting or squatting). They also have birth attendants which are familiar to them, which help them through labor and for a duration after the birth. The men’s role during pregnancy varies among cultures. South American, horticultural groups, like Jivaro and the Siriono, mimic the signs and symptoms of their pregnant wife. Jivaro men even experience morning sickness exactly like their wives. Husbands in both customs go through stimulated labor as their wives do (Cross-Culturally Practices, …show more content…
In many societies new mothers and the infant’s area secluded from everyone else. The seclusion helps to provide rest for the mother and the baby and allows the bond for proper nursing. Seclusion also helps mother and baby from being exposed to pathogens from others. Sex taboos after childbirth exist world-wide. The taboos can last several days to several years. In the U.S. the taboo last for six weeks. Indigoes groups’ stage out births in 3 to 5 year intervals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this as the ideal birth spacing. This spacing allows for the ensure of proper survival of the child by providing the attention and nutrients it needs. For forager women they typically have 4 to 6 pregnanies during the reproductive cycle. Women apart of a horticultural society have shorter birth intervals and many pregnancies. Most of the women’s reproductive cycle is actually spent lactating (Cross-Culturally Practices,

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