Men's role in childbirth
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The role of men in childbirth in the United States is becoming more involved than it has been in the past. More women are wanting their male partners to give active assistance during the pregnancy and childbirthing phases.
Contents
History of childbirth in the United States
Early America
Until the concluding decades of the eighteenth century, a nurse midwife, who was considered to be very knowledgeable about the birth process, delivered a woman's baby. Birth took place in the home, and it was considered to be an event for females. It was a time for female friends and relatives to come into the home and care for the mother, her household, provide reassurance, and offer guidance. Birth was not considered to be a private event, but more of a social one, that created a strong bond among women.The 19th Century
By the mid-eighteenth century, many Americans traveled to Britain to receive medical training. Only males were able to study medicine, so the birth experience changed from being controlled by women to being controlled by men. Physicians warned that it was dangerous not to receive medical attention while delivering children. They also stated one in every thirty women was expected to die because of a lack of medical attention. Due to these warnings, many women favored going into labor with a physician as opposed to a midwife. This process changed the birth process in two ways: it was run by males as opposed to females, and it was now a private process as opposed to a social process. Physicians prohibited friends and relatives from participating because visitors weakened the doctor’s authority, and because the birth process was now seen as embarrassing to the patient as well as to the doctor. Around the year 1910, physicians tried to completely take over the profession of delivering children. Some states began to outlaw the midwifery practice, while others enacted regulatory requirements which were almost impossible for many midwives to complete.Contemporary America
Since the 1920’s, physicians have exclusively helped women deliver their children. However, midwifery is becoming more common once again. Although it is still most common for physicians to help deliver babies, physicians' old policies are not common anymore. It is now very common for women to have their families, particularly their husbands, in the delivery room with them.To help their wives prepare for childbirth, many male partners are participating in classes, such as Lamaze. Men may give active assistance during childbirth by simply being present during his wife's labor. Many women find their partners' presence in the deilivery room to be comforting. Some men stand next to their wives, hold their hand, or read verses from the Bible aloud.
Factors affecting husband's aid during pregnancy and delivery
Many women find it soothing to have someone assist them during their pregnancies, making it more common for a woman's male partner to support her both before and during childbirth. The type and quality of a relationship between a man a woman is what determines how, and if, the man will be active during his partner’s pregnancy. There are four characteristics in relationships that determine how active the husband is during the wife’s pregnancy and delivery.Traditional Role Expectations
People who follow traditional roles are those who believe that women belong in the home and men belong outside of the home working. For couples that are very traditional, the husband is less likely to participate in childbirth.Traditional Family Division of Labor
This strongly relates to traditional role expectations. If the husband does “wifely” tasks, such as cleaning, cooking, and laundry, he is more likely to assist his wife during childbirth. If the man believes that the woman should do such tasks, he is less likely to participate.Marital Happiness
A woman’s marital happiness is partly determined by the amount of trust she shares with her husband, and whether she thinks highly of her marriage. If a man is happy with his marriage, he will value his wife and marriage, thus being more active in assisting his wife during labor.Husband Dominance
The more dominant a man is over his wife, the less likely he is to help her through her pregnancy and labor. A wife that is independent and makes her own decisions is very unlikely to have a husband who will refuse to participate in her pregnancy. Husband dominance and traditional attitudes go hand in hand because men in traditional relationships have control over the marriage, due to the fact that they tend to be the only ones working.Although there are many factors that hinder men from being active in their partner’s pregnancy, the number of men participating is growing and is larger than it ever has been.
References
- Block, C.R., Charles, A.G., Meyering, S., Norr, J.L., Norr, K.L. (1981). Husband Gatekeeping in Childbirth. Family Relations, 6(1), 97-108. Retrieved April 30, 2006 from Jstor database.
- Corijn, M., Gierveld, J., Liefbroer, A. (1996). It Takes Two to Tango, Doesn’t It? The Influence of Couple Characteristics on the Timing of the Birth of the First Child. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58(1), 117-126. Retrieved April 29, 2006 from Jstor database.
- Dye, N.S. (1980). History of Childbirth in America. Women: Sex and Sexuality, 6(1), 97-108. Retrieved April 29, 2006 from Jstor database.
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