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Health Science

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Oct 30, 2023

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07/29/23 Comparison of Birthing Styles Women today have the freedom to decide the setting in which they give birth. In rural Ghana, traditional birth attendants assist mothers in birthing at home. The mothers prefer this setting for many reasons, some being the access to cultural dishes to help strengthen them after their tedious journey. In the United States, 98.4% of women give birth in hospitals, surrounded by advanced technology, access to pain relief methods, and emergency care on standby if anything goes wrong. Some mothers decide on a doula who is there during labor providing continuous support and guidance, and even after birth to help with the newborn. The majority of the births in the United States are in hospital settings. Expectant mothers who are high risk require access to emergency medical personnel and equipment during their birth. Some mothers decide on hospital births because of the access to pain medication or other pain- relieving alternatives. In hospitals, there are trained professionals and specialists to assist at any moment if the mother or baby’s life is at risk. But, for some women, access to advanced medical technology and intensive care is not available at their local hospital. This results in them being transferred to a location that can better accommodate their medical needs, which is a downside. During birth, women look for comfort and support from those surrounding them whether that is a spouse, parent, or friend. Doulas provide constant support for women during birth and postpartum. Doulas are hired to be a birth companion, coaches, and supporters of the birthing mother. There has been a decrease in the availability of bedside nurses, which has caused a slight increase in the

number of doulas. This allows mothers to have less stressful births and avoid unnecessary medical intervention. It sounds like every woman’s dream, but it comes at a cost, which is why some women decide to birth at home in a familiar environment. Being able to move freely and birth in whatever position is a luxury that some mothers would like, which is why they decide to give birth at home. Home birthing provides the comfort of being in your own space, surrounded by family and familiar faces during a vulnerable time. Twenty women were used in a research study from rural communities in northern Ghana. Although it is free to give birth at the hospital, a lot of women still choose to give birth at home. At home they are surrounded by family members who are there to assist, comfort, motivate, and support. They participated in an interview that lasted less than an hour. They were married, single, widowed, and ranged 18-40 years old. No one had formal education past junior high school, and most did field work to provide for their families. Some were first time mothers, and some had 6 children. One participant chose the home birth setting because there was less exposure and more privacy. Her first birth was in the hospital where students and other nurses were standing around during spectating while she gave birth. For some women, this is a better option than traditional hospital births because the average cost of a home birth is around $4,700, much lower than hospital fees. Whatever setting a mother gives birth in, should be supported by those around her unless she is putting herself or her baby at risk. Regardless of her choice, it does not make her more or less of a mother. Refrences

Adatara, Peter, et al. “Cultural Beliefs and Practices of Women Influencing Home Births in Rural Northern Ghana.” International Journal of Women’s Health , 4 June 2019, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6556529/. Gruber, Kenneth J, et al. “Impact of Doulas on Healthy Birth Outcomes.” The Journal of Perinatal Education , 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3647727/. “Home - Books - NCBI.” National Center for Biotechnology Information , www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books. Accessed 29 July 2023. Maternal and Newborn Care in the United States - Birth Settings In ... , www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555484/. Accessed 29 July 2023. Maternal and Newborn Care in the United States - Birth Settings In ... , www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555484/. Accessed 29 July 2023.

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