Natural childbirth and cesarean section: social representations of women who experienced them

Abstract

ReSUmO Realizou-se uma pesquisa descritiva, de natureza qualitativa, com o objetivo de conhecer as representações sociais do parto normal e da cesárea de mulheres que os vivenciaram. Foram realizadas entrevistadas episódicas entre julho a outubro de 2010, com mulheres que vivenciaram ambas as vias de parto, totalizando vinte participantes, com saturação teórica durante a coleta e análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelam, na vivência da maternidade, representações como: a busca de informações; o vivenciar da parturição sozinha versus acompanhada; e a mulher não tem opção de escolha. O parto normal engloba temas centrais como: ambivalência de sentimentos; percepção positiva e hospitalização. A cesárea está relacionada com ambivalência de sentimentos, a solução de um problema e a preferência pela cesárea. O parto normal é um desafio para as mulheres; porém, os sentimentos positivos superam as dificuldades, enquanto que a cesárea está associada aos benefícios físicos de sua realização.

Factors associated to the type of childbirth in public and private hospitals in Brazil

“…In other words, vaginal childbirth is considered a challenge for women, although positive feelings overcome the difficulties, while cesarean sections are associated to physical benefits related to its accomplishment. 19 It is also noteworthy that lack of humanized attention and induction often results in women opting for a cesarean section. In addition, unpreparedness for vaginal childbirth interferes directly with the emotional system of the pregnant woman or parturient patient, reducing her confidence in the ability to be the protagonist of her own childbirth if she is not received by a providing health service.…”

Perceptions and expectations of pregnant women about the type of birth

“…The choice for vaginal birth is justified in studies, especially for its advantages such as: being natural, healthy, fast recovery and providing greater autonomy for self-care and care with the newborn (2,5,(12)(13)(14) , reasons according to what was learned in the statements of the pregnant women, since the discourses point out the advantages of vaginal birth, related to the rapid recovery and quality of the relationship with the baby in the postpartum period, identified as aspects that make vaginal birth better for the mother and the baby.…”

“…Until the nineteenth century, birth was considered ritual performed by midwives in households. With the creation of hospitals, at the end of this century, this event was gradually institutionalized; a change that has given it new meanings, transcending from the physiological, family and female events to the medical act (1)(2)(3) .…”

“…From then on, the role of the parturient was replaced by that of the medical professional for whom the driving was granted and all the decisions regarding parturition. Cesarean birth began to be used on a large scale, often as a routine procedure, without any obstetric indication necessary for its accomplishment (2) , little recognizing the importance of the emotional aspects and the interference of the external environment in the process of labor and birth. There is favor to the interventionist action of this professional, besides the overvaluation of techniques and technologies in a process of alienation of the woman, family and society (1) .…”

“…In Brazil, a qualitative study carried out with women who experienced both vaginal birth and cesarean section showed ambivalence of feelings: in vaginal labor, difficulty in labor as opposed to ease in recovery, being the inverse for cesarean section. Vaginal birth was also reported as fast, simple, practical and healthy, whereas cesarean section was described as complicated and associated with negative events, although it allows birth planning (2) .…”