Business of Being Born: interview someone/partner of someone who has given birth
ID: 3457343 • Letter: B
Question
Business of Being Born: interview someone/partner of someone who has given birth
Adapted from Krebs & Declerq, 2011
For this assignment, you will interview someone who has given birth/been a partner to someone who has given birth to gain a deeper understanding of the birth process, as well as the decisions and emotions involved. You may reflect on your birth experience of your child if you or a partner has given birth, ask your parent about your own birth, or ask a friend/family member who has recently given birth. If both parents were involved with the birth, you can interview either or both (you don’t have to interview the mother). To help you prepare for the interview, read "The Birth of a Mother" (Links to an external site.) in your assigned readings for this week.
Record the answers to the following questions. Be sure to highlight the interviewee’s feelings and perceptions of what happened, why it happened, and how that felt. Keep in mind that while these questions are carefully sequenced, those you interview may answer later questions while responding to earlier ones. The most important element of this process is careful, attentive listening to what they say.
Please turn in your interview questions and reflection questions to receive full credit.
Interview Questions (5 points)
- When and where did you give birth most recently? Had you given birth before? How many times?
- Who was at the birth (including partners, doctors, nurses, midwives)?
- (If they mention they had a partner/spouse) You mentioned that you had _____________ with you at the birth to provide support. Why them?
- Did you have a birth plan? Did you discuss the birth plan with your birth attendant (doctor, midwife, etc.)?
- Did you have any assumptions or plans going in? Did your experience match your assumptions?
- Were you fearful of anything as you approached the birth?
- Did you receive any medications (e.g. to start labor, relieve pain)? How did you feel about their use before/during/after the birth?
- (If not yet mentioned) Did you have a vaginal or cesarean birth? Did that affect your experience?
- In addition to a healthy baby, what was the best thing about the birth experience?
- What was the worst thing about the birth experience?
- What surprised you most about the experience?
- Is there anything else that you want to tell me about the experience?
Self-reflection question: after completing the interview, reflect on what you learned from their
experience by responding to the questions below. (15 points)
- What was most surprising to you from the interview and the reading for this week related to birth and becoming a mother?
- Describe some of the supports and resources that were available to the parent you interviewed that helped them with their birth. Pick one or two examples from the interview – you do not need to describe all resources or supports. Some examples may include:
Availability of a doctor, midwife, birth attendant
Doula support
A local hospital
Medicine or emergency care
Transportation
Health insurance
Family and friends
- How might the birth experience have been different if these supports and resources were not available to them?
Explanation / Answer
- When and where did you give birth most recently? Had you given birth before? How many times?
I have given birth seven months ago, to a baby girl. We have named her Lucinda. This took place in the nearby community hospital. Yes, I had given birth earlier to another girl, whom we had named as Christine. In total, I have given birth to two children.
- Who was at the birth (including partners, doctors, nurses, midwives)?
During birth there were two midwives. My elder daughter Christine was waiting for her new sibling. Both my parents and my in laws were present. My husband had been informed at the office and he had also come. There were two very helpful nurses and the doctor came in when it was about the time for delivery.
- (If they mention they had a partner/spouse) You mentioned that you had _____________ with you at the birth to provide support. Why them?
My parents and my in laws have always been in support with me. Them because they are the pillars of my faith and have been with me throughout my journey till here. Also, because my husband had to attend an unavoidable meeting, which he promised to leave as soon as he would hear that I have been taken to the hospital. In his absence, they were my major support system.
- Did you have a birth plan? Did you discuss the birth plan with your birth attendant (doctor, midwife, etc.)?
Yes we had a birth plan. After Christine, we had decided to have a gap of 2-3 years for the next child. We had always planned of having two children, and this had been suggested by the doctor when we informed her that we plan of having two children. We were not sure of the gap, but we had good guidance.
- Did you have any assumptions or plans going in? Did your experience match your assumptions?
We had an assumption that it would be fine to have a child within two years of the first child, but she explained that systematic planning and it is required that the first child is almost 3 years old so that she is not jealous while attention is given in to the second baby and would rather display sibling lobe and not sibling competition.
- Were you fearful of anything as you approached the birth?
The initial concern was about the expenses and finances, which my husband said he could manage. Moreover, I intend to work after Lucinda is 3 years old or begins play school, for proper contributions.
- Did you receive any medications (e.g. to start labor, relieve pain)? How did you feel about their use before/during/after the birth?
No, I did not receive any medications. I was given the option to use medications but I had not used them the first time as well, and hence, did not want to use them the second time. It is okay to feel some pain while bringing a life on the planet.
- (If not yet mentioned) Did you have a va-ginal or cesarean birth? Did that affect your experience?
I had a normal delivery or in other words vag-inal birth. I had a vag-inal birth the first time as well. I’m not aware of the experiences of a cesarean birth.
- In addition to a healthy baby, what was the best thing about the birth experience?
The best thing was having a baby girl. And when Christine looked at her sister, she grew ecstatic about the smaller version of a soft toy and that she would be taking care of her.
- What was the worst thing about the birth experience?
Some management issues at the hospital, where we demanded a private room for my delivery and had to settle with a semi private room.
- What surprised you most about the experience?
There can be n number of births, but every birth is just like delivering a child for the first time. I thought that there might be some differences in the excitement level, but no, it was exactly like the first time, rather, even more.
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