Culture And Childbirth Essay

The experience of childbirth is a common thread among all cultures, and the process of giving birth may be viewed as a universal experience among all women. Each woman 's experience is unique and different, however, having been determined by the culture with which that woman identifies and the culture in which she gives birth. Culture is defined as a particular group of people 's beliefs, norms, values, rules of behavior, and lifestyle practices that are learned and shared and guide decisions and actions in a patterned manner. Culture plays a major role in the way a woman perceives and prepares for her birthing experience. Each culture has its own attitudes, values, and beliefs surrounding pregnancy and birth. Cultural competence relies on a strong foundation of knowledge about other cultures. It allows the practitioner to appreciate, understand, and empathize with that culture and, as a result, deliver appropriate and effective health care through changes in both approach and technique . Childbirth educators need to assess and be aware of the cultural, ethnic, and socioeconomic factors that influence the experience of pregnancy, birth, and parenting. For health-care professionals, particularly childbirth educators, cultural competence is an important

Cultural diversity makes our world interesting and unique. However, birth is the unifying factor among all people of this earth. Jan Mallak describes it best in her article when she claims that by being “humanly” sensitive and providing equal care for all, we are as politically correct as we can be. Childbirth educators have the wonderful opportunity to promote change and acceptance through education and advocacy. By incorporating cultural awareness and sensitivity into the curriculum, childbirth educators assist all women and families to have a positive and beautiful birth experience. By simply being open, knowledgeable, and respectful, the goal of cultural competence in childbirth education can be easily