Pregnancy and Childbirth

Today, health care providers in the U.S. rely heavily on a biomedical model when considering the interaction of a developing child and its mother. However, even a biomedical model is culturally influenced. Different cultures have different ideas about when a developing child should be considered a baby as opposed to a fetus. Cultural groups have different ideas about what a mother should eat and the influence she has on a developing baby’s emotions, physical health, and personality. Culture also informs viewpoints on the inherent dangers of childbirth, the presence of a midwife or physician, and what gender a caregiver should be.

In this Discussion, you examine these issues through the lenses of different U.S. immigrant cultures and how a health psychology professional might educate medical personnel on the culture’s beliefs. For your assigned immigrant culture, explore the influence of the culture, immigrant status, language barrier issues, and socioeconomic status on pregnancy and childbirth. Consider what recommendations you might offer to medical staff to help them understand the cultural considerations of your assigned population.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 4 an explanation of three ways in which the culture you have been assigned influences pregnancy and childbirth. Then provide three recommendations that you might make to the medical staff to help them be more culturally competent and sensitive when helping a woman and her partner through pregnancy and childbirth. Explain the importance of each recommendation. Use the Learning Resources and other current literature to support your response.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

Required Resources

Readings

• Fassinger, R.E. & Arseneau, J.R. (2008). Diverse women’s sexualities. In F. Denmark, & M. Paludi (Eds.), Psychology of women: Handbook of issues and theories (2nd ed., pp. 484-505). Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
• Hunter, C. L., Goodie, J. L., Oordt, M. S., & Dobmeyer, A. C. (2009). Women’s health. In C. L. Hunter, J. L. Goodie, M. S. Oordt, A. C. Dobmeyer (Eds.), Integrated behavioral health in primary care: Step-by-step guidance for assessment and intervention (pp. 225–238). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

• Dominguez, T., Dunkel-Schetter, C., Glynn, L. M., Hobel, C., & Sandman, C. A. (2008). Racial differences in birth outcomes: The role of general, pregnancy, and racism stress. Health Psychology, 27(2), 194–203.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

• Lee, K. A., Baker, F. C., Newton, K. M., & Ancoli-Israel, S. (2008). The influence of reproductive status and age on women’s sleep. Journal of Women’s Health, 17(7), 1209–1214.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

• Matevosyan, N. R. (2009). Reproductive health in women with serious mental illnesses: A review. Sexuality & Disability, 27(2), 109–118.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.