Medicalization of Pregnancy
Topic statistics and historty
Medicalization of pregnancy gained legitimacy by downgrading, dismissing and supplanting traditional models of reproductive care
authorative knowledge is persuasive because it seems natural, reasonable, and consequently constructed to be in the best interest of all parties
the medicalization of pregnancy has its roots in the rise of modern medicine which channels science as a means to tame nature and transform life cycle events such as birth, menstruation, menopause, aging, and death into disease states that require medical management
Pregnancy is seen as a pathological or physical defective that needs medical intervention
44 percent of births took place out of a hospital in 1940 but only 1% in 1969
Topic Effects of drugs thought the history
. The drugs they use however are not what is best for both mother and baby. Some of the drugs that they were using in the 40’s and 50’s was supposed to ease the pain of birthing but instead it just made mothers lose there memory of the pain which eventually led to post traumatic stress. scopolamine
Another drug that was being used to help with the symptoms of morning sickness cause birth defects thalidomide
X-ray that were being used to measure the baby’s progress turned out to cause cancer in unborn babies which led to a lot of infant morality.
Another drug that was being used to speed up contractions for faster birthing caused the uterus to rupture. Cytotec
Hospitals make mothers in labor lay on there backs which is not helpful because it makes the pelvic smaller, then they have to use a vacuum extractor to deliver the baby. The laying down position only benefits the doctor but not baby or the mom.
Topic why it happens
Reproductive justice perspective recognizes that the institutional and often
agency, and barriers to quality care differentially influence pregnancy and reproductive outcome for woman and their families around the world
Current medical conception frame pregnancy as a stressor to the body
Topic c- section
One in three mothers give birth by cesarean section
C-section is a major surgery that increases the likelihood of many short term and long term affects for mothers and baby