Passivity, being-with and being-there: care during birth

Area of Science:

• Phenomenology
• Philosophy of Medicine
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Childbirth is often described as an uncanny, unfamiliar, and even unimaginable experience.
• The unpredictability of birth circumstances contributes to anxiety, alongside the existential paradox of one body birthing another.
• The choice of birth location, including homebirth, is a significant factor in managing the psychological aspects of childbirth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the phenomenon of childbirth through a phenomenological lens.
• To explore how to best support women during birth, considering its inherent uncanniness and passivity.
• To apply philosophical concepts of care and discourse to enhance the birthing experience.

Main Methods:

• Phenomenological description of the birth experience.
• Analysis of existing medical studies on homebirth.
• Application of Martin Heidegger's philosophical concepts (care, discourse).

Main Results:

• Homebirth may be reassuring for some, but not universally; birth place choice is crucial.
• Childbirth involves profound passivity and waiting, adding to its strangeness.
• Facilitating birth requires moving beyond verbal communication to include silence and intercorporeality.

Conclusions:

• Optimal care during birth necessitates a 'being-with' that acknowledges and supports the experience of uncanniness, passivity, and waiting.
• A broader understanding of communication, encompassing non-verbal elements, is essential for supporting birthing individuals.
• Philosophical frameworks can offer valuable insights into improving the human experience of childbirth.