Modern Women and the Challenges of Motherhood

A University of Warwick (UK) study has examined the difficulties women who live far from their family have with first time motherhood. Women reported feeling ‘ignorant and ill-equipped’ to cope with pregnancy and childbirth.

The Study

Dr Angela Davis, Leverhulme Research Fellow in the Centre for the History of Medicine, interviewed more than 90 women to discuss experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and childcare. The first part of the study focused on motherhood from 1930 to 1970. While there had always been ignorance surrounding sex education and childbirth, the study found that this was for very different reasons.

Implications

In the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, since sex and childbirth were considered taboo, they were not often discussed in the home. While now women were better informed about sex, there was still far too little information given to them about the development of pregnancy, childbirth and infant care. Also since most births take place in hospital, very few women have been present at childbirth before they have their own child.

Dr Davis said many of the women she interviewed had tried to be more open with their own children about sex education. However, she said: “They did show some level of ambivalence on the subject, and many were not sure that this increased knowledge was entirely a good thing. There was also a distinction between education about pregnancy and childbirth which they were more positive about that sex education.”

The study also showed many women felt unprepared to care for their child and that motherhood was not instinctive. They agreed that they felt a natural instinct to care for their child, but had no idea how to go about it. Not having close family nearby was isolated as an important factor for gaps in knowledge and support.

See also

Sources

• http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090302120104.htm