The following factors outline some of the influences that can shape the woman's views and perceptions of her labour pain, in pregnancy, labour and after the birth. These can include:
Society's attitudes
Cultural and religious beliefs
Birth stories
Fears and concerns
Expectations
The 'passive patient' persona
Society's attitudes
Society's attitudes to labour pain are quite diverse, along with the many different philosophies on how best to deal with the pain of labour. Some people view labour as a natural process that generations of women have tolerated for centuries. Part of this usually entails the view that medical forms of pain relief exposes them (and their babies) to risks and side effects they would prefer to steer clear of. These women often find that sharing their choice about having their baby in a birth centre or at home for these reasons, draws a response of, "Oooh you're brave!"
Others see labour as an unnecessary pain experience to be avoided if at all possible (one common comment heard is "Well you wouldn't have 'natural' dentistry would you?") They often see medical forms of pain relief as positive interventions, 'wonders of modern technology', wishing to "take anything that is available, thanks!" Sharing their views may draw the response of "Do you know the risks you are taking when you accept those things?"
Many women will view their labour pain as somewhere in between these ideas, taking a "See how I go" approach. It may be that they do not want to have medical forms of pain relief unnecessarily, but are open to accepting some or all of them under certain circumstances.
Pregnant women (and their partners) are inundated with society's attitudes and opinions throughout the pregnancy. Often they will receive unsolicited advice or 'pearls of wisdom', from friends and relatives (or even total strangers), about how their labour pain should 'be'. This can leave the pregnant woman feeling upset, bewildered, angry, or anxious, and sometimes excited and motivated (if positive attitudes are shared), forgetting about the cereal she was supposed to buy in aisle 8 of the supermarket!
There is also the consideration of caregivers. Professionals who care for women in labour are human beings in our society as well. When they go to work, they take with them their own beliefs and attitudes about the pain of labour and how it should be managed. These may be influenced by:
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Their professional backgrounds and qualifications. |
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The attitudes of their working peers. |
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The methods they tend to use 'routinely' to manage women in labour and. |
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The birthplace they have chosen to work in. |
Subconsciously, their decisions can be influenced by their own birth experiences (or their partner's) if they have had any children, and how this was managed, as well as past experiences and attitudes to their own physical pain in their lives.