MATERNITY CARE IN THE EYES OF LESBIAN MOTHERS

Type
Thesis
Category
CHS  [ Browse Items ]
Subject
Maternity care 
Abstract
The lesbian motherhood is part of the revolutionary processes that are occurring. Life became an open project with new demands and aspirations, and these lead to changes in traditional family patterns, trespassing psychological and social changes that happen from "inside out" and that can potentially influence and have the power to branch out through other public institutions. Thus, the present study tries to have an in-depth understanding of the lesbian motherhood. The researchers particularly aim to assists midwifery practitioners to provide culturally sensitive care, explore their maternity care experiences, how this is affected by sociocultural factors, and what challenges and roles it I demands from their primary caregivers i.e. the midwives. In addition, the research and interviews were conducted at the province of Bulacan. Informants eligible to participate in this study should meet the following inclusion criteria: informants (a) who are primipara with partners to capture the entirety of the experiences, (b) self-identified lesbian (eithr butch or femme); (c) are interviewed before 37 weeks gestation, so the focus was on the maternity experience as it was lived; (d) are able to com municate the lived experience of lesbian during pregnancy. This paper does not cover the parenting experiences of lesbian mothers. Such experiences were described utilizing the descriptive s qualitative phenomenological approach in a research inquiry. This allowed the researchers to have a better understanding on how mother informants describe this explicitly challenging event in their lives utilizing Collaizzi approach. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews captured through an audio and video recorder devise.Each interview lasted for approximately 30 minutes. Three emergent themes were formulated namely: Emotional Response to Pregnancy, Health Challenges of Lesbian Maternity, and Dominant Cultural Pattern. The researchers then concluded that on whether or not to come out' as lesbians to service providers. The lesbians who are egnancy is an overwhelming experience for lesbian women. The sense of "being with child" cause them to question their suitability as parents-to-be.Lesbian mothers also encounter significant discrimination and oppression all throughout the pregnancy. Lesbian women see the birth of their children as having centered them emotionally. They consider the child as someone who could give their lives direction and meanings to the extent of making it possible for the child to live a normal life. One clear difference between the experience of these women and that of non-lesbians is the necessary decision candidates for maternity feel afraid when they access health services, as they are fearful of being discriminated when revealing their sexual orientation since the moment when they fill their registration form, until the assistance provided by health professionals. About maternity, different meanings are given to the experience of becoming a lesbian mmother in different social contexts. Both homophobia and heterosexism are barriers to effective communication between the lesbian women and the health care providers, and may compromise standards of care. 
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