This is a two-part article. Part One of this article describes four stages of cognition and their anthropological equivalents to better understand both the resistance to and the acceptance of pre- and perinatal psychology and other ways of thinking about birth. Part Two will appear in the Winter 2019 issue.
This article explores the significance of motherhood, including historical and cultural perspectives, and considers how women who have not created a child can explore their creativity through poetry.
This article discusses a study that assessed Israeli women’s attitudes toward the "natural" cesarean technique via an online survey and maps obstetric departments with its practice.
Ways of Knowing about Birth is a compilation of Robbie Davis-Floyd’s writings spanning thirty years. The selections in this volume offer valuable insights for many readers, from students of midwifery, anthropology and women’s studies, to practicing midwives and obstetricians, to women who are seeking to inform themselves about their own childbirth care options.
This article provides background and examples for how using simple principles such as No Judgment, Firmness, and Gentleness, and No Hurry/No Pause in daily life offers a means for self-care in the midst of a hectic day.
This paper focuses on the topic of childbirth, exploring the history of its marginalization within the humanities. This paper demonstrates that ignoring birth on an intellectual level contributes to diminishing the topic more broadly on the cultural level, and this has real-world implications for how our societies treat children, women, and families.
This article was originally published in the Pre- and Peri-natal Psychology Journal 8(3) (Spring 1994),187-199. This paper draws on the latest scientific findings to show how specific changes in 1) parenthood, 2) birthing practices, and 3) how we view ourselves (psychology) could transform the world.
This study explored women’s trust-based and fear-based beliefs about birth. It asked: Do women trust their bodies’ innate intelligence to give birth, or does fear override trust? The study sought to understand whether beliefs, fears, and trust associate with birth experiences and birth outcomes.