MATERNITY AND CHILD BIRTH: SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES AND FEMALE EXPERIENCES
MATERNITY AND CHILD BIRTH: SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES AND FEMALE EXPERIENCES

Summary/Abstract: Numerous articles and publications have focused on the ideal body, illustrated women who were thin and how they manage to stay in shape. I consider it necessary to approach the way in which the pregnant woman perceives the experiences of motherhood and birth. The topicality of the theme derives from the fact that: during and after pregnancy women experience major and obvious physical changes that may affect the way their body looks during pregnancy or in the future. Body image refers to feelings, attitudes and evaluations of one's body, which relate to both perceptions of the whole body and perceptions of specific areas of the body. A negative body image should be of particular interest especially during pregnancy, as it can be associated with a number of negative outcomes, such as increased risk of postnatal depression and decreased perception of general well-being. Women who have a negative body image during pregnancy and after giving birth are also more likely to have an unhealthy diet and smoke during pregnancy, which can cause health risks for both mother and baby. Childbirth is a significant event in a woman's life and a transition to motherhood. Birth experiences are subjective psychological processes influenced by social and environmental factors. Birth experiences cause uncertainty about what lies ahead in motherhood. The pain felt when going into labor has been viewed as a "well-kept secret" whose true reality cannot be explained because it often causes fear and emotional turmoil. This chapter will begin by describing the development of attachment theory as proposed by Bowlby between 1969 and 1982 and Ainsworth in 1967. Over 50 years of attachment research they have continued to build on the theoretical behavioral system originally proposed by Bowlby, as well as Ainsworth's contribution on behavioral correlates.

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