However, some aspects of childbirth are unique within each culture ( Nichols, 1996): for example, the manner in which couples relate to each other. Each society's cultural system informs its members about the importance of childbirth practices-such as what should be done, what is a proper method, who will cooperate during labor, and what the expectant parents' roles should be during these experiences. Generally speaking, physiology of childbirth is universally accepted as the same process for all women, worldwide. The observations made here have implications for those who are currently exporting Lamaze classes to countries around the world and for teachers in the United States who need to offer flexibility in classes so they will meet the needs of an ever increasingly diverse population.Īcross many cultures, childbirth education classes have the potential to prepare pregnant women and their partners to increase their confidence and reduce stress in the processes of experiencing pregnancy, giving birth, and becoming a parent. Perhaps with some modifications in the technique, Thai mothers and their partners in my native country will more readily accept childbirth education classes. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to describe touching and positions of couple interactions during childbirth education class exercises in the United States that might be construed differently in Thailand. Positions requiring close, physical contact and touch between couples are not congruent with my cultural norms. As I observed these exercises and thought about returning to Thailand and teaching childbirth classes, I was concerned about the couples' positions and touching. In some of the classes, I noticed that couples touched each other more than and in different ways from couples in my native country. I saw close relationships and sharing experiences between couples who seemed to benefit from supporting each other during labor and birth. I found that these classes were very useful to expectant parents. As an international doctoral student from Thailand, I observed my first Lamaze Certified Childbirth Education class in the United States during the fall of 2002.
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