Psychology of Childbirth Summary

Flashcards based on key concepts from the lecture on the psychology of childbirth.

Authoritative Knowledge

The type of knowledge that is deemed valid and important in guiding childbirth practices, often depending on the setting and participants.

Freebirth

A form of childbirth where the mother gives birth without any trained medical assistance.

Traditional Midwifery

A practice that emphasizes low-tech solutions and often rejects strict medical norms during childbirth.

Indigenous Midwifery

A type of midwifery care that supports indigenous families by emphasizing birth as a normal process rather than a medical issue.

The Birth Paradox

The contradiction in childbirth practices where cultural norms may reduce conditions that are scientifically suggested to be crucial for safe birthing.

Doppler Fetal Monitor

A medical device used to hear a baby’s heartbeat, often criticized for transmitting background noise that can complicate assessments during childbirth.

Oxytocin

A hormone that plays a critical role in childbirth, associated with bonding and the birthing process.

Visceral Knowledge

Knowledge based on personal experience and instinct, often emphasized in home births without trained assistance.

Cultural Evolution of Knowledge

The process by which knowledge around childbirth changes and develops within different cultures over time.

Obstetric Dilemma

The trade-off between wider hips for easier childbirth and the efficiency of bipedal locomotion in human evolution.