Precis:
The American Way of Death (Revisited) By Jessica Mitford
Mitford is humorous as she approaches the funeral industry in our society in her revised version of the original book titled The American Way of Death which was published in 1963. Firstly she attends a seminar where she discusses her book and receives various comments from her audience. Later on she presents the issue of how the dead are cared for. Terms revolving around death are being exchanged for words that seem to sound more acceptable. Mitford then talks about the profession of funerals and the certain rules which are followed. Funeral directors make rules which will help them collect as much money as possible from their potential customers. Caskets are arranged in a various number of ways resulting in different price ranges; this helps the customer chose which casket is appropriate for their personal situation. Emotions are usually played with when it comes to the money which will be paid for such services; this tends to affect the customers decisions. Mitford then talks about how the body is readied for its casket, later on mentioning the topic of embalming.
Quotes:
- “Motels for the dead! That’s it, of course-a swimming pool and TV the only missing features.” (pg. 39)
- "How true; once the blood is removed, chances of live burial are indeed remote" (page 46).
- “Our customs require the presentation of our dead in the semblance of normality…unmarred by the ravages of illness, disease or mutilation,” (pg.47)
Analysis:
I found it surprising that people in our society as of today take advantage of everything they can in order to collect as much money as they can. In this case funeral directors take advantage of the situation and make their customers pay more money for reason. I think Mitford is right when she said that the funeral industry is brainwashed to believe inaccurate information. I personally feel that our society likes to take advantage of opportunities such as this by making up excuses. No matter what the situation may be they only tend to care about the amount of money going in their pocket. I think it’s absurd to do that within the funeral industry because this tends to deal with people’s emotions and usually at the time customers are emotionally sensitive. While reading, I was able to connect to the book I read in the birth unit titled Born in the USA. There they talked about hospitals and women having C-sections while paying large sums of money, even though they are not getting the attention they need. It’s the same type of idea here but with the funeral industry. In both cases the bigger authorities such as the doctors or funeral directors only seem to care about the money instead of the happiness of their customers. Overall I think Mitford does a good job of introducing the funeral industry to the public. Such issues seem to be hidden from society, but this text helps readers such as I realize the truth.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Hwk 48
I decided to talk to my mom and my dad about the care of the dead. Their beliefs were similar to mine and most of what they had to say on this topic was expected (in my mind). I was glad to choose my mom and dad for this interview since they both have the same beliefs and thoughts, but they have had different experiences and approaches to care of the dead. I asked them questions referring to their experiences with care of the dead and disposal of the body.
My dad has had some experience with caring for the dead after moving here. He has attended a funeral or two for people that he was close to. “I feel that it is important to attend a funeral and pay your respects; you didn’t have to be close with the person who has passed on, but you should still offer them your prayers. It isn’t mandatory, but I feel that it is appropriate for one to do so.” One funeral he attended was over a year ago; it was for a man he worked with for some time. The cause of death was natural since he was aged, so it wasn’t unexpected. This man was Jewish so the funeral ceremony went according to their religious beliefs. I asked my dad about the funeral service; he told me about prayers that were recited in Hebrew and the body which was put in a coffin. The coffin was closed since in Judaism there is no option which allows the casket to be left open. My dad said that his experience at this funeral was interesting because much of the rituals which were performed were similar when comparing them to the funerals which he has attended back in Pakistan. But there were women throughout the whole funeral and it was held at a cemetery home, whereas in the funerals he attended in Pakistan, the women are limited to their homes and the funeral is held at the grave site (for men). I decided to research on care of the dead in Judaism and learned that much of what they do is very similar to what is done in Islam when caring for the dead. For example, both in Islam and Judaism the body is purified and there is no option of cremation.
My mom has never experienced anything related to the care of the dead while living here in the United States. She was only able to tell me about her experiences while she was back at home in Pakistan. “A lot of the rituals which occur while caring for the dead in Pakistan differ in many ways when comparing how the dead are cared for here.” She told me about the different roles males and females play throughout a funeral. She talked about all the women who are gathered at the house of the person who had passed on; they offer their prayers and help out by cooking food in the name of the one who has passed on so that it can be passed out to the poor and needy and the spirit can receive its rewards. The men are the ones which take care of all the outside work such as taking the body to the burial site and offering prayers there.“There is usually a forty day grieving period where everyone pays their respects and offer their prayers, but now it is more common to have a three day grieving period because of what the Prophet Muhammad had said ‘The grieving period after ones death should not exceed three days’”. I asked my mom why women are not allowed to join the men at the grave site; she said that it’s not appropriate, supposedly if females go to the grave site the spirits view them in a negative way. I asked my mom about cremation and she didn’t really want to talk about it; it didn’t feel right talking about it because it made her have negative thoughts. All she said was that cremation is wrong and the only right way to dispose a body is to bury it because that is the only option offered to Muslims.
I think that religion plays a big role in how one cares for the dead. After hearing what my parents had to say about their own personal experiences and thoughts on the topic, I figured that there is a wrong and a right in everything and this differs depending upon ones beliefs. Here in the United States many individuals are free to approach anything however they want; in this case caring for the dead is also approached in various ways. I am not saying that this only happens in the United States, but it is the most common here. In other countries which have a large population of people under the same religion, the body tends to be disposed in a certain way at a higher rate. For example in Pakistan and other countries which base their beliefs off of Islam, usually tend to bury the body instead of cremating it. This is because we strictly follow what Islam asks us to do. In Israel most of the population has beliefs based off of Judaism, meaning that they also tend to bury the body instead of referring to cremation. In India and Japan, the cremation rate is much higher because of what they believe in. All these countries and beliefs seem to have certain rules which tend to be followed while caring for the dead, whereas in the United States there is no right or wrong way of caring for the dead.
My dad has had some experience with caring for the dead after moving here. He has attended a funeral or two for people that he was close to. “I feel that it is important to attend a funeral and pay your respects; you didn’t have to be close with the person who has passed on, but you should still offer them your prayers. It isn’t mandatory, but I feel that it is appropriate for one to do so.” One funeral he attended was over a year ago; it was for a man he worked with for some time. The cause of death was natural since he was aged, so it wasn’t unexpected. This man was Jewish so the funeral ceremony went according to their religious beliefs. I asked my dad about the funeral service; he told me about prayers that were recited in Hebrew and the body which was put in a coffin. The coffin was closed since in Judaism there is no option which allows the casket to be left open. My dad said that his experience at this funeral was interesting because much of the rituals which were performed were similar when comparing them to the funerals which he has attended back in Pakistan. But there were women throughout the whole funeral and it was held at a cemetery home, whereas in the funerals he attended in Pakistan, the women are limited to their homes and the funeral is held at the grave site (for men). I decided to research on care of the dead in Judaism and learned that much of what they do is very similar to what is done in Islam when caring for the dead. For example, both in Islam and Judaism the body is purified and there is no option of cremation.
My mom has never experienced anything related to the care of the dead while living here in the United States. She was only able to tell me about her experiences while she was back at home in Pakistan. “A lot of the rituals which occur while caring for the dead in Pakistan differ in many ways when comparing how the dead are cared for here.” She told me about the different roles males and females play throughout a funeral. She talked about all the women who are gathered at the house of the person who had passed on; they offer their prayers and help out by cooking food in the name of the one who has passed on so that it can be passed out to the poor and needy and the spirit can receive its rewards. The men are the ones which take care of all the outside work such as taking the body to the burial site and offering prayers there.“There is usually a forty day grieving period where everyone pays their respects and offer their prayers, but now it is more common to have a three day grieving period because of what the Prophet Muhammad had said ‘The grieving period after ones death should not exceed three days’”. I asked my mom why women are not allowed to join the men at the grave site; she said that it’s not appropriate, supposedly if females go to the grave site the spirits view them in a negative way. I asked my mom about cremation and she didn’t really want to talk about it; it didn’t feel right talking about it because it made her have negative thoughts. All she said was that cremation is wrong and the only right way to dispose a body is to bury it because that is the only option offered to Muslims.
I think that religion plays a big role in how one cares for the dead. After hearing what my parents had to say about their own personal experiences and thoughts on the topic, I figured that there is a wrong and a right in everything and this differs depending upon ones beliefs. Here in the United States many individuals are free to approach anything however they want; in this case caring for the dead is also approached in various ways. I am not saying that this only happens in the United States, but it is the most common here. In other countries which have a large population of people under the same religion, the body tends to be disposed in a certain way at a higher rate. For example in Pakistan and other countries which base their beliefs off of Islam, usually tend to bury the body instead of cremating it. This is because we strictly follow what Islam asks us to do. In Israel most of the population has beliefs based off of Judaism, meaning that they also tend to bury the body instead of referring to cremation. In India and Japan, the cremation rate is much higher because of what they believe in. All these countries and beliefs seem to have certain rules which tend to be followed while caring for the dead, whereas in the United States there is no right or wrong way of caring for the dead.
Friday, April 22, 2011
***Hwk 47***
I decided to interview three different people; a 16 year old male, a 17 year old female and an 18 year old male. I got mixed responses from my interviewees. By the time I had completed my interviewing I saw some patterns in my results. When it comes to how someone feels while caring for the dead the responses were similar; but when asked about how one should be buried there different responses. Overall I was able to learn a lot while educating each individual about a different aspect of how the dead are cared for. At the same time I was able to deepen my thoughts on the topic as well.
When I interviewed the 16 year old male he didn’t seem to have much experience with caring for the dead. He said that he has attended one funeral when he was 15, but it wasn’t for anyone too close to him. He remembers everyone crying and the environment being really loud; everyone was in black attire. This funeral had the body put in a coffin and taken away to a gravesite. I questioned him about how he was feeling at the time, he answered: “The days after the death are sad because it’s a done deal, there is no turning back, the only option you have is to move on.” I then asked him what he or his family had done differently as a result of the death. He said he remembers his family making dinner for the family of the person that had recently passed away for some nights. I then asked him about why this was done by his family, he said it was a form of pity on them. I started to question him about how a body is disposed and what it says about the spirit that once lived within it. He said that he wasn’t sure, but he would prefer a body getting buried over a body getting cremated. When I asked him why, he said that he didn’t know how to explain it, but he just couldn’t have a body cremated, or see a body being cremated. “The thought of burning a body is just not right in my opinion.” When I asked him about our society and how it deals with caring for the dead he said he didn’t have much to say about that because he hasn’t had anyone close enough to him die. This is why he hasn’t paid much attention to the topic, but when someone close to him passes away he will have a different approach on the topic.
My 18 year old male cousin decided to connect much of what he had to say back to Islam. He said he had attended two funerals in the past. I asked him what type of clothing everyone wore; he responded with telling me that it was only men at the funeral and they wore Kameez Shalwar in different colors. Everyone seemed to be depressed; “death is a very emotional and sensitive topic, it doesn’t matter who dies, even if they are your enemy you are supposed to feel a certain way”. I asked him about what else went on within the funeral; he started talking about how a special order of food was made and eaten by everyone who had attended the funeral. Before having it served, part of the food was put aside to be given out to the poor and needy. Later on we moved on to the topic of the body and how it should be disposed. I asked him about having a burial vs. having a body cremated; he said that in Islam cremation is not allowed, only burial is supposed to occur after ones death. I told him about some countries which cremate their bodies and he said that it was all wrong in his opinion. I asked him why he thought that cremation was wrong; he said that without having a body you cannot pray to it, or give it blessings or read the Quran for it. “When cremated there is nothing left to give prayers to, or read the Quran to. When a body is buried you can do such things and more to give it a blessing for wherever the spirit may be.” By having the body cremated one cannot go to a certain site to send the body and its spirit prayers; in Islam one only goes to heaven with the support of prayers, this is why cremation is not allowed. Having a body cremated also creates a foul smell which isn’t considered a good thing. He then told me about a proper burial, consisting of giving the body a holy bath then covering the nostrils and ears with cotton. Right after, a white cloth is placed over the body and taken away to the grave site by a group of close family members.
When interviewing the a 17 year old female I asked her about her experiences with funerals and the environment at the time. She had attended a funeral, but she couldn’t remember too much about it; it was like a “foggy haze”. She was young at the time and didn’t really grasp what was going on around her; she felt like she was watching everything as if she was an outsider in the scene; like she wasn’t supposed to be there. She felt upset because she couldn’t fully comprehend the situation; yet, she wasn’t really emotional. The casket was open at the funeral she had attended making her feel surreal, “death is surreal in a way, it didn’t really sink in.” She personally doesn’t like funerals because they deal with emotions and she doesn’t like the idea of that; I am sure not many do. When asked about different ways of disposing a body and what it says about the life of the body she answered that the dead should be treated with respect. “It is a personal choice between family and close ones to decide which way the body should be disposed. The way a body is disposed doesn’t really affect the meaning to the life of the body which once lived. There isn’t much of a connection between the two.” I decided to investigate this further by asking her about her thoughts on cremation. “There are a number of reasons for why someone may choose for the body to be cremated, this may be because of financial reasons, etc…” She said this based off of what other people have experienced. She wasn’t really sure how to answer this question since she didn’t have much personal experience on the topic. At the end she said it all depends on ones beliefs and personal choices. For her own case, she stated that in Christianity cremation is not seen as anything disrespectful; she tends to feel the same way. I then asked her about how she would want her body to be handled after death. She said that she wasn’t sure even though she has discussed the topic with her family. She concluded with having a burial and a small funeral service with close ones present, but it all depends on how she had died “If I was in a horrible accident which messed up my face, I would rather be cremated.” I asked her about how she felt about having the body handled by strangers instead of close ones. She said she prefers having close ones handle the dead body because having strangers handle it makes it seem uneasy for others. It is almost a duty for the close ones to handle the body, if strangers were to come in between it would “ruin” the grieving and burial process in her opinion. “I would want to take part of every step leading up to having my loved one go.”
Discussing a topic such as the care of the dead is not a topic commonly discussed amongst many of us. This was a chance for some people including myself to actually pause and think about a topic which is a part of our lives, but doesn’t really get much attention paid to. I got a lot of interesting feedback from each individual I decided to interview. Reading through the interviews I realized that the beliefs one has, affects what they think about caring for the dead. Two of the three interviewees are Christian while one is Muslim. The ones who follow the Christian faith didn’t know what they wanted or what they thought was right; even if they did, they didn’t have much proof to back it up. This applies to the questions which compared burial to cremation.
I personally connected more to my cousin and what he had to say on the topic. I would have answered these questions the same way as he did if someone were to ask me. Society, culture and religion play a big role in what people have to say about topics such as caring for the dead. While I was interviewing a few of these people it was totally random, and I remeber feeling awkward and in the middle of a interview or two taking a minute to ask the interviewee if they felt comfortable answering such questions. I don't really know why I did that, but it was just a natural tendency to do so. I think it's because caring for the dead is not something the we choose to discuss during a normal conversation; we usually tend to go for topics that won't matter much later on.
When I interviewed the 16 year old male he didn’t seem to have much experience with caring for the dead. He said that he has attended one funeral when he was 15, but it wasn’t for anyone too close to him. He remembers everyone crying and the environment being really loud; everyone was in black attire. This funeral had the body put in a coffin and taken away to a gravesite. I questioned him about how he was feeling at the time, he answered: “The days after the death are sad because it’s a done deal, there is no turning back, the only option you have is to move on.” I then asked him what he or his family had done differently as a result of the death. He said he remembers his family making dinner for the family of the person that had recently passed away for some nights. I then asked him about why this was done by his family, he said it was a form of pity on them. I started to question him about how a body is disposed and what it says about the spirit that once lived within it. He said that he wasn’t sure, but he would prefer a body getting buried over a body getting cremated. When I asked him why, he said that he didn’t know how to explain it, but he just couldn’t have a body cremated, or see a body being cremated. “The thought of burning a body is just not right in my opinion.” When I asked him about our society and how it deals with caring for the dead he said he didn’t have much to say about that because he hasn’t had anyone close enough to him die. This is why he hasn’t paid much attention to the topic, but when someone close to him passes away he will have a different approach on the topic.
My 18 year old male cousin decided to connect much of what he had to say back to Islam. He said he had attended two funerals in the past. I asked him what type of clothing everyone wore; he responded with telling me that it was only men at the funeral and they wore Kameez Shalwar in different colors. Everyone seemed to be depressed; “death is a very emotional and sensitive topic, it doesn’t matter who dies, even if they are your enemy you are supposed to feel a certain way”. I asked him about what else went on within the funeral; he started talking about how a special order of food was made and eaten by everyone who had attended the funeral. Before having it served, part of the food was put aside to be given out to the poor and needy. Later on we moved on to the topic of the body and how it should be disposed. I asked him about having a burial vs. having a body cremated; he said that in Islam cremation is not allowed, only burial is supposed to occur after ones death. I told him about some countries which cremate their bodies and he said that it was all wrong in his opinion. I asked him why he thought that cremation was wrong; he said that without having a body you cannot pray to it, or give it blessings or read the Quran for it. “When cremated there is nothing left to give prayers to, or read the Quran to. When a body is buried you can do such things and more to give it a blessing for wherever the spirit may be.” By having the body cremated one cannot go to a certain site to send the body and its spirit prayers; in Islam one only goes to heaven with the support of prayers, this is why cremation is not allowed. Having a body cremated also creates a foul smell which isn’t considered a good thing. He then told me about a proper burial, consisting of giving the body a holy bath then covering the nostrils and ears with cotton. Right after, a white cloth is placed over the body and taken away to the grave site by a group of close family members.
When interviewing the a 17 year old female I asked her about her experiences with funerals and the environment at the time. She had attended a funeral, but she couldn’t remember too much about it; it was like a “foggy haze”. She was young at the time and didn’t really grasp what was going on around her; she felt like she was watching everything as if she was an outsider in the scene; like she wasn’t supposed to be there. She felt upset because she couldn’t fully comprehend the situation; yet, she wasn’t really emotional. The casket was open at the funeral she had attended making her feel surreal, “death is surreal in a way, it didn’t really sink in.” She personally doesn’t like funerals because they deal with emotions and she doesn’t like the idea of that; I am sure not many do. When asked about different ways of disposing a body and what it says about the life of the body she answered that the dead should be treated with respect. “It is a personal choice between family and close ones to decide which way the body should be disposed. The way a body is disposed doesn’t really affect the meaning to the life of the body which once lived. There isn’t much of a connection between the two.” I decided to investigate this further by asking her about her thoughts on cremation. “There are a number of reasons for why someone may choose for the body to be cremated, this may be because of financial reasons, etc…” She said this based off of what other people have experienced. She wasn’t really sure how to answer this question since she didn’t have much personal experience on the topic. At the end she said it all depends on ones beliefs and personal choices. For her own case, she stated that in Christianity cremation is not seen as anything disrespectful; she tends to feel the same way. I then asked her about how she would want her body to be handled after death. She said that she wasn’t sure even though she has discussed the topic with her family. She concluded with having a burial and a small funeral service with close ones present, but it all depends on how she had died “If I was in a horrible accident which messed up my face, I would rather be cremated.” I asked her about how she felt about having the body handled by strangers instead of close ones. She said she prefers having close ones handle the dead body because having strangers handle it makes it seem uneasy for others. It is almost a duty for the close ones to handle the body, if strangers were to come in between it would “ruin” the grieving and burial process in her opinion. “I would want to take part of every step leading up to having my loved one go.”
Discussing a topic such as the care of the dead is not a topic commonly discussed amongst many of us. This was a chance for some people including myself to actually pause and think about a topic which is a part of our lives, but doesn’t really get much attention paid to. I got a lot of interesting feedback from each individual I decided to interview. Reading through the interviews I realized that the beliefs one has, affects what they think about caring for the dead. Two of the three interviewees are Christian while one is Muslim. The ones who follow the Christian faith didn’t know what they wanted or what they thought was right; even if they did, they didn’t have much proof to back it up. This applies to the questions which compared burial to cremation.
I personally connected more to my cousin and what he had to say on the topic. I would have answered these questions the same way as he did if someone were to ask me. Society, culture and religion play a big role in what people have to say about topics such as caring for the dead. While I was interviewing a few of these people it was totally random, and I remeber feeling awkward and in the middle of a interview or two taking a minute to ask the interviewee if they felt comfortable answering such questions. I don't really know why I did that, but it was just a natural tendency to do so. I think it's because caring for the dead is not something the we choose to discuss during a normal conversation; we usually tend to go for topics that won't matter much later on.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Hwk 46
Growing up I have always been kept at a distance when it came to anything related to death. The only time I can recall myself being in a situation where I was “close” to death is when I was very young. One time while attending madrasah, my class was told to join a special prayer for the passing of someone. I remember that this prayer was a little different compared to the five daily prayers I perform. The only reason why I was able to take a part in this event was because I wasn’t under the supervision of my parents. If my parents, in this particular case my mom were with me at the time she would have hesitated in giving me permission to attend. I know she would have said yes, but it wouldn’t be a yes without giving much thought to it. I think there are many reasons for this; some are understandable, while others aren’t. I usually feel as if my parents (again, especially my mom) tend to try to keep me far away from anything related to death.
Caring for the dead is perceived differently in each and every culture. From what I see here living amongst Western culture, movies and the media have a different approach about caring for the dead. This is very different when compared to how it is perceived back at home. Even though the rituals may differ, I think most of us have the same type of feelings when it comes to caring for the dead; loss, grief, sorrow, etc…I have never seen a real dead body in person, and to be honest I wouldn’t be so fond of seeing one either. Thinking of a cold, motionless body is a scary thought (at least for me). I know that we all have a reason to react a certain way after a death and these may be similar in many ways, but our beliefs and approaches differ in many ways.
It’s been a year now since my grandfather died; my parents were able to visit him in Pakistan at the time he was sick. Some moments after they had arrived to the hospital, my grandfather died because of some complications. After coming back from their gruesome trip, I was able to ask my parents about how they had cared for my grandfather (grandfather’s body) after he had died. In our culture as soon as someone dies their body is taken away to be washed in order to get ready for its grave. After being washed the body is covered with a white cloth and all men close in family take the body away to the grave site. This is very different from how death is portrayed here in the United States. I don’t have much knowledge on American funerals or memorial services, but from what I have seen and heard care of the dead in this society differs in many ways from how the dead are cared for back at home.
What are the benefits of a coffin? Will these benefits help the dead in the “afterlife”?
Questions:
-How much does a funeral cost? How do these costs differ in different societies?
-Why does the color black represent death? (usually worn to funerals)
-Can one be happy while caring for the dead?
-Does an individual plan their own funeral, or do their close ones plan it for them?
-How does one feel while planning their own funeral? We often tend to plan our wedding or plan a birth; why isn’t planning your own funeral as big of a concern?
Caring for the dead is perceived differently in each and every culture. From what I see here living amongst Western culture, movies and the media have a different approach about caring for the dead. This is very different when compared to how it is perceived back at home. Even though the rituals may differ, I think most of us have the same type of feelings when it comes to caring for the dead; loss, grief, sorrow, etc…I have never seen a real dead body in person, and to be honest I wouldn’t be so fond of seeing one either. Thinking of a cold, motionless body is a scary thought (at least for me). I know that we all have a reason to react a certain way after a death and these may be similar in many ways, but our beliefs and approaches differ in many ways.
It’s been a year now since my grandfather died; my parents were able to visit him in Pakistan at the time he was sick. Some moments after they had arrived to the hospital, my grandfather died because of some complications. After coming back from their gruesome trip, I was able to ask my parents about how they had cared for my grandfather (grandfather’s body) after he had died. In our culture as soon as someone dies their body is taken away to be washed in order to get ready for its grave. After being washed the body is covered with a white cloth and all men close in family take the body away to the grave site. This is very different from how death is portrayed here in the United States. I don’t have much knowledge on American funerals or memorial services, but from what I have seen and heard care of the dead in this society differs in many ways from how the dead are cared for back at home.
What are the benefits of a coffin? Will these benefits help the dead in the “afterlife”?
Questions:
-How much does a funeral cost? How do these costs differ in different societies?
-Why does the color black represent death? (usually worn to funerals)
-Can one be happy while caring for the dead?
-Does an individual plan their own funeral, or do their close ones plan it for them?
-How does one feel while planning their own funeral? We often tend to plan our wedding or plan a birth; why isn’t planning your own funeral as big of a concern?
Monday, April 11, 2011
Hwk 45
To Michelle,
I am glad that I was able to aware you about a different aspect of birth. There were a number of topics we discussed as a class regarding birth, but there were a number we had left out as well. Oh, really? My mother also had a C-section when she had me, but thats all I know. I have no idea why or how because this isn't something I or my mother would feel comfortable discussing in an open matter. But compared to my other siblings she treats me the same way. Yes, well your mother made the best choice for herself and her child in this case you. I personally believe that this is what matters more and shows how much the mother cares and loves her child. It doesn't matter what type of birth the child has; he/she will make some type of love bond with his/her mother because after all their relationship is unbreakable. Yes I agree with you, I should have analayzed my quotes a bit more; I will take that into consideration for the next paper I write.
Amber M.
To Nabil
Thanks. That’s what my goal was, to teach those who don’t know much about this topic of birth. I guess it’s because we haven’t really discovered this world to the fullest yet, but I don’t think one can ever discover it to the fullest. There are just too many things out there to learn about, but this is a nice start. From a distance many things don’t seem to be so important, but by taking a few steps closer we seem to reveal a lot. In this case my paper was able to help you understand a common claim and what others have to say about it. Oh, that’s’ nice to know; I wanted my paper to touch base on a number of things and I made sure to include information on oxytocin and prolactin for a reason. Yeah you are right, why would women be offered 2 procedures when one was proven to be better than the other? Yes, I agree; all the decisions come down to the mother, no one else.
Amber M.
To Martyna,
I am glad that you got the main jist of my paper; your project also connected to what my paper was about. Yeah, well the idea just came to me then I started to do some research. After completing my research I was able to create an outline for my paper. While doing my research I didn’t really know what side I was going to prove right in my project, so I decided to stay neutral. Even though there has been some studies done which try to prove that a vaginal birth contributes to a better bonding between a mother and her child, I felt like this wasn’t the case from my own experience. I am glad that you also take interest in this aspect of birth. Yes I agree, all mothers recall the moment they gave birth to their children. It is a big moment in their life, but you can’t fully understand the concept until you have experienced it yourself. It’s nice to know that my project contributes into the fact that you are questioning yourself on different ideas which revolve around birth.
Amber M.
I am glad that I was able to aware you about a different aspect of birth. There were a number of topics we discussed as a class regarding birth, but there were a number we had left out as well. Oh, really? My mother also had a C-section when she had me, but thats all I know. I have no idea why or how because this isn't something I or my mother would feel comfortable discussing in an open matter. But compared to my other siblings she treats me the same way. Yes, well your mother made the best choice for herself and her child in this case you. I personally believe that this is what matters more and shows how much the mother cares and loves her child. It doesn't matter what type of birth the child has; he/she will make some type of love bond with his/her mother because after all their relationship is unbreakable. Yes I agree with you, I should have analayzed my quotes a bit more; I will take that into consideration for the next paper I write.
Amber M.
To Nabil
Thanks. That’s what my goal was, to teach those who don’t know much about this topic of birth. I guess it’s because we haven’t really discovered this world to the fullest yet, but I don’t think one can ever discover it to the fullest. There are just too many things out there to learn about, but this is a nice start. From a distance many things don’t seem to be so important, but by taking a few steps closer we seem to reveal a lot. In this case my paper was able to help you understand a common claim and what others have to say about it. Oh, that’s’ nice to know; I wanted my paper to touch base on a number of things and I made sure to include information on oxytocin and prolactin for a reason. Yeah you are right, why would women be offered 2 procedures when one was proven to be better than the other? Yes, I agree; all the decisions come down to the mother, no one else.
Amber M.
To Martyna,
I am glad that you got the main jist of my paper; your project also connected to what my paper was about. Yeah, well the idea just came to me then I started to do some research. After completing my research I was able to create an outline for my paper. While doing my research I didn’t really know what side I was going to prove right in my project, so I decided to stay neutral. Even though there has been some studies done which try to prove that a vaginal birth contributes to a better bonding between a mother and her child, I felt like this wasn’t the case from my own experience. I am glad that you also take interest in this aspect of birth. Yes I agree, all mothers recall the moment they gave birth to their children. It is a big moment in their life, but you can’t fully understand the concept until you have experienced it yourself. It’s nice to know that my project contributes into the fact that you are questioning yourself on different ideas which revolve around birth.
Amber M.
Hwk 44
Comments to Others:
To Michelle:
In India the male role throughout birth seems to be very distant from the mother because of the societal norms they have of Purdah. Pregnant females in India are more likely to refer to their mother, sister, or sister in law because they feel more comfortable discussing such a topic with them. Male doctors are not highly preferred because many women prefer to make more modest gestures.
I like the evidence you presented throughout your paper. The quotes you used really flowed into what you were trying to say. You looked at birth in India from a number of different angles; you didn’t base your whole paper on the male role during pregnancy in India but opened it up by applying the societal norms they have in such a case.
This project matters to me because I can connect to it in many ways. Being a Pakistani American I am forced to keep my religious and cultural values in mind while living in an environment which goes against them. Much of what you presented in your paper applies to many countries in the Middle East and Pakistan as well. This was a nice way for you to share how practices revolving around birth are not always the same as they are in the United States.
Your paper would have flowed even better if you had proof read it, but other than that good job!
Amber M.
To Larche:
Being unable to conceive causes the woman to feel as if she has no place in her society; she is constantly reminded of this by the disapproval of others. Even though this is a common case worldwide, much of the public doesn’t seem to approve the fact that it is not in the hands of the infertile woman for not having the ability to conceive.
Even though your project was short, it was really concise. You nailed down a number of interesting facts about our society today and how we behave in a negative manner towards others for no reason at all. The evidence you provided from different texts helped me realize that these are the bitter facts we need to face. It made me question what needs to be done in order to prevent this from spreading onto future generations.
Your project is important to me because is seems to prove that women need a slight imperfection in order to be referred to negatively. Why is this? I am sure that if a male had problems with impregnating a woman he wouldn’t be considered lacking much of anything. After reading through your project I was able to refer to a Pakistani drama I used to watch. In this drama a man married a woman, but failed to impregnate her. When his family noticed that his wife wasn’t becoming pregnant, they blamed it all on her for not being able to have a child. This was all done while they forced the man to marry another girl. I thought this connected to what you did your project on because women are always blamed for their slight imperfections, whereas men are always sugar coated to hide their imperfections.
I enjoyed reading your paper; I would have loved it if you added more to it. Nice work.
Amber M.
To Beatrice:
Planned Parenthood helps to serve many by offering services such as reproductive health, child and adult health services. Many are against this because they claim that their money is being used for abortions; what they don’t understand is that only five percent of the services provided deal with abortions.
I enjoyed reading about you taking a part of a rally which supported Planned Parenthood. You seemed to be really enthusiastic while supporting them. You provided rich evidence which helped me understand why this matters to you so much. I also liked the video which went along with your project; the slight imperfections in everyone’s role were able to add a nice touch.
Your project matters to many others and I because we are all human. We are prone to making mistakes; in return we need to have access to sanctuaries which will comfort us and help us in solving our problems. Planned Parenthood is a perfect example.
Amber M.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments from Others :
From Shahana (Mentor):
Amber,
Nice job with this paper. You had told me a couple of times about the birth unit, finally I got the chance to see what you had been doing. I thought the topic you choose to write about is really interesting. I feel that the type of birth a mother has, has nothing to do with the type of love bond she has with her child. I felt like you did a good job of getting this point across in your conclusion. I liked the fact that you didn't seem to choose a side while writing this paper; you are right, there is no right answer. You used this as a chance to present a common argument which has no reason to be much of concern because it won't make much of a difference.
I would have liked it if you had done personal interviews with mothers who have had both experiences to use as part of your evidence. Otherwise your paper was focused on an interesting aspect of birth and pregnancy.
Mom
From Nabil (Protege):
Amber,
Your paper was really insightful. I haven't really studied anything about birth and pregnancy, but after reading this I was able to learn a lot; I wasn't well aware of the claim you based your paper on. I thought that a C-section and a vaginal birth were only different because of their procedures, but now I realized that it can help consider the type of bond a mother has with her baby.
I liked how you described the two hormones which are referred to throughout your paper. I was able to refer back to them many times. All of the quotes you used from others helped me consider their thoughts on this.
"Which type of birth promises the mother-to-be with an affectionate love bond between her and her child? As said before, there is no real answer to such a question. It all depends on the mother herself, and what she feels is right for her and her baby." I agree with you, if there was a right answer to this question only one procedure would be used for delivering a child. The mother is the only one in this situation who can layout her choices and choose what she thinks is best.
Nabil
From Martyna:
Amber! You researched and investigated how a type of birth affects the bonding of a mother and her baby and included a lot of interesting quotes from various sources.
I appreciate how much work you must have put into your project. You used a lot of very interesting information and interpreted it in a way which matches your subject. I like the fact that you had a clearly stated thesis and supported it very well throughout your writing.
Your project is important to me, because I am very interested in the different ways bonding can be affected. My mom always tells me that the most beautiful moments of her life were when she held me and my brother for the first time. Your project makes me wonder if my mom's experience would have been the same if she had a cesarean section.
Great work!
Martyna
From Michelle:
Amber,
The bond between mother and child some say differ whether have had a c-section or a vaginal birth but some say it is even before give birth that they feel this bond. So you decided investigate this topic more deeply. A topic I had never heard of before but that many can connect to because they have been the result of a pregnancy. It made me think of my own birth and wonder what this project mean to it because I was a C-section does that my mother doesn't same bond if I would have been born vaginally? But after reading your project and from the bond I have with my mother, it doesn't affect whether was born through a C-section, like the opinion some of the woman you found research on said. But then again if I had been born vaginally, I most likely would not be here today because my mom did not dilate enough and I had the umbilical cord around my head. Only thing you could have done to make post perfect is after quotes you used was to analyze them more to support what your main argument but nonetheless good job!
To Michelle:
In India the male role throughout birth seems to be very distant from the mother because of the societal norms they have of Purdah. Pregnant females in India are more likely to refer to their mother, sister, or sister in law because they feel more comfortable discussing such a topic with them. Male doctors are not highly preferred because many women prefer to make more modest gestures.
I like the evidence you presented throughout your paper. The quotes you used really flowed into what you were trying to say. You looked at birth in India from a number of different angles; you didn’t base your whole paper on the male role during pregnancy in India but opened it up by applying the societal norms they have in such a case.
This project matters to me because I can connect to it in many ways. Being a Pakistani American I am forced to keep my religious and cultural values in mind while living in an environment which goes against them. Much of what you presented in your paper applies to many countries in the Middle East and Pakistan as well. This was a nice way for you to share how practices revolving around birth are not always the same as they are in the United States.
Your paper would have flowed even better if you had proof read it, but other than that good job!
Amber M.
To Larche:
Being unable to conceive causes the woman to feel as if she has no place in her society; she is constantly reminded of this by the disapproval of others. Even though this is a common case worldwide, much of the public doesn’t seem to approve the fact that it is not in the hands of the infertile woman for not having the ability to conceive.
Even though your project was short, it was really concise. You nailed down a number of interesting facts about our society today and how we behave in a negative manner towards others for no reason at all. The evidence you provided from different texts helped me realize that these are the bitter facts we need to face. It made me question what needs to be done in order to prevent this from spreading onto future generations.
Your project is important to me because is seems to prove that women need a slight imperfection in order to be referred to negatively. Why is this? I am sure that if a male had problems with impregnating a woman he wouldn’t be considered lacking much of anything. After reading through your project I was able to refer to a Pakistani drama I used to watch. In this drama a man married a woman, but failed to impregnate her. When his family noticed that his wife wasn’t becoming pregnant, they blamed it all on her for not being able to have a child. This was all done while they forced the man to marry another girl. I thought this connected to what you did your project on because women are always blamed for their slight imperfections, whereas men are always sugar coated to hide their imperfections.
I enjoyed reading your paper; I would have loved it if you added more to it. Nice work.
Amber M.
To Beatrice:
Planned Parenthood helps to serve many by offering services such as reproductive health, child and adult health services. Many are against this because they claim that their money is being used for abortions; what they don’t understand is that only five percent of the services provided deal with abortions.
I enjoyed reading about you taking a part of a rally which supported Planned Parenthood. You seemed to be really enthusiastic while supporting them. You provided rich evidence which helped me understand why this matters to you so much. I also liked the video which went along with your project; the slight imperfections in everyone’s role were able to add a nice touch.
Your project matters to many others and I because we are all human. We are prone to making mistakes; in return we need to have access to sanctuaries which will comfort us and help us in solving our problems. Planned Parenthood is a perfect example.
Amber M.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments from Others :
From Shahana (Mentor):
Amber,
Nice job with this paper. You had told me a couple of times about the birth unit, finally I got the chance to see what you had been doing. I thought the topic you choose to write about is really interesting. I feel that the type of birth a mother has, has nothing to do with the type of love bond she has with her child. I felt like you did a good job of getting this point across in your conclusion. I liked the fact that you didn't seem to choose a side while writing this paper; you are right, there is no right answer. You used this as a chance to present a common argument which has no reason to be much of concern because it won't make much of a difference.
I would have liked it if you had done personal interviews with mothers who have had both experiences to use as part of your evidence. Otherwise your paper was focused on an interesting aspect of birth and pregnancy.
Mom
From Nabil (Protege):
Amber,
Your paper was really insightful. I haven't really studied anything about birth and pregnancy, but after reading this I was able to learn a lot; I wasn't well aware of the claim you based your paper on. I thought that a C-section and a vaginal birth were only different because of their procedures, but now I realized that it can help consider the type of bond a mother has with her baby.
I liked how you described the two hormones which are referred to throughout your paper. I was able to refer back to them many times. All of the quotes you used from others helped me consider their thoughts on this.
"Which type of birth promises the mother-to-be with an affectionate love bond between her and her child? As said before, there is no real answer to such a question. It all depends on the mother herself, and what she feels is right for her and her baby." I agree with you, if there was a right answer to this question only one procedure would be used for delivering a child. The mother is the only one in this situation who can layout her choices and choose what she thinks is best.
Nabil
From Martyna:
Amber! You researched and investigated how a type of birth affects the bonding of a mother and her baby and included a lot of interesting quotes from various sources.
I appreciate how much work you must have put into your project. You used a lot of very interesting information and interpreted it in a way which matches your subject. I like the fact that you had a clearly stated thesis and supported it very well throughout your writing.
Your project is important to me, because I am very interested in the different ways bonding can be affected. My mom always tells me that the most beautiful moments of her life were when she held me and my brother for the first time. Your project makes me wonder if my mom's experience would have been the same if she had a cesarean section.
Great work!
Martyna
From Michelle:
Amber,
The bond between mother and child some say differ whether have had a c-section or a vaginal birth but some say it is even before give birth that they feel this bond. So you decided investigate this topic more deeply. A topic I had never heard of before but that many can connect to because they have been the result of a pregnancy. It made me think of my own birth and wonder what this project mean to it because I was a C-section does that my mother doesn't same bond if I would have been born vaginally? But after reading your project and from the bond I have with my mother, it doesn't affect whether was born through a C-section, like the opinion some of the woman you found research on said. But then again if I had been born vaginally, I most likely would not be here today because my mom did not dilate enough and I had the umbilical cord around my head. Only thing you could have done to make post perfect is after quotes you used was to analyze them more to support what your main argument but nonetheless good job!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Hwk 42
The bond between a mother and her baby is a bond like no other; but many argue that this bond is not as strong for a mother who had a cesarean section instead of a vaginal birth. Some mothers claim that they can feel a bond with their child before they are considered as expecting. “The bond between a mother and her child begins long before birth. Many women tell how they feel babies even before conception as if some Being, in the latent state of life, were waiting for an opportunity to sprout in a “fertile ground” (Calvette). After the mother conceives, with each passing month the link between the mother to be and her baby becomes stronger; then at last the final event occurs: birth! This is the most vital time for a mother and her baby to bond as stated by many. Many individuals claim that mothers who had their babies with the help of a cesarean section are less likely to have a close bond to their child when compared to mothers who had given vaginal birth. Studies have shown to make this claim true, but mothers who have had a cesarean section say that they love all their children equally. So, which type of birth promises the mother-to-be with an affectionate love bond between her and her child? Though there might not be one answer to such a question, one can try to view several viewpoints on the topic to help them consider an answer for themselves.
Before looking at all the studies and claims that tend to prove that a mother who has a vaginal birth is more likely to have a stronger bond with her child, the science which occurs during and after birth needs to be considered. Where does the bonding between a mother and her baby begin? Well, there are several different answers to this question; some say it starts before conception, others say it starts after conception while growing throughout the nine months of pregnancy, the rest claim that it occurs the instant the mother gives birth to her infant. During labor the mother to be has oxytocin being released within her body; this is what causes her to experience the love she has for her baby right after he/she born. Oxytocin or the “love hormone” as called by many, tends to put the mother in “lala land” for the first ten minutes after giving birth (Moritz). Oxytocin plays a big role in female reproduction; it is released in large amounts after distension of the cervix and uterus during labor. This means that mothers who give birth vaginally will have a high amount of oxytocin within their bodies since their cervix and uterus will experience distension to its fullest. While having a cesarean section, this may not be applicable, since not much tension will be put towards the cervix and uterus. Prolactin is another hormone which is vital for the baby after the mother has given birth. Prolactin has many effects such as regulating lactation. It basically stimulates the mammary glands for the mother to produce milk in order to feed her infant. Breastfeeding is considered a great time for the mother and baby to bond. “Breastfeeding is an important part in establishing the bond between the mother and her baby. It only makes that bond grow every day, nourishing the baby in every possible manner as it is the perfect food. It is a time of love and connection..It is a moment to exchange glances, love, and affection, to see the baby and let love flow (Calvette).”
The bonding process between a mother and her baby can occur without any real realization; it can occurr one way or another depending on how one perceives it. Even though it is said that this attachment starts right after the mother has given birth, many claim that throughout the nine months of pregnancy the mother is able to create a strong bond with her preborn baby. Research has shown that the attachment between the two can vary depending on how the mother chooses to care for her preborn baby. All bonds between mother and baby vary; for example, mothers who enjoy concerts claim that their preborn babies “jump at the sound of drums.” Some studies have proved that a six month old fetus can move to the rhythm of its mother talking. Prenatal researchers claim that there is a connection between the mothers’ thoughts and how her preborn baby feels. When the fetus is six months old, it can share its mothers’ emotions with the help of the hormones associated with them. “Studies relating maternal attitudes to the emotional development of the offspring do indeed reveal a tendency for anxious mothers to produce anxious babies…Researchers believe that a stressed mother produces an abundance of stress hormones called catecholamines, which have been shown to, in turn, affect emotions” (AskDrSears).
When a mother has a cesarean section it is very likely that she is giving birth in a hospital, meaning that her baby will be take away from her to be weighed and cleaned up. This is what many individuals seem to be against because this is a moment considered very important for both the mother and her baby. This is what the mother has been waiting for all along; this is when physical contact is possible. “These first moments are crucial to developing the bond between the mother and the newborn and there must be as little interference as possible. The child should remain in contact with its mother’s skin since the moment it is born and never been taken away from her until it is fed, at least for the first time. This is a moment of meeting each other when they exchange affection and smells and look into each other’s eyes for the first time and that’s when this bond is established” (Calvette) When the mother gives birth vaginally, she is more likely to see her baby when it is born and make eye contact with him/her; whereas when a woman has a cesarean section, a curtain is drawn between her and her baby.
While watching the film documentary titled The Business of Being Born, mothers who gave birth naturally with the support of a midwife were the first ones to come in contact with their babies. They were able to experience birth to its fullest; by being the “doctor” of their own babies. This helped them create the bond that they were willing to create with their infant all along. “In a normal birth, the baby is still physically connected to its mother by the umbilical cord which is still attached to the placenta and the womb. As the nature is perfect, the cord is the right size for the newborn to get to its mother’s breasts and does not need to be cut immediately” (Calvette). This is exactly what was shown in The Business of Being Born; mothers who gave birth vaginally were able to come in contact with their babies the second they were born. They took full advantage of the oxytocin rush they were receiving at the time. After some time had passed, they would be seen breastfeeding their infant, with the help of prolactin. By taking advantage of both of these hormones, it was clearly seen that the mother was easily able to start a strong bond with her child from the beginning.
Studies have been done trying to prove that women who have a vaginal birth are more likely to have a better response to their babies. A few years ago, American and British scientists decided to do an experiment which provided evidence to support the claim which says women that have a vaginal birth are more likely to have a stronger bond with their child. This study was lead by Dr. James Swain, from the Child Study Center at Yale University. Within this study there were twelve women involved; six of whom who gave a vaginal birth while the other six had a cesarean section. Two to four weeks after giving birth, all twelve of these women underwent an FMRI scan of their brains while hearing the cries of their baby. The FMRI scans revealed that the mothers who had a vaginal birth had regions within their brains which were highly activated while hearing the cries of their infant. The regions within the brain which were activated were the ones that dealt with motivation, empathy, habit, emotions and reward seeking. “I suspect that the parental brain is primed by vaginal delivery and affected by neurohormonal factors such as oxytocin, a hormonelinked to emotional connections and feelings of love. C-sections may alter these neurohormonal factors and increase the risk of problematic bonding and postpartumdepression.” (Professor James Swain, M.D) Because the large amounts of oxytocin are highly present in a vaginal delivery, it tends to play a big role in the results these scientists gathered. Without oxytocin being present, such results wouldn’t have been possible.
Although there have been many studies done in the past that try to prove that a vaginal delivery tends to create a stronger bond between a mother and her baby, mothers who have had experience with both a vaginal birth and cesarean section claim no difference. Many expecting women feel that they need to research this topic in order to make the right birth plan for themselves and their baby. Some expecting mothers decide to get the advice they are in search of by directing their questions to the public. One woman posted this question on a forum online: “Do C-sections effect the bond between mother and child?” There were a number of responses received from mothers who have had experienced both type of births. Most of these responses had no complaints about the bonding experience they had with their infant. “I had a C-section with my 1st and had no probs with bonding.”…“I have had one of each birth and my answer would be NO. I love both my children and I'm very close to each of them. I bonded strongly during pregnancy with both - talking to them, singing, touching”…“Definately not...I needed to have a C-Section with my daughter for medical reasons, we bonded straight away and to this day have a wonderful relationship.”…“I've had both. My daughter vaginally and my son C-section. My son is by far the more loving and affectionate of the two” (Minti). All these women answered this question long after with their experiences with birth. Within this time they were able to create a stronger bond with their child.
Some women in the other hand complained that having a C-section delayed their bonding process. “The bonding is much harder work after a Cesarean section. I had issues with bonding - it was not automatic but it happened.”…“I had to have an emergency C-section because my son was breech and rather large (10lbs 4.5oz!) - And though it was the last thing I wanted, and I felt really detached at the time through the whole process”…“I had one vaginal birth and one C-section. I was very disappointed in the C-section I had. I think that it delays the bonding process. I had to wait a couple of hours to hold my twin boys until i was transferred to my room. Once I held them, I was able to bond with them. It was just a longer time until i was able to.” It seems that it is not the bonding itself which is affected by the type of birth the mother has; it is the actual time in which the mother and baby which are able to bond which alters. The only difference between the bonding processes of these two births is that with a vaginal birth the bonding begins right away, whereas a C-section tends to delay the attachment. In a vaginal delivery, the baby is handed over to his her mother in less time when compared to a cesarean section. Regardless, it does not seem to affect how strong the bond is in the coming years. “Just because you may only get a brief moment, if even that, with your baby, it in no way hinders the bonding process. From the moment the child is conceived, an unbreakable bond has already been forged. This bond is only strengthened every day you carry your child in the womb and every day after the baby is born…Babies do not soon forget the sounds and feelings of their mother, and they even have the smell ingrained in their memory. They could pick their mother, using smell, out of a crowd of one hundred people without even opening their eyes. They know you and you know them. No amount of time, whether immediate or later on, will ever erase these instincts” (Rumler).
Which type of birth promises the mother-to-be with an affectionate love bond between her and her child? As said before, there is no real answer to such a question. It all depends on the mother herself, and what she feels is right for her and her baby. Usually mothers want to have a vaginal birth, but at times it is not in their hands. Complications can arise without warning and the mother has to give up all her wants for the safety of her child. “The truth is you do what is safest for the baby and regardless of which way they come into the world you bond, love and nurture your little treasures” (Minti). Although vaginal births tends to create the bond between the mother and her baby much earlier compared to a birth with the assistance of a cesarean section, mothers do not complain about the bond they have with their child years after. No matter what type of a birth the mother has, she will create a loving bond with her child. She will do what is best for her child. So it is not the bond that will be affected by the type of birth a mother has; it is only the time when the mother gets to bond with her baby that is affected.
MLA Citations:
Calvette, Mayra. "The bond between mother and baby." Gisele's Blog. 06/may/2010. Web. 30 Mar 2011.
Radowitz, John. "C-section 'weakens mother's bond with her child' ." (2008): n. pag. Web. 30 Mar 2011..
"7 WAYS TO BOND WITH YOUR PREBORN BABY ." n. pag. Web. 30 Mar 2011..
Rumler, Tawny. " Cesarean Section: You CAN Bond with Your Baby." Web. 30 Mar 2011.
Tink1976, . "Do c-sections effect the bond between mother and child?." 29 Sep 2006. Online Posting tominti. Web. 6 Apr 2011.
"Natural birth leads to stronger bonding between mother and baby." www.healthjockey.com. N.p., 20 Sep 2008. Web. 6 Apr 2011.
"Oxytocin." Web..
"Prolactin." Web..
Moritz, Jacques. School of the Future, New York City. 01 Apr 2011. Speech.
Abby , Epstein, Dir. The Business of Being Born. Dir. Abby Epstein." 2008, Film.
Before looking at all the studies and claims that tend to prove that a mother who has a vaginal birth is more likely to have a stronger bond with her child, the science which occurs during and after birth needs to be considered. Where does the bonding between a mother and her baby begin? Well, there are several different answers to this question; some say it starts before conception, others say it starts after conception while growing throughout the nine months of pregnancy, the rest claim that it occurs the instant the mother gives birth to her infant. During labor the mother to be has oxytocin being released within her body; this is what causes her to experience the love she has for her baby right after he/she born. Oxytocin or the “love hormone” as called by many, tends to put the mother in “lala land” for the first ten minutes after giving birth (Moritz). Oxytocin plays a big role in female reproduction; it is released in large amounts after distension of the cervix and uterus during labor. This means that mothers who give birth vaginally will have a high amount of oxytocin within their bodies since their cervix and uterus will experience distension to its fullest. While having a cesarean section, this may not be applicable, since not much tension will be put towards the cervix and uterus. Prolactin is another hormone which is vital for the baby after the mother has given birth. Prolactin has many effects such as regulating lactation. It basically stimulates the mammary glands for the mother to produce milk in order to feed her infant. Breastfeeding is considered a great time for the mother and baby to bond. “Breastfeeding is an important part in establishing the bond between the mother and her baby. It only makes that bond grow every day, nourishing the baby in every possible manner as it is the perfect food. It is a time of love and connection..It is a moment to exchange glances, love, and affection, to see the baby and let love flow (Calvette).”
The bonding process between a mother and her baby can occur without any real realization; it can occurr one way or another depending on how one perceives it. Even though it is said that this attachment starts right after the mother has given birth, many claim that throughout the nine months of pregnancy the mother is able to create a strong bond with her preborn baby. Research has shown that the attachment between the two can vary depending on how the mother chooses to care for her preborn baby. All bonds between mother and baby vary; for example, mothers who enjoy concerts claim that their preborn babies “jump at the sound of drums.” Some studies have proved that a six month old fetus can move to the rhythm of its mother talking. Prenatal researchers claim that there is a connection between the mothers’ thoughts and how her preborn baby feels. When the fetus is six months old, it can share its mothers’ emotions with the help of the hormones associated with them. “Studies relating maternal attitudes to the emotional development of the offspring do indeed reveal a tendency for anxious mothers to produce anxious babies…Researchers believe that a stressed mother produces an abundance of stress hormones called catecholamines, which have been shown to, in turn, affect emotions” (AskDrSears).
When a mother has a cesarean section it is very likely that she is giving birth in a hospital, meaning that her baby will be take away from her to be weighed and cleaned up. This is what many individuals seem to be against because this is a moment considered very important for both the mother and her baby. This is what the mother has been waiting for all along; this is when physical contact is possible. “These first moments are crucial to developing the bond between the mother and the newborn and there must be as little interference as possible. The child should remain in contact with its mother’s skin since the moment it is born and never been taken away from her until it is fed, at least for the first time. This is a moment of meeting each other when they exchange affection and smells and look into each other’s eyes for the first time and that’s when this bond is established” (Calvette) When the mother gives birth vaginally, she is more likely to see her baby when it is born and make eye contact with him/her; whereas when a woman has a cesarean section, a curtain is drawn between her and her baby.
While watching the film documentary titled The Business of Being Born, mothers who gave birth naturally with the support of a midwife were the first ones to come in contact with their babies. They were able to experience birth to its fullest; by being the “doctor” of their own babies. This helped them create the bond that they were willing to create with their infant all along. “In a normal birth, the baby is still physically connected to its mother by the umbilical cord which is still attached to the placenta and the womb. As the nature is perfect, the cord is the right size for the newborn to get to its mother’s breasts and does not need to be cut immediately” (Calvette). This is exactly what was shown in The Business of Being Born; mothers who gave birth vaginally were able to come in contact with their babies the second they were born. They took full advantage of the oxytocin rush they were receiving at the time. After some time had passed, they would be seen breastfeeding their infant, with the help of prolactin. By taking advantage of both of these hormones, it was clearly seen that the mother was easily able to start a strong bond with her child from the beginning.
Studies have been done trying to prove that women who have a vaginal birth are more likely to have a better response to their babies. A few years ago, American and British scientists decided to do an experiment which provided evidence to support the claim which says women that have a vaginal birth are more likely to have a stronger bond with their child. This study was lead by Dr. James Swain, from the Child Study Center at Yale University. Within this study there were twelve women involved; six of whom who gave a vaginal birth while the other six had a cesarean section. Two to four weeks after giving birth, all twelve of these women underwent an FMRI scan of their brains while hearing the cries of their baby. The FMRI scans revealed that the mothers who had a vaginal birth had regions within their brains which were highly activated while hearing the cries of their infant. The regions within the brain which were activated were the ones that dealt with motivation, empathy, habit, emotions and reward seeking. “I suspect that the parental brain is primed by vaginal delivery and affected by neurohormonal factors such as oxytocin, a hormonelinked to emotional connections and feelings of love. C-sections may alter these neurohormonal factors and increase the risk of problematic bonding and postpartumdepression.” (Professor James Swain, M.D) Because the large amounts of oxytocin are highly present in a vaginal delivery, it tends to play a big role in the results these scientists gathered. Without oxytocin being present, such results wouldn’t have been possible.
Although there have been many studies done in the past that try to prove that a vaginal delivery tends to create a stronger bond between a mother and her baby, mothers who have had experience with both a vaginal birth and cesarean section claim no difference. Many expecting women feel that they need to research this topic in order to make the right birth plan for themselves and their baby. Some expecting mothers decide to get the advice they are in search of by directing their questions to the public. One woman posted this question on a forum online: “Do C-sections effect the bond between mother and child?” There were a number of responses received from mothers who have had experienced both type of births. Most of these responses had no complaints about the bonding experience they had with their infant. “I had a C-section with my 1st and had no probs with bonding.”…“I have had one of each birth and my answer would be NO. I love both my children and I'm very close to each of them. I bonded strongly during pregnancy with both - talking to them, singing, touching”…“Definately not...I needed to have a C-Section with my daughter for medical reasons, we bonded straight away and to this day have a wonderful relationship.”…“I've had both. My daughter vaginally and my son C-section. My son is by far the more loving and affectionate of the two” (Minti). All these women answered this question long after with their experiences with birth. Within this time they were able to create a stronger bond with their child.
Some women in the other hand complained that having a C-section delayed their bonding process. “The bonding is much harder work after a Cesarean section. I had issues with bonding - it was not automatic but it happened.”…“I had to have an emergency C-section because my son was breech and rather large (10lbs 4.5oz!) - And though it was the last thing I wanted, and I felt really detached at the time through the whole process”…“I had one vaginal birth and one C-section. I was very disappointed in the C-section I had. I think that it delays the bonding process. I had to wait a couple of hours to hold my twin boys until i was transferred to my room. Once I held them, I was able to bond with them. It was just a longer time until i was able to.” It seems that it is not the bonding itself which is affected by the type of birth the mother has; it is the actual time in which the mother and baby which are able to bond which alters. The only difference between the bonding processes of these two births is that with a vaginal birth the bonding begins right away, whereas a C-section tends to delay the attachment. In a vaginal delivery, the baby is handed over to his her mother in less time when compared to a cesarean section. Regardless, it does not seem to affect how strong the bond is in the coming years. “Just because you may only get a brief moment, if even that, with your baby, it in no way hinders the bonding process. From the moment the child is conceived, an unbreakable bond has already been forged. This bond is only strengthened every day you carry your child in the womb and every day after the baby is born…Babies do not soon forget the sounds and feelings of their mother, and they even have the smell ingrained in their memory. They could pick their mother, using smell, out of a crowd of one hundred people without even opening their eyes. They know you and you know them. No amount of time, whether immediate or later on, will ever erase these instincts” (Rumler).
Which type of birth promises the mother-to-be with an affectionate love bond between her and her child? As said before, there is no real answer to such a question. It all depends on the mother herself, and what she feels is right for her and her baby. Usually mothers want to have a vaginal birth, but at times it is not in their hands. Complications can arise without warning and the mother has to give up all her wants for the safety of her child. “The truth is you do what is safest for the baby and regardless of which way they come into the world you bond, love and nurture your little treasures” (Minti). Although vaginal births tends to create the bond between the mother and her baby much earlier compared to a birth with the assistance of a cesarean section, mothers do not complain about the bond they have with their child years after. No matter what type of a birth the mother has, she will create a loving bond with her child. She will do what is best for her child. So it is not the bond that will be affected by the type of birth a mother has; it is only the time when the mother gets to bond with her baby that is affected.
MLA Citations:
Calvette, Mayra. "The bond between mother and baby." Gisele's Blog. 06/may/2010. Web. 30 Mar 2011.
Radowitz, John. "C-section 'weakens mother's bond with her child' ." (2008): n. pag. Web. 30 Mar 2011.
"7 WAYS TO BOND WITH YOUR PREBORN BABY ." n. pag. Web. 30 Mar 2011.
Rumler, Tawny. " Cesarean Section: You CAN Bond with Your Baby." Web. 30 Mar 2011.
Tink1976, . "Do c-sections effect the bond between mother and child?." 29 Sep 2006. Online Posting tominti. Web. 6 Apr 2011.
"Natural birth leads to stronger bonding between mother and baby." www.healthjockey.com. N.p., 20 Sep 2008. Web. 6 Apr 2011.
"Oxytocin." Web.
"Prolactin." Web.
Moritz, Jacques. School of the Future, New York City. 01 Apr 2011. Speech.
Abby , Epstein, Dir. The Business of Being Born. Dir. Abby Epstein." 2008, Film.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Hwk 41
A.
Calvette, Mayra. "The bond between mother and baby." Gisele's Blog. 06/may/2010. Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://www.blog.giselebundchen.com.br/en/sentido/a-ligacao-entre-mae-e-bebe/.
The author of this blog post, Mayra Calvette talks to her readers about the attachment a mother has with her baby. Some women say that they feel another being within them before they have conceived. And this attachment tends to grow more and more during pregnancy and after the birth of the baby. She recommends that babies stay with their mothers after the mother has given birth. This is the best time out of all for the mother to gain love from the baby and give it love as well. This is all likely to happen in a “normal birth” since the baby is still attached to its mother (via umbilical cord).
Hagensen, Jody. "Reasons Mothers Love Their Children." ehow. N.p., 25/Feb/2011. Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://www.ehow.com/info_7982086_reasons-mothers-love-children.html.
This article discusses the different aspects of why a mother loves her child(ren). The best way for a mother to love her child is to start off with a loving relationship with the father of the child. By building this strong relationship with the father, both the mother and father are able to nurture and care for the baby properly. Breastfeeding is a chance for the mother and baby to build a strong bond. During this time the mothers’ body is releasing oxytocin and prolactin. Skin to skin contact is another way for the mother and baby to gain a stronger attachment.
Radowitz, John. "C-section 'weakens mother's bond with her child' ." (2008): n. pag. Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/csection-weakens-mothers-bond-with-her-child-1468945.html.
In this article, the author discusses a study done with twelve American women who are expecting for the first time. Six of these women gave a vaginal birth while the other six had a C-section. A couple of weeks after the delivery, these 12 women underwent FMRI scans when listening to the recorded sounds of their crying babies. The scans revealed that the women who gave birth naturally had regions within their brain that were highly activated when hearing the sounds of their baby. This tends to prove some mothers that women who give birth naturally are prone to having a stronger attachment with their baby.
"7 WAYS TO BOND WITH YOUR PREBORN BABY ." n. pag. Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://www.askdrsears.com/html/1/T010608.asp.
This page provides the mother to be with seven ways to bond with her preborn baby. While listing the seven precautions, it explains how each precaution may take effect with the mother and her baby. The mother to be is in charge of what her preborn baby hears, senses, thinks, etc…Depending on how she uses these precautions, the mother to be can almost alter her bond with her preborn baby, which will definitely make an impact on how she bonds with her baby after she has given birth.
Rumler, Tawny. " Cesarean Section: You CAN Bond with Your Baby." Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://hubpages.com/hub/Cesarean-Section-You-CAN-Bond-with-Your-Baby.
The author of this article claims that it doesn’t matter whether a mother gives birth naturally or has a C-section; the bond between her and her baby will not change at all. She goes through different reasons to try to prove such a claim true. For example, the baby stays within its mother’s womb for a total of nine months. Within these nine months, the baby will get used to the sounds of its mother, which will help it grow accustomed to its mother and her behavior. The author claims that only the mother can affect the bond between her and her baby; the way the baby is delivered plays no factor in how a mother bonds with her baby.
B.
After gathering most of my research, I am sure I will be writing an academic paper on the topic I chose. My goal while writing my paper is to answer a variety of questions instead of one question in specific. At first I will present my reader with the scientific information needed to be understood in order to fully grasp what will be discussed further along in my paper. Then I will present my reader with the evidence I have just found, which will support my thesis. I will also bring in evidence from the book I have read, the documentary we viewed in class, and the interviews I took a part of. Later on I will include a counterargument which I will prove against using more evidence. Lastly, I will conclude by summarizing to the reader why my thesis is proven to be correct.
Calvette, Mayra. "The bond between mother and baby." Gisele's Blog. 06/may/2010. Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://www.blog.giselebundchen.com.br/en/sentido/a-ligacao-entre-mae-e-bebe/.
The author of this blog post, Mayra Calvette talks to her readers about the attachment a mother has with her baby. Some women say that they feel another being within them before they have conceived. And this attachment tends to grow more and more during pregnancy and after the birth of the baby. She recommends that babies stay with their mothers after the mother has given birth. This is the best time out of all for the mother to gain love from the baby and give it love as well. This is all likely to happen in a “normal birth” since the baby is still attached to its mother (via umbilical cord).
Hagensen, Jody. "Reasons Mothers Love Their Children." ehow. N.p., 25/Feb/2011. Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://www.ehow.com/info_7982086_reasons-mothers-love-children.html.
This article discusses the different aspects of why a mother loves her child(ren). The best way for a mother to love her child is to start off with a loving relationship with the father of the child. By building this strong relationship with the father, both the mother and father are able to nurture and care for the baby properly. Breastfeeding is a chance for the mother and baby to build a strong bond. During this time the mothers’ body is releasing oxytocin and prolactin. Skin to skin contact is another way for the mother and baby to gain a stronger attachment.
Radowitz, John. "C-section 'weakens mother's bond with her child' ." (2008): n. pag. Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://www.independent.ie/health/latest-news/csection-weakens-mothers-bond-with-her-child-1468945.html.
In this article, the author discusses a study done with twelve American women who are expecting for the first time. Six of these women gave a vaginal birth while the other six had a C-section. A couple of weeks after the delivery, these 12 women underwent FMRI scans when listening to the recorded sounds of their crying babies. The scans revealed that the women who gave birth naturally had regions within their brain that were highly activated when hearing the sounds of their baby. This tends to prove some mothers that women who give birth naturally are prone to having a stronger attachment with their baby.
"7 WAYS TO BOND WITH YOUR PREBORN BABY ." n. pag. Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://www.askdrsears.com/html/1/T010608.asp.
This page provides the mother to be with seven ways to bond with her preborn baby. While listing the seven precautions, it explains how each precaution may take effect with the mother and her baby. The mother to be is in charge of what her preborn baby hears, senses, thinks, etc…Depending on how she uses these precautions, the mother to be can almost alter her bond with her preborn baby, which will definitely make an impact on how she bonds with her baby after she has given birth.
Rumler, Tawny. " Cesarean Section: You CAN Bond with Your Baby." Web. 30 Mar 2011. http://hubpages.com/hub/Cesarean-Section-You-CAN-Bond-with-Your-Baby.
The author of this article claims that it doesn’t matter whether a mother gives birth naturally or has a C-section; the bond between her and her baby will not change at all. She goes through different reasons to try to prove such a claim true. For example, the baby stays within its mother’s womb for a total of nine months. Within these nine months, the baby will get used to the sounds of its mother, which will help it grow accustomed to its mother and her behavior. The author claims that only the mother can affect the bond between her and her baby; the way the baby is delivered plays no factor in how a mother bonds with her baby.
B.
After gathering most of my research, I am sure I will be writing an academic paper on the topic I chose. My goal while writing my paper is to answer a variety of questions instead of one question in specific. At first I will present my reader with the scientific information needed to be understood in order to fully grasp what will be discussed further along in my paper. Then I will present my reader with the evidence I have just found, which will support my thesis. I will also bring in evidence from the book I have read, the documentary we viewed in class, and the interviews I took a part of. Later on I will include a counterargument which I will prove against using more evidence. Lastly, I will conclude by summarizing to the reader why my thesis is proven to be correct.
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