Robin Kartchner and Dr. Lynn Clark Callister, Nursing
Women’s perceptions of the childbirth experience vary widely depending on the cultural context. The quality of care a childbearing woman receives is deeply influenced by the cultural understanding the nurse brings to their health care interaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the childbirth experiences of Chinese women living in Utah. It builds on a previous study with Chinese women living in China conducted by the researcher last year.
Originally I proposed to interview ten women. Future research will include more women. Currently, six women have participated in audiotaped interviews. Interview questions were drawn from a review of the literature and were the same ones used in last year’s study. All but two interviews were done in English. Interviews conducted in Chinese were translated with the help of a bilingual, native Chinese speaker. The women ranged in age from 29 to 39 years old and have lived in the United States from 3 to 11 years. The youngest newborn was one month old and the oldest was eight months old. All but one participant was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Most participants had a Bachelor’s degree, while two had a Master’s.
Three dominant themes have emerged: first, the bittersweet paradox of birth; second, the influence of the post-partum practice of zuo yue zi (“doing the month”); and third, adaption to westernized health care delivery system.
Like their counterparts living in China, Chinese women living in Utah also describe childbirth as a bittersweet experience. One mother said, “The scriptures say that the mother goes through the valley of death and sorrow. And it’s true. [During labor] I felt like I was going to die.” Identifying the joy of childbirth, this same mother later said, “When I first saw him I said, ‘Ohhh! That’s a real baby! Look at his hands! Look at his mouth! He’s just perfect!’ … I felt the spirit when the baby comes. You know the Lord is with you.”
For the first post-partum month, many Chinese women follow the cultural practice of “doing the month”. This involves observing special dietary and behavioral rules, such as eating “warm” foods like soup and chicken, staying indoors for 30 days, not watching television, and avoiding direct contact with cold drafts. Thus, in the hospital a Chinese woman may refuse to drink a glass of ice chips or cold water. One mother said, “They gave me Jell-o. We don’t eat it. We give it to our husband.” Nurses could offer a glass of warm water rather than cold water when it is appropriate.
Adaption to a westernized health care delivery system can be difficult. One mother who had lived in the United States for nine years found the paperwork overwhelming. She wondered where to get the Social Security Number and birth certificate for her baby. She said, “In our culture we never know how to ask.” Nurses can help Chinese patients find the information they need and can invite and encourage them to ask questions.
These preliminary findings provide insights into how nurses in the United States can offer better care by learning about and validating specific cultural practices related to childbearing. As nurses understand and appreciate the cultural dimensions of childbirth, they will provide more sensitive care, which will serve to enhance the childbirth experience and promote better perinatal health outcomes for both mother and baby and enrich the family perspective.