Kassandra, a 51-year-old mother of two technical college graduates and a cafeteria worker, graciously shared her experience with childbirth. Kassandra's journey not only provided a glimpse into the profound physical and emotional aspects of bringing new life into the new world, but also offered insights into the broader sociological dynamics surrounding childbirth. In this paper, the author will also discuss how Kassandra's childbirth experience intersects with several key concepts from medical sociology.
Kassandra recounts that the first childbirth experience was a smooth overall experience. She rarely experienced symptoms, continued working, her husband and family supported her, and her doctor is an acquaintance with experience. Before the life-changing moment, Kassandra's doctor told her it would be necessary to…show more content… As soon as the c-section was about to start, Kassandra noticed the nurse made a mistake because air was entering the vein instead of serum. Only Kassandra's sisters, husband, mother-in-law, and sister-in-law were present to see that Kassandra received a baby girl, not a boy. After two weeks, Kassandra's mom finally met her second baby girl.
Kassandra described childbirth as a transformative and deeply personal experience. Kassandra's narrative touches upon the concept of medicalization, which refers to the process by which non-medical problems become defined and treated as medical issues (Weiss & Copelton, n.d.). In the context of childbirth, medicalization can manifest in various ways, such as the routine use of medical interventions like induced labor or cesarean sections. Kassandra's experience highlights how medicalization shapes the childbirth process, influencing decisions about pain management and birthing
