Skin-to-skin contact : multicultural perspectives on birth
fluids and birth ‘dirt’

Finigan, V; Long, T

Abstract

Aim: To explore the experiences of women from three population
groups of immediate skin-to-skin contact with their newborn baby.
Method: A mixed methods approach was adopted in a phenomenological
study to elicit the experiences of English, Pakistani and Bangladeshi women.
Audio-taped diaries, semi-structured interviews, photographs and video
recordings were employed. Concept-mapping was central to data analysis.
Results: This paper is focussed on the novel finding that the women
contextualised secretions and bodily fluids from birth, finding them to be
acceptable. This contradicts the beliefs of many midwives that all Asian
women find blood and bodily secretions abhorrent and culturally
unacceptable. All of those in the study reported positive experiences of skin-to-
skin contact despite varying degrees of soiling from birth fluids.
Limitations: The study was conducted in a single setting, with no attempt to
ensure that participants were in all ways representative of others in their
cultural groups nationally. Third party translation during interviews with Asian
women may have added an unsought layer of interpretation to the study. The
imposition of cultural expectations in the recruitment process by peer group
members probably excluded some potential participants.
Conclusion: Stereotypical assumptions about cultural background rather than
recognition of women’s individual beliefs and needs often characterise
professional responses. When this stereotyping was put aside, women of all three cultures whether breast-feeding or bottle-feeding, were able to enjoy
skin-to-skin contact with their newborn babies.
Implications for nursing and health policy: The findings from this study
suggest that changes will be needed in professional practice to be more open
to women’s expressed preferences, in local policy to ensure that choices are
made clear and are available, and in national strategic direction to ensure
widespread adoption of positive practices if opportunities to increase
breastfeeding, to promote parent-child bonding, and to support patient choice
are to be realised.

Citation

fluids and birth ‘dirt’. International Nursing Review, 61(2), 270-277. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12100

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Apr 9, 2014
• Publication Date: May 19, 2014
• Deposit Date: Feb 25, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: International Nursing Review
• Print ISSN: 0020-8132
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 270-277
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12100
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/inr.12100
• Related Public URLs: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1466-7657