Michelle T Renaud1. 1. Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA, USA. shelleyrenaud@verizon.net
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe lesbians' personal and health care experiences of becoming pregnant, giving birth, and being mothers and comothers within the context of potentially oppressive family, social, and political structures. DESIGN: Critical ethnography. SETTING: Participants' homes, lesbian mother support group, and prenatal clinics and hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. PARTICIPANTS: English-speaking self-identified lesbian women, including 21 interview and six focus-group participants and approximately 43 observed in a support group. DATA COLLECTION: In-depth open-ended interviews, focus group, and participant observation. DATA ANALYSIS: Content/categorical analysis followed by discussion of the mother's stories and a critical conversation about lesbian mothering. RESULTS: The seven organizing themes are as follows: preparing the way: becoming ready; conception: you can't just fall into it; you can hear a heartbeat: pregnancy; birthing our babies; the work of mothers and mothers who work; families who sustain and families who oppose; and sources of support in everyday life. The first four are described in this article. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers, policy makers, and the public can be better informed about the specific needs of childbearing lesbians.
OBJECTIVE: To describe lesbians' personal and health care experiences of becoming pregnant, giving birth, and being mothers and comothers within the context of potentially oppressive family, social, and political structures. DESIGN: Critical ethnography. SETTING:Participants' homes, lesbian mother support group, and prenatal clinics and hospitals in the Pacific Northwest. PARTICIPANTS: English-speaking self-identified lesbian women, including 21 interview and six focus-group participants and approximately 43 observed in a support group. DATA COLLECTION: In-depth open-ended interviews, focus group, and participant observation. DATA ANALYSIS: Content/categorical analysis followed by discussion of the mother's stories and a critical conversation about lesbian mothering. RESULTS: The seven organizing themes are as follows: preparing the way: becoming ready; conception: you can't just fall into it; you can hear a heartbeat: pregnancy; birthing our babies; the work of mothers and mothers who work; families who sustain and families who oppose; and sources of support in everyday life. The first four are described in this article. CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers, policy makers, and the public can be better informed about the specific needs of childbearing lesbians.
Authors: Emma Carpenter; Bethany G Everett; Madelyne Z Greene; Sadia Haider; C Emily Hendrick; Jenny A Higgins Journal: Soc Work Health Care Date: 2020-03