Don and Louise attended "natural" childbirth classes, and Don was present throughout Louise's labor and delivery of their son. During labor, Don served as a coach, helping Louise relax as much as possible and control her breathing, and reminding her not to push until it was time to deliver the baby. During delivery, Don stood at the head of the table and gave Louise emotional support. After their
son was born, Don was allowed to carry him down the hall to Louise's room. Later, Don described the overall experience as thoroughly profound and joyous, and he became fond of relating how he felt when he first gazed into his son's wide-open and inquiring eyes. (a) Discuss Don's feelings in terms of engrossment. (b) What long-range effects might this have on Don's interactions with his son? (c) How might medication and traditional childbirth procedures have interfered?
What will be an ideal response?
(a) Don apparently became thoroughly engrossed with his son as a result of participation, with predictable effects such as strong emotional bonding and attachment (also as a result of subsequent interactions with the child). He apparently remembers the experience very positively and vividly. (b) Through the sense of belongingness established during the events surrounding his son's birth, Don was off to a good start in being actively involved with his newborn, especially with regard to feeling that he was directly responsible in helping his son begin life. (c) Traditional childbirth procedures would have precluded the extent of early contact both for Don and for Louise. For example, she would probably have been too medicated to be fully aware of what was going on, therefore precluding their sharing of the experience. Moreover, medications for the mother also affect the neonate, which means that the child would have displayed drowsiness and perhaps irritability and unresponsiveness that would have made the experience less positive.
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What will be an ideal response?
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