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Happy birthday! Childbirth in the WHO European Region

The act of giving birth transcends cultures, yet the experience of childbirth differs vastly from place to place. From hospital births to home births, from doctors to doulas, the practices and values around childbirth are varied and continue to evolve.

Organized as part of the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife 2020, this webinar explored different perspectives and provided insights into the cultural contexts of childbirth, and the diverse cultures of midwifery at play across the WHO European Region and beyond. Particular emphasis was placed on demonstrating: the ways that societal notions and expectations around gender, pain and strength shape experiences of childbirth; why childbirth has become increasingly medicalized across parts of the Region; and the ways that midwifery was shaped by diverse levels of autonomy and recognition.

The webinar panel was moderated by Felicity Thomas, co-director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Culture and Health. Members of the panel included:

  • Natalie Jolly, Associate Professor at the University of Washington
  • Billie Hunter, Professor of Midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Midwifery Development at Cardiff University
  • Frances McConville, WHO Technical Officer, Midwifery, WHO headquarters.
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