Humanization of birth, women’s empowerment, and midwives’ actions and knowledge: experiences from Quebec and Chile

Abstract

Whether in pre-pregnancy, pregnancy, birth and/or the postnatal and neonatal periods, midwives’  practices are underpinned by humanism. However, in  this era of postmodernity, there is an ever-growing  need for rehumanization. This article adopts an auto- ethnographic approach in order to undertake a  reflective analysis on the humanization of birth based  on the practice of midwifery in two different contexts,  namely Quebec (Canada) and Chile. In light of the  evolution of the profession in these two countries,  and the influence of health policies and social  movements, there are factors such as the systematic  use of technology and the hypermedicalization of  reproductive processes which are maintaining women’s ignorance and keeping them from being  able to participate in their maternity process.  Women’s autonomy and empowerment become a key element for their participation in decisions regarding  their maternity, assistance methods, or type of care.  Concurrently, midwives’ autonomy is a prerequisite  for fully exercising their role in supporting and  assisting women in this re-appropriation of their  power by means of a comprehensive approach that  takes into account psychological and social aspects as well as biomedical ones.