Childbirth as a Rite of Passage: the Myth of Madonna

Littlewood, Jane; McHugh, Nessa

Abstract

This chapter is concerned with the extent to which postnatal depression and maternal distress may be regarded as occurring cross-culturally. Consequently, the first part of the chapter will be concerned with an evaluation of cross-cultural evidence concerning maternal depression and distress. The role of ritualised expressions relating to the mother’s new social status in the immediate postpartum period will be considered here. The role played by the mobilisation of appropriate social support will also be discussed.

Citation

Littlewood, J., & McHugh, N. (1997). Childbirth as a Rite of Passage: the Myth of Madonna. In Maternal Distress and Postnatal Depression, 89-104. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13755-8_6

• Publication Date: 1997
• Deposit Date: Aug 5, 2016
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Pages: 89-104
• Book Title: Maternal Distress and Postnatal Depression
• Chapter Number: 6
• ISBN: 9780333638347; 9781349137558
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13755-8_6
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/328184
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-13755-8_6