Autoethnography of a Pregnant Doula: An Anthropological Investigation of Birth Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario and Quebec
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the existing systems and institutions people depend on in all areas of life. Birth is no exception. This research shows that COVID-19 replicated dominant North American cultural scripts treating birth as a risky and stressful medical event. It goes further to explore how birthers themselves described their experiences. Drawing on autoethnographic reflections, ethnographic interviews and a WhatsApp group chat, this thesis documents the nuance in predominantly middle class, cis-gendered women’s experiences giving birth in Ontario and Quebec during the pandemic. It uncovers the overarching non-birther centric nature of local birth culture and argues for a more balanced view of the advantages and disadvantages of giving birth during a pandemic. The research highlights the increased labor women were burdened with but also points to the ‘things that worked’ for people giving birth during a pandemic. This study contributes to the broader literature on anthropology of birth by offering in depth autoethnographic reflections to understand the complex phenomenon of pandemic births.