Medicalized Motherhood: The Relationship Between Cesarean Sections and Maternal Satisfaction

In recent decades, the rate of cesarean sections has risen dramatically. Despite the World Health Organization's (WHO) suggested optimal rate of 10 to 15%, the United States has more than doubled this threshold, reaching 32% in 2022 as reported by the CDC. Such findings follow the modern trend of medicalization, or the sociological phenomenon by which issues once considered nonmedical are redefined and treated as medical conditions. Cesarean sections are often performed when medically unnecessary, creating heightened risks for both the mother and child. A negative childbirth experience can have lasting effects on maternal well-being, yet research on maternal satisfaction in the United States has failed to keep up with the increasing medicalization of birth. This thesis aimed to address this gap by evaluating mothers' perceptions and experiences of childbirth within the context of the drastically rising rate of cesarean sections. Maternal satisfaction was examined through the lens of two overarching dimensions: sense of control and quality of relationship with provider. Online surveys were administered to eighty-two first-time mothers in the U.S. who had given birth in a hospital within the past year. This mixed methods study, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative data, compared mothers who gave birth vaginally to those who had a cesarean birth. Questions assessed mode of birth, quality of explanation of procedures and their risks, and the perceived level of respect and support from providers. Self-report scales were used to assess perceived control and overall satisfaction. Findings will be analyzed to explore the relationship between increased cesarean sections and patient perceptions of their birthing experience.