In the labour rooms of Delhi, India, the labour pain experience is shaped by deeply ingrained cultural beliefs, medical practices, and structural inequities. Through an anthropological lens, this clinical ethnography sheds light on the unheard narratives of women in labour as they navigate pain, autonomy, and societal expectations during childbirth. These women, particularly those from lower socio-economic backgrounds, often experience a profound lack of agency, unable to voice their pain or influence decisions regarding their delivery. Despite the deeply personal nature of childbirth, they remain passive participants in a process that is governed by medical protocols and societal norms. This clinical ethnographic study reveals that labour pain is culturally perceived as a rite of passage, symbolizing strength, and resilience, with many women believing that enduring pain is crucial for the well-being of their child. This belief leads to the initial refusal of medical interventions such as caesarean sections or pain management techniques, even when clinically necessary. Passed down through generations, these enduring notions associate clinical interventions with potential harm to child, further complicating maternal decision-making.
The pain assessment data further highlighted that some women, reported higher pain intensity during the first stage of labour compared to the second stage. This finding underscores a performative dimension of pain. This performativity reflects their lack of agency and fear of prolonged natural delivery, vaginal tears, or episiotomy, intensifying the preference for caesarean sections. Despite the availability of procedures for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), the concept of Caesarean Delivery on Maternal Request (CDMR) remains complex, as women lack the sole authority to decide. These findings highlight the urgent need to empower women with knowledge, respect their choices, and address the social inequities surrounding childbirth in India to ensure that women are active participants in decisions about their bodies for enabling equitable maternal healthcare.
