"A planned baby is a rarity:" monitoring and planning pregnancy in Russia
Larivaara, M.M.
Health Care for Women International 32(6): 515-537
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 0739-9332 PMID: 21547804 DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2011.555825Document Number: 219636
Russia provides an interesting case for comparative research of maternity care due to the rapid social change and steep fertility decline since the collapse of the Soviet Union. I analyze out-patient maternity care in public sector women's clinics in St. Petersburg on the basis of qualitative observation and interview data. Gynecologists' role in monitoring pregnancy is central, resulting in an emphasis on medical expertise and risk management. Ideally, gynecologists see themselves as medical experts and maternal caretakers, but the latter role seldom materializes in practice. Gynecologists' ideas of pregnancy planning demonstrate a wish for further medicalization of maternity care.