Christian View on 4 C-sections and Recommended Not to Get Pregnant Again
Demographic characteristics
The study involved 13 post-partum women who had delivered per vagina inside the last ii months. They were aged 18 to 35 years and were all Christians. With the exception of one participant, all the women were married.
Description of themes and sub-themes
The themes were: Religious behavior and practices (prayer, singing, thanksgiving at church, fellowship and emotional back up); Pastors' spiritual interventions in pregnancy (prayer and revelations, reversing negative dreams, laying of hands and anointing women); Traditional beliefs and practices (food and water restrictions, tribal rituals); Religious artefacts used in pregnancy and labour (anointing oil, sticker, blessed h2o, blessed white handkerchief, blessed sand, Bible and Rosary); family influence and secrecy.
Laying of hands involves the concrete touch of pastors on women during prayer and in the process, they may anoint the women by applying anointing oil or blessed olive oil by and large on the head or forehead.
Religious behavior and practices
This theme describes sub-themes such every bit prayer, singing, thanksgiving at church, fellowship and emotional support during pregnancy and labour.
Prayer
The women in this written report had a number of behavior associated with pregnancy and commitment. The central belief was the likelihood of a negative outcome of pregnancy. Therefore, the women prayed to forestall any complications. They were of the view that pregnant women should exist cautious as actress forces or evil spirits come to play during pregnancy. It was emphasized that significant women should pray.
'I know some pregnant women who did non pray or did anything spiritual; so, when they went to the labour ward, they came dorsum lone and some died. Therefore, when you are pregnant, there are some extra forces that fight yous in the spirit, and as such, you need to exist cautious; extra cautious!' (PPW8)
The women prayed believing that God will help them become through labour successfully and minimize their pain because the hurting was unbearable. In those instances, the thoughts and concerns about the babe were not paramount. Some of the women prayed to God because they were not sure of their survival during labour.
'I was praying, at a point I just said God should bring out the baby and I will live; because, I didn't know whether I will be able to survive the labour because the pain was very astringent'. (PPW12)
In improver, women prayed to God and so they could deliver peacefully. 'I prayed when I was at the infirmary that God should exist with me to enable me deliver in peace' (PPW7). Also, prayer for women was done to ensure the protection from the claret of Jesus against accident or tragedy caused by the devil. The blood of Jesus was believed to be a stiff protector although it was not seen physically. '…the pastors pray that the blood of Jesus should prevent all actions of the devil and when the time is right everyone should evangelize safely; whatever tragedy or blow, God should forbid it' (PPW2). Pregnant women as well prayed that God takes control of their delivery process when labour starts.
'I prayed to God to take abroad the human nature of the doctors and the nurses and to take accented control over the whole delivery process'. (PPW7)
Women in labour prayed that God will salvage them of astringent labour pain. 'I prayed that God should complimentary me from the severe pain I was going through'. (PPW12)
Some of the women who were initially scheduled for a caesarian section prayed for a normal delivery and they believed God answered their prayers when they did not undergo the surgery. The health care providers were surprised that they were delivered of their babies spontaneously.
'I was just thanking God and telling Him that He has done what I wanted for me. I was able to give nativity myself without an operation. Then when I was leaving the labour ward, the doctors and midwives were all surprised and even the doctor passed a comment that "Eii, someone that nosotros were going to operate upon and in less than xxx minutes you have delivered safely" he was then surprised'. (PPW3)
Some of the women prayed for themselves during pregnancy for safe delivery. The personal prayers were done at home or in the church.
'At times I wake upwards at dawn and before bed time and worship God on my own. (PPW4); 'when we had a program at Church building, I usually went and when they asked united states of america to pray, I prayed about my safe commitment without anybody praying for me'. (PPW3)
Singing
In addition to the prayer, some of the women sang quietly during labour and were asked past the midwives to proceed quiet equally they disturbed other women. During the singing, some women were thinking almost the astringent pain associated with the labour rather the unborn babe.
'a midwife warned me that I am not the just one on the ward; that I was making noise because I used to sing when praying; that was what I think made the racket'. (PPW4)
'I tell God it is not by my force simply His; so, He should assistance me deliver safely. And I besides sang quietly. …during the singing, I was thinking most the pain and how God was going to relieve me. …the pain was the starting time thing on my listen; I wanted the pain to reduce because information technology was unbearable. So at that time, seriously, I did not call back much most the baby'. (PPW8)
Thanksgiving at church
Following the thanksgiving at the labour ward, virtually of the women went to church building to requite testimonies for their safety delivery. 'I went to give a testimony in church after my safe commitment' (PPW2).
The women were either prayed for in the church or their family unit members prayed for them. Some of the women received instructions from those who prayed for them to ensure their condom pregnancy and delivery. Therefore the thanksgiving at church building showed appreciation for the spiritual aid received.
'…the pastors urged the residue of the congregation to assistance u.s.a. (pregnant women) in prayers for condom delivery'. (PPW8); '…in my church, they telephone call the meaning women to the front end to pray for them during church service. So I went to church to thank God and all those who helped me in prayer'. (PPW2)
'…my sister was in a prayer force and they were praying for me. … then if I had to go somewhere, she told me to anoint yourself (apply blest olive oil on the torso) and I did. Later on the commitment, I went to church to God and the prayer force'. (PPW8)
Fellowship and emotional support
Some of the women felt that it was consoling or reassuring to know that others are praying during pregnancy. This alleviation is enhanced if information technology is accompanied with personal relationship with the pregnant women specially those having challenges with their pregnancies. In this example, a participant was aroused with her church when they did not testify the needed business organization during pregnancy.
'It's consoling that somebody is praying for you, somebody is thinking nigh you and checking on you lot, I think information technology is really necessary. I was angry with my church building when they didn't check on me; they did not requite me any attention when I was having challenges with my pregnancy; I thought they had deserted me and I was not happy'. (PPW12)
Pastors' spiritual intervention in pregnancy
This theme describes the interventions received from pastors during pregnancy. Sub-themes such as prayer and revelations, reversing negative dreams, laying of hands and anointing women are described.
Prayer and revelations
About of the women sought prayer support from pastors during pregnancy. The men of God had revelations about the pregnancy and prayed for the women. Some of these revelations related to witchcraft that aimed at a negative outcome of pregnancy.
'…the pastor said that someone from my paternal family wanted to give my child witchcraft so he prayed for me and sometimes when he saw any vision nearly me, he called me and prayed for me as the church members also prayed for me. He saw in a vision that the witches had planned to terminate my pregnancy so the pastor prayed to preclude it' (PPW6)
In other circumstances, pastors were consulted when women could not experience foetal movements. The pastors in such situations revealed that the baby was tied in the womb after a infirmary assessment showed a big baby. In improver to the prayers, a specific bible quotation was given to the women to utilize during prayers.
'…at seven months I could not feel my baby move and then when I went to the infirmary and they said the baby was big that was why; so, I went to see my pastor and he prayed for me and told me that the baby had been tied upwardly in my stomach'. He gave me a quotation that I should apply to pray. …I cannot retrieve the quotation'. (PPW2)
Reversing negative dreams
Other women had bad dreams during pregnancy and the pastors prayed with them even in the nighttime. The pastors sometimes prayed in tongues (using different and unfamiliar language that is believed to be a gift of the Holy Spirit). The prayers were aimed at averting whatsoever negative consequences on the pregnancy.
'I had a dream that I had been delivered of my baby in the seven th calendar month and someone took the baby away from me. … I told my pastor about the dream and he prayed for me. …he used to call me in the night; at times 12 midnight, two or 3 am to pray for me because he said that was when the witches are agile. He prayed in tongues and I responded Amen! He said he saw in a vision that at that place was a plan to cease my pregnancy so he prayed to prevent it'. (PPW4)
Laying of hands and anointing women
In the quest to pray for the women for one reason or another, some pastors laid hands on the belly and applied blessed olive oil or anointing oil on information technology.
'The pastor asked me to prevarication downwardly and he prayed for me and I used a cloth to wrap my lower belly and my abdomen was exposed. Then, he used the anointing oil on information technology. …since people were in the church, they were also praying and he poured some anointing oil in his hands and placed it on my abdomen and prayed'. (PPW6)
In 1 instance, the pastor'south revelation showed that in that location was nada wrong spiritually with the pregnancy. '…the pastor said there was zilch incorrect' (PPW2). However, a few of the women did not get to whatsoever pastor for prayers. '…I never went to a pastor to pray for me when I was pregnant'. (PPW3).
Traditional beliefs and practices
This theme describes the traditional beliefs and practices women observed or undertook during pregnancy. Sub-themes of food and h2o restrictions and tribal rituals emerged. Women who reported traditional practices likewise went to church building in addition to the traditional practices.
Food and h2o restrictions
Some traditional behavior associated with pregnancy were that, meaning women should not eat or drink in public to avoid furnishings of evil spirits.
'I was told not to eat or drinkable in public to avoid evil eyes; that was a traditional belief my mother told me so I was following it.…I wasn't eating in public and I didn't swallow any food cooked by somebody; Autonomously from the ane I cooked myself or peradventure my female parent or somebody closer to me cooked, I didn't consume from any other source; even those on sale. (PPW12).
Tribal rituals
A participant described vividly a traditional practise for first pregnancy that was mandatory for her tribe. She was camped for 3 days, tied, bathed with urine, and asked to purchase shallots at dawn without talking to anyone. This ritual was necessary to ensure ancestral protection, a prophylactic commitment and a normal infant.
'…a few days to my delivery, I was camped in a room for 3 days. During the period, I was tied with ropes and bathed with urine. On the 3rd twenty-four hour period, they brought me out early in the morning around five:30 am and said I had to become and buy some small onions (shallots) and I was warned not to talk to anyone on my mode. They gave me 3Gh Cedis in coins. Also, they said when I get to the market, I should not ask any questions; I should just put the coin downward and take the shallots; so, I did that and I returned and they said the onions were to be used immediately after I requite birth. Then, when I gave nascence, they used information technology to fix food for me the adjacent morn. Information technology is believed that if a adult female does not do the ritual, the kid will be aberrant. Information technology is a traditional ritual that had been there for a long time …it is washed for simply the woman's first pregnancy. …when they were doing information technology they called on the gods that if I take wronged anyone or someone has anything against me, my fore fathers or ancestors should arbitrate and so that zilch bad happens to me. The ceremony was washed by older women in my tribe'. (PPW6)
Religious artefacts used in pregnancy and labour
A number of religious artefacts were used by women to raise their protection and ensure prophylactic delivery. This theme describes the religious artefacts women used in pregnancy and labour such as anointing oil, blessed water, blest white handkerchief, blessed sand, Bible and Rosary.
Anointing oil
Some women prayed over olive oil or anointing oil themselves and anointed themselves. The areas of the body all-powerful included the brow, caput, abdomen and feet. The word of God was added during the prayer over the oil perchance to increase its potency.
'I just prayed over the anointing oil, believing that it works. I know that the anointing breaks the yoke of the devil; I take that faith. And so sometimes I open the bible to support the anointing with a verse and I just anoint myself. …I apply it on my brow and on my baby (tummy) or sometimes from my caput to my feet or my feet alone'. (PPW8)
Some of the women used anointing oil that was blest by their pastors to prevent maternal and neonatal expiry. The employ of the anointing oil was non regular because of lack of faith in it
'The pastor said I should use the anointing oil to smear my abdomen and that will ensure my normal delivery; if non, I will die with my baby. …though I didn't believe in it, my husband did, and then I did information technology for some time and I asked myself "what is the use of this?". And so, I stopped'. (PPW12)
Some women were asked to add together the anointing oil to their bathing water and use it for bathing.
'The pastor said I should pour some of the oil in the water I utilize to bath and then bath with it. I did information technology for about a week and I didn't come across any use of information technology, then I stopped'. (PPW12)
Sticker
Women used stickers of pastors and churches during pregnancy and labour. Some women placed the sticker in the pilus net they used to cover their hair on the labour ward while others rubbed it on the abdomen. Some women too placed the stickers in bottles of h2o they drank.
'a friend in labour had a sticker of her pastor in her hair net and after bathing, she would rub her belly with the sticker for a while and would then beginning smearing the anointing oil on her abdomen. …she besides put one in bottled h2o and was drinking on the ward; I told her that the use of stickers alone without prayers cannot give her the desired spiritual protection'. (PPW8)
Blessed water
Almost women in this study used blessed water (water which had been prayed over by their pastors) as a religious artefact. The blessed water was sometimes used to wash the face. 'I used the blessed water to wash my face for a while and stopped' (PPW13). Some women did not potable whatsoever ordinary h2o which may be bottled or in a sachet unless they had been blest or prayed over by their pastors.
'I retrieve my first pregnancy, I wasn't taking ordinary water, I bought a box of mineral h2o and we prayed over it before I drank it. I wasn't immune to accept in any other water; …fifty-fifty if I was thirsty and you gave me water because my water was finished, I won't drink it. I went domicile and took mine' (PPW12)
Blessed white handkerchief
In add-on, pregnant women were also given blest white handkerchiefs to exist placed nether their pillows for protection. Some of the artefacts were used under the influence of mothers. Some husbands however were not aware of such artefacts.
'I too used a white handkerchief under my pillow; the pastor prayed over information technology and gave information technology to me to place nether my pillow for protection'. (PPW13)
Blest sand
A woman reported using sand that was blessed by the pastor and the adult female believed that it was safe to use. Water was added to the blessed sand and the solution was sieved and used for enema during pregnancy.
'The pastor blessed sand for me; he prayed over it for me to apply …I had organized religion in it that when I use it, nothing will happen to me and it will work as the pastor said. He asked me to add water to the sand, sieve it and apply it as enema from time to time and I did'. (PPW2)
Bible and rosary
Some women used the Bible and rosary to pray during pregnancy. A few women did non believe in pastors praying for them. These artefacts were believed to provide protection for the pregnant woman. 'I used just the Bible to pray; … I don't believe in going to pastors to pray for me' (PPW12). '…I used the rosary to pray; I had the rosary on my neck, I slept with information technology; I had the scapular too for protection' (PPW11); 'I commonly used my rosary to pray' (PPW13).
Family unit influence and secrecy
Some meaning women used anointing oil equally a issue of influence from their mothers although their husbands did not corroborate of such religious artefacts. A husband instructed that the woman should not permit the pastor lay easily on the belly during prayers. Even so, the woman on her own accord used the anointing oil on the abdomen in the morning, when going out and on the brow for protection. The anointing oil was not sent to the labour ward because of the pain.
'My mum took me to a fellowship she worships with. My hubby hates it when someone prays for y'all. He believes that you lot tin can pray for yourself and you will exist saved considering you exercise not know what power the pastor is using. And so, when I went, he told me not to allow anybody to put the hand on my belly. The pastor gave me anointing oil that he had prayed over. When I wake up in the morning, I merely employ some of the oil on my abdomen, before I get out and even on my forehead just to protect me; that was my belief. When I was going to the labour ward, I did not take the anointing oil with me considering that time my listen was on the pain and I forgot'. (PPW9)
In another instance, the woman applied the anointing oil on the abdomen to please the husband and did not utilize it when she was lonely. 'I wasn't staying with my husband; so, when I went to his place, I tried to use the anointing oil simply when I got to my station, I forgot about it'. (PPW11)
'My husband never saw me use the blessed white handkerchief; …and I used the blessed h2o considering I didn't want to disobey my mother'. (PPW13)
A framework that describes the themes is presented in Fig. one: Religious beliefs and practices in pregnancy and labour.
Religious beliefs and practices in pregnancy and labour
Source: https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-016-0920-1
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