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Negotiating risk and choice in multifetal pregnancies

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  • Kaur, Navjotpal
  • Ricciardelli, Rosemary

Abstract

Today, across all aspects of societal living, risk assessment is an ever-present exercise. Pervasiveness of technology in the everyday life has caused the world of ‘risk’ to change tremendously, and this is particularly true for childbearing females. The social construction of pregnancy and childbirth as, arguably, medical events that necessitate medical intervention – ever more so for multifetal pregnancies – makes it almost impossible to avoid the notions of risk that surround the events. Drawing on semi-structured interviews with 41 mothers of twins or triplets, we investigate how understandings of risk, combined with the ideology of good motherhood and information provided by physicians impact perceptions of fetal reduction or termination. We have discussed and theorized empirical findings within the framework of risk, discourses of the responsibilization of females, and the potential ‘sacred child’ in a context where selective reduction becomes a potentiality.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaur, Navjotpal & Ricciardelli, Rosemary, 2020. "Negotiating risk and choice in multifetal pregnancies," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:252:y:2020:i:c:s0277953620301453
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.112926
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Williams, Clare & Alderson, Priscilla & Farsides, Bobbie, 2002. "Too many choices? Hospital and community staff reflect on the future of prenatal screening," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 55(5), pages 743-753, September.
    2. Getz, Linn & Kirkengen, Anne Luise, 2003. "Ultrasound screening in pregnancy: advancing technology, soft markers for fetal chromosomal aberrations, and unacknowledged ethical dilemmas," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 56(10), pages 2045-2057, May.
    3. Britt, David W. & Evans, Mark I., 2007. "Sometimes doing the right thing sucks: Frame combinations and multi-fetal pregnancy reduction decision difficulty," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(11), pages 2342-2356, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. van Blarikom, Esca & de Kok, Bregje & Bijma, Hilmar H., 2022. "“Who am I to say?” Dutch care providers' evaluation of psychosocial vulnerability in pregnant women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).

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