'Smile for the camera' : a critical exploration of the meanings of routine ultrasound for pregnant couples : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, Aotearoa/New Zealand
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Date
2012
DOI
Open Access Location
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Massey University
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Abstract
There
has
been
wide-spread
research
into
the
use
of
ultrasound
in
pregnancy
with
various
participants
and
using
different
methodologies,
however
the
field
has
been
relatively
under
theorised.
This
research
develops
an
integrated
theoretical
lens
which
provides
an
effective
foundation
to
explore
the
increasing
routinisation
of
ultrasound.
With
this
approach
it
was
possible
to
explore
how
seven
pregnant
heterosexual
New
Zealand
couples
drew
on
notions
of
visual
primacy,
the
technological
imperative
and
consumption
and
choice
while
working
together
to
discursively
construct
what
their
experience
with
ultrasound
service
providers
meant
to
them.
This
research
was
unique
in
its
collaborative
design
of
interviewing
the
pregnant
woman
and
her
partner
together
with
their
ultrasound
images
on
hand
to
interact
with.
The
couples
(aged
25-40)
undertook
a
joint
semi-structured
interview
with
the
researcher
in
their
homes,
lasting
between
45
to
90
minutes,
which
was
digitally
video-
recorded
and
subsequently
transcribed
verbatim.
They
were
invited
to
bring
any
images
received
as
part
of
their
ultrasound
scan(s).
The
couples
actively
constructed
certain
aspects
of
their
experience
in
particular
ways.
These
included:
1)
constructing
the
ultrasound
as
normal
and
commonsense;
2)
constructing
the
pregnancy
as
legitimate
and
valid;
3)
constructing
the
normality
of
the
foetus;
and
3)
constructing
the
baby
with
personhood
and
gender.
Understanding
ultrasound
as
not
just
a
normal,
but
a
necessary
site
for
the
techno-visual
birth
of
the
foetus
reinforced
dominant
biomedical
understandings
about
what
counts
as
real
knowledge
and
positioned
the
pregnant
couples
as
good
parents-to-be,
demonstrating
their
responsible
consumption
‘choices’
on
behalf
of
their
–
now
visible
and
so
viable
–
‘unborn
baby’.
With
the
increasing
routinisation
of
2D
ultrasound,
and
wider
availability
of
3D
and
4D
technology,
these
findings
have
implications
for
maternity
care
policy
development
in
terms
of
women’s
reproductive
rights
and
pregnant
couples’
(in)ability
to
make
an
informed
decision
about
consent
or
refusal.
Description
Keywords
Ultrasonics in obstetrics, Ultrasound, Pregnancy, Psychological aspects, Psychology