THE Birth Pleasure Study

Make birth better, through research.

What is the birth pleasure Study?

The Birth Pleasure Study is the first study of its kind – a rigorous mixed methods study on experiences of pleasure in the process of labor and giving birth, and how those experiences may impact the health and sexuality of mamas and birthing people going forward. Never before has anyone published work that blends qualitative and quantitative understandings of pleasure in the birth process.

This study was conceived of and designed by myself, Elisabeth Bolaza, ethically reviewed by the California Institute of Integral Studies HRRC, and is overseen by my committee and advisors Dr. Michelle Marzullo, Dr. Dána-Ain Davis, and Dr. Robbie Davis-Floyd.

 

 

Current Study Status:

The first stage, the in-depth interviewing, is now complete. I have had the honor of speaking with a total of 23 incredible people in one-on-one recorded interviews about their experiences of pleasure during labor and birth, and how those experiences impacted them. In total, 43 distinct birth experiences were covered in depth, 31 of which were reported as pleasurable. These conversations form the conceptual foundations for the next stage of the study, the anonymous online survey called THE BIRTH EXPERIENCE SURVEY. Refined through pilot testing and ethically reviewed, THE BIRTH EXPERIENCE SURVEY opened June 2021 and closed January 2022. Findings will be released in an executive summary when the dissertation is complete, in the Fall of 2022. The data are rich and there are many gems to be unearthed and examined. I look forward to making those findings available in the near future. Thank you for your patience and support as I complete this doctoral program.

Study Details

Stage 1: IN-DEPTH QUALITATIVE INTERVIEWS – Complete

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  •  23 in-depth interviews held over two years (in spite of Covid-19)
  • 43 birth experiences included, 31 of them reportedly pleasurable
  • Including mamas and birthing parents of many ages, sexualities, gender and racial identities, and class positions.
  • Participants hailed from across the United States and as far as the UK and Israel.
  • Folks of color 52% 52%
  • Not exclusively straight identifying 26% 26%
  • Cisgender Women 87% 87%
  • Lower income 39% 39%
  • Given birth in last 5 years 48% 48%
  • Discussed 2+ births 61% 61%
  • Percent of births reportedly pleasurable 72% 72%

Stage 2: THE BIRTH EXPERIENCE survey – Complete

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Goal: 2,000 Responses

survey: Completed (For Now)

THE BIRTH EXPERIENCE SURVEY is the first-ever attempt to quantify how common or uncommon pleasurable birth experiences are. It is designed based on the words and experiences of those who I interviewed, as well as my own research and experiences with birth. Thank you for adding your voice. I look forward to future releases of this survey to help refine the survey instrument and produce even more impactful findings.

Please stay tuned for the release of the findings in a number of articles and publications, and an executive summary in the Summer of 2023. The data are so rich and there are many gems to uncover. I look forward to developing and sharing those findings with you all in due time. Thank you for your interest.

 

Survey TRANSLATIONS WANTED

If you are interested, I would love to develop translations of this survey to extend this research beyond English-speaking communities! I’m open to translating into any language and collaboratively developing the analysis as well. I’d love to hear from you at contact@elisabethbolaza.com.

Study Abstract:

Birth research has prioritized the study of morbidity, pain, and pain management. While pleasure in birth has been documented in several studies, none have examined pleasure in birth as related to birth outcomes, maternal sexuality, or social justice issues. This mixed methods study examines birth pleasure as a lived experience, including factors that support/hinder pleasurable experiences, and what impacts (if any) those experiences may contribute to birth outcomes and maternal health, specifically in terms of birth satisfaction, postpartum sexuality/sexual satisfaction, birth-associated morbidities such as postpartum depression/birth trauma, among others.

Together, I will interpret and contextualize the qualitative (stage 1) and quantitative data (stage 2), building an intersectional and critical analysis of birth pleasure as a phenomenon. This analysis will be used to construct a new theoretical framework of birth pleasure, with applications for maternal health policy, practice, and social justice advocacy.