Social Media in the Delivery Room

Background: The birthing process have change dramatically within the years. It went from being surrounded by love ones, during the process. Now it is just you in a room full of strangers. Author Tina Cassidy wrote an article about the use of social media in the birthing room. This article has been in the news lately, after a Maryland hospital ban the use of photography. The part of this article that I am interested in are the reasons the author give for allowing social media.

Article: Social Media in Delivery Room

Premises/Conclusion

Premises (1) - "Most people have this knee-jerk reaction to social media during birth. “It’s ‘ick,’ keep it to yourself.” But for those on the receiving end of the texts and emailed pictures — grandparents, friends, neighbors — they want to know the details of your birth, how do you feel, who does the baby look like, etc. “It’s such an important time for mothers to connect,” Tina said."

Premises (2) - "Keep in mind, it’s only in the last 100 years or so that women have been giving birth in hospitals, surrounded by strangers. Previously, birth was a big social affair and women were surrounded by other women, their mothers, sisters, family. Now, your spouse might be there, and maybe a hired doula. Otherwise it’s hospital staff and medical students. “It’s a long time to be isolated and not communicate,” Tina says. Social media fills that gap: you can once again be surrounded by your people."

Premises (3) - "As far as birth goes, we are all products of our culture and history (that’s the subject of her last book Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born). Birth customs and practices are largely generational — just remember how Betty Draper gave birth to her third child on Mad Men. (If you didn’t see it, think enema, shaved pubic-hair and a hefty dose of Demerol). Or, as Tina points out: “My grandmother wasn’t even conscious for the birth of her kids — this [social media phenomenon] brings consciousness to a whole new level to be able to text during your C-section.”"

Conclusion - "Author and local birth expert Tina Cassidy wrote a compelling piece in New York Magazine this week about the use of social media during childbirth."

Lets formalize the argument:

1. Social media in the birthing room allow friends and family to witness the miracle of childbirth and it will capture those special moments.
   
2. It allow the mother to fill more comfortable, because at the hospital there are nothing but strangers around. Social media will fill that gap, because it allow them to stay in contact with their family.
   

Therefore,

3. Social Media will help fill the void of love ones not being around, and it can help us capture memories that can never be replace.


The author of this article, Rachel Zimmerman, provides no true facts about why it is helpful for women to be allow to use social media. This article contain Appeal to Pity and Tradition. Appeal to Pity is seen when she says, "But for those on the receiving end of the texts and emailed pictures — grandparents, friends, neighbors — they want to know the details of your birth, how do you feel, who does the baby look like, etc. “It’s such an important time for mothers to connect,” Tina said." It makes the reader feel sorry for the mother that she is left all alone in hospital room. This argument also appeal to tradition when the author wrote, "Previously, birth was a big social affair and women were surrounded by other women, their mothers, sisters, family. Now, your spouse might be there, and maybe a hired doula. Otherwise it’s hospital staff and medical students. “It’s a long time to be isolated and not communicate,” Tina says. Social media fills that gap: you can once again be surrounded by your people. “I have no scientific proof of this,” she says." Back in the old days during women childbirth they were surrounded by their loved ones, so why in this time and ages women cannot connect with their loved ones. It also states that she has no real solid facts.