Case studies

The following are four cases for readers to reflect on. The cases present postnatal traditional practices for Chinese and Korean women and their families. The case studies explore the ways that LMCs or ward staff can accommodate cultural practices and improve the care experience for women or improve the experience of other women sharing rooms with CALD women. It is recommended that readers also read the traditional practices of the cultural groups under the cultural profiles section of this resource to increase awareness of the diverse cultural practices during the postnatal period.

Case Study 6: Postnatal rituals (Chinese)

Sue and Peter Wong are recent migrants who have had their first child in their local birthing unit. The nurse in the birthing unit realises that Sue has not showered for two days after the birth and that she is not willing to have skin-to-skin contact with the baby. She has not eaten any birthing unit food. Sue’s husband has brought special food in for her to eat. In the four-bedded birthing unit, two other women have been complaining to the nurse about the odour coming from Sue’s area which is overwhelming and they ask that something be done about it.

Case Study 7: Postnatal care experience in the birthing unit (Korean)
(DeSouza, 2014, p.6)

I said I wanted to go home, as nobody was available to help me. The nurse’s care was only limited to looking after the baby when I was eating. Isn’t it chilly even in December? It was cold for me as the windows right next to me were open. But my attempt to shut the window ended up with a grumbling nurse opening it again while I took a short break. When I said I felt chilly she only gave me another sheet… in our culture, no windows should be open after you give birth!. Over by the window, Kiwi mothers in the Maternity ward were wandering around in bare feet wearing only a gown and eating apples, which was absolutely impossible for us... The draught kept on coming so I decided to go home. I could manage some seaweed soup... but the Kiwi [birthing unit] food did not suit me. Since then, I haven’t been well. (Mee-Young).

Case Study 8: Postnatal care and language barrier (Chinese)

Chunyan and her husband Peter Leung arrived in New Zealand a year ago. They have a daughter aged 18 months. Chunyan speaks very little English and relies on her husband for communication with health providers. Chunyan gave birth to a baby boy two weeks ago by caesarean section. She has wound pain and mastitis and her husband is out of the country because of an urgent family situation. She has no other family support and is in a lot of pain. She is too unwell to drive herself and her baby to her general practitioner. She tries to ring her midwife about her situation but she cannot communicate in English. It takes some time for her midwife to find someone who speaks Mandarin to contact her. Because Chunyan is in agonising pain, she is asked to take a taxi to the birthing unit near her home for urgent clinical assessment. The midwife says she will meet Chunyan at the hospital.

Case Study 9: Dietary requirements (Korean)
(DeSouza, 2014, p.6)

I’m not picky with food and I still enjoyed food even after giving birth. The Kiwis said that the food had all the nutrition, but the portion was too small for me. Kiwis probably eat the same thing, but how would I produce milk with a portion like that? They gave me the same amount of food (it was sort of watery...) as if I was an ordinary person, and it wasn’t quite enough. I couldn’t bring my own food under the circumstances, and didn’t want to bother the other mums with the smell of my own food - when I had my first child, the nurse had told me off for the smell. In both children’s birth, I had to share a room with another mother, as there were too many patients, and the midwives showed an obvious sign of dislike. They even said to me if I had “brought fish.” This experience after my first child put me off from bringing food again—this is why I was hungry. (Young-Ja).