Abstract
Some studies show that ethnic minority women experience barriers in obtaining the same level of cultural sensitive maternity care compared to native-born women in the host society (Reitmanova & Gustafson, 2008; Essen & et al, 2000; Vangen, 2004). This study therefore, explores subjective voices of Lithuanian immigrant women on their childbirth experiences in Norway. An important segment of this research study was to illuminate in what ways do Lithuanian women s cultural conceptions of a safe pregnancy and safe delivery conflict with the guidelines and conceptions of the Norwegian model of midwifery. The starting point of this study was taken that perceptions about maternity care and birthing setting is socially and culturally constructed in every society. Therefore, a qualitative methodology using two in-depth interviews with six with women of Lithuanian ethnic origin residing in Norway has been employed. In addition, three informal interviews with midwives were performed to shed light on ways of accommodation of individuals and their cultural factors in Norwegian midwives practices. The study findings suggest that considerable variation in maternity care across Lithuanian and Norwegian cultures impose and shape directly the experiences of migrant Lithuanian women; however, cannot be explained as due to cultural metamorphoses alone. The study concludes that the clash of authoritative knowledge systems in terms of prenatal expectations, sociocultural values and reproductive politics demonstratively were articulated by Lithuanian women in the study.