Part II.2 -- What Is At Stake

As noted earlier, the whole of the labor can be analyzed into sets of differently marked constructive activities inscribed over a kind of background noise of other activities, allowed during off times but always to be held in suspension when matters relevant to the first two have to be dealt with. The first set of activities has to do with the reconstruction of the canonical interactions (the Contraction and the Medical Visit). The second set of activities has to do with the negotiation of what each of the actors is to do next within the openings allowed by the framework. How much pain killer to administer is the recurrent focus of specific negotiation in this labor. Such activities are closely tied to the first ones by specific cross-references to the overall scene in the expectation that the result of the negotiations can influence what is to happen next within that scene. Whether to give more pain-killers is dependent upon the stage of the labor, but is explicitly said to make a possibly major difference as far as the timing or type of delivery. What will happen, labor-wise, a few minutes from any particular moment, is not fully predictable and certain actions of any participant at the moment could make a major difference. Around these issues were all sort of matters, from personal introductions and brief accounts of demographic status ("how many children do you have"), brief asides between husband and wife about her mother's success at taking care of their children (with phone call and such), an emerging narrative composition of this labor as it will be told between the spouses in comparison to the other labors, comments about the research ("is some professor going to have to look at all this?"), etc.

In one way or another, all this is at stake. In another way, there is only one thing at stake: Lonnie's body as a somewhat mysterious machine the functioning of which might be disrupted by misinterpretations by any of the participants, including (particularly?) by Lonnie as a self. A second body is probably at stake too, though it rarely emerges until the end of the labor when it does emerge, literally as well as metaphorically. The child appears for a while as the fetal monitor is in position to broadcast his heartbeat. But mostly he remains hidden, particularly in Lonnie's talk as it focuses on her pain and on the plausible timing of the delivery. One suspects however that much of the activity of the attending physicians is in fact focused on the child and that, if something they would have interpreted as representing a threat to the child had occurred, they would then have claimed authority to redirect the interactional flow and, plausible to terminate the scene from "labor" to "emergency delivery." As it was they never voiced any misgivings and, eventually, the child was born vaginally with no complications.

See Cotter (1996: -) for details about the practical difficulties of obtaining such tapes

The most common role for the researcher was that of secondary "hand holder" during contractions and general commentator on the progression of the labor. In that capacity, Cotter's authority to interpret pain appeared similar to that of the husband, that is somewhat above that of Lonnie herself

To understand what should be probably talked about as the "hierarchical structure" of the labor, one interesting case of something that is quite extraordinary within the labor, is heavily at stake for one person, and is thus placed at some stake by all, is the construction of the video taping itself. For the researcher of course the success of the taping was a matter of great concern. It required continued attention by Cotter and, at various times, by all other participants. Not only did they have to give permission, but they also had at times to orient themselves to Cotter's presence. These times are interesting because they specify how all were placing the taping within the hierarchical structure. In brief, the taping belonged with the "background noise" of activities allowed but always threatened with suspension. Three moments when the taping emerged as interactional focus illustrate the range of broader possibilities. First, we have the one moment when the taping is temporarily suspended in the name of not interfering with the administration of the epidural. Second, we have Cotter asking for the anesthesiologist's permission for the taping, and then, chitchat about what Cotter will do with the tape

TRANSCRIPT VI

Lonnie has gotten off the bed as nurse and anesthesiologist reorganize the room for the administration of the epidural. Both are busy at their preparations as the reseacher asks them their permission to be videotaped for research purposes. This never interrupts their forward movement even as the anesthesiologist two or three times briefly faces the researcher as he jokes about what may make the tape allowable. At these times, the nurse remains busy with tasks that must be completed before he can proceed. Husband and wife similarly proceed. The whole exchange is thus treated as chitchat as they complete this exchange, Lonnie sits on the bed and the anesthesiologist focuses on the her back that now faces him.

(FULL TRANSCRIPT VI: Seconds 8:28:00 to 8:28:30)

A quick read of this transcript could easily make this a more momentous moment for the researcher than it was actually taken by the participants. "With you all" (828:07) is in fact only referring to the anesthesiologist whom Cotter has now been taping for a few minutes (see Transcript V) but whom she had not seen before. The anesthesiologist appears to give his permission matter of factly ("sure, sure" sec. 829:12). For whatever reason, Cotter continues and explains that she has already gotten permission from many. This is taken by the anesthesiologist as an occasion to speculate about why any of the people involved (the sound is too unclear to clarify whether anyone in particular is mentioned) might give permission: "because she is a doctor" (sec. 829:32). The discussion however does not slow down the setting up of the bed for the epidural. Rather it fits during an "off" moment, when the anesthesiologist is waiting for the nurse to finish her plumping of the pillows. During the last seconds of the exchange Lonnie, who has not participated in any visible way, moves back towards the bed and sits on it.

Another time when the research is specifically addressed occurs in a similar moment, between contractions, and after a general assessment by Lonnie of the labor "I can do whatever I please, no apologies." This is greeted by general laughter. The researcher mentions the camera specifically and this is taken by the nurse as an occasion for asking about the taping. Her opening question "is it on?" (sec 85013) might even be taken as evidence that she has forgotten about the taping (in spite of the presence of two cameras with which Cotter is continually fussing). The husband then continues with a statement that Cotter constructs to index back to something he has done before: "teasing" her about how boring watching these tapes will be (850:25). The nurse continues on a train of thought that might be an attempt to reframe the taping in more commonsensical terms, that it is for Lonnie. After a long silence during which all focus on Lonnie who cleans her mouth, the husband continues on a questioning/teasing course and Cotter answers in kind. At this point Lonnie redirects attention to herself and the progression of the labor.