A Deus por tudo que tem me oferecido e por tornar realidade este sonho.Sei que não sou merecedora de tantas coisas boas. À Prof.ª Dr.ª Dulce Maria Rosa Gualda, pela orientação e sabedoria com que conduziu este trabalho, pela paciência e estímulo ao longo desta caminhada e por enxergar novos horizontes para o meu crescimento profissional e acreditar que eu pudesse desenvolvê-los.Às mulheres colaboradoras deste estudo que não abriram somente as portas de suas casas, mas também de suas vidas, para que este estudo fosse possível, que Deus as recompense e que faça vir dias melhores nessa nova etapa da maternidade.Aos meus irmãos, Maria Aparecida (in memorian), José Carlos, Vanda Maria, Jussara e Alex, pelo amor sempre demonstrado, fazendo viva a chama da amizade, ternura e respeito que nem mesmo a distância física é capaz de apagar.
Amo vocês.Aos meus cunhados, sobrinhos, tios e primos, pelo carinho, incentivo e por sempre acreditarem na minha capacidade de desenvolver os meus projetos de vida.
ABSTRACTThis study aimed to understand the meaning of the body to a group of pregnant women, how they experience the body physiologic processes during pregnancy and how they reflect in sexuality as well as to acknowledge their perception about normal birth and its implication to sexual activity. Concepts of medical anthropology were used as theoretical framework and the methodology adopted was ethnography. The research was carried out in a popular district in east area of São Paulo -SP. For data collection it was used semi-structured interviews with guiding questions, and drawing, in a feminine silhouette of how they perceive their body modification during this period. The data were presented in narrative format. The result were organized in six categories and fourteen subcategories which merged to a central theme" Childbirth as a ritual passage in the construction of family" once all the body experiences of gestation, the physiological body changes and its repercussion in sexual performance were present since they started making projects to go into maternity. The results of this study allowed an understanding of the cultural knowledge in relation to the meaning of the body and sexuality in childbirth which is an essential tool for adjusting professional practice.