Introduction: This thesis presents children's picture books as one of multiple socialization factors that can significantly influence culturalization in early childhood and also help summarize society's views in the field of learning about midwifery, pregnancy and childbirth. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine how children's picture books and other children's books depict midwifery motifs: conception, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The aim of this study is to find and analyse good-quality picture books and children's books with midwifery motifs. Work methods: In the study, we used a descriptive research approach, while reviewing scientific and professional literature that addresses the occurrence of midwifery motifs in children's picture books and other children's books. We also used the qualitative data collection method to analyse children's picture books and other children's books with midwifery motifs. The online bibliographic databases used in our research are COBISS, DIPI, EBSCO Information Services, Google Scholar, Proquest, Pubmed, Researchgate and Science Direct (within the period from 3 January to 31 May 2023. The key criteria taken into account for the selection of scientific literature were content adequacy and relevance and full accessibility of the content in sources published in Slovenian or English having a publication date within the timeframe of 2013 and 2023. Results: Our analysis included 12 picture books and children's books with midwifery motifs published in Slovenian; 3 of the picture books are works of Slovenian authors, and the remaining 9 picture books have been translated into Slovenian. Most of the picture books show midwifery motifs as perceived by the general population who are only familiar with the medicalized treatment of women during stages of pregnancy, labour and delivery, unfolding in a hospital setting under the supervision of medical staff. A different story with alternative options and the physiological course of pregnancy and childbirth are shown by picture books written by graduate midwives. Discussion and conclusion: Good-quality picture books with midwifery motifs are available in the Slovene language. With their help, we can normalize the depictions and representation of conception, pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding in modern-day society, as they serve as an educational aid for the socialization of preschool children and help spread credible information about childbirth.
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