Psychological changes of pregnancy

2. Psychological Changes
of Pregnancy
Reynel Dan L. Galicinao

3. A woman‟s attitude toward a
pregnancy depends a great deal
on psychological aspects:
• The environment in which she
was raised
• The messages about pregnancy
her family communicated to her
as a child

4. • The society and culture in
which she lives as an adult
• Whether the pregnancy
came at a good time in
her life

5. Mother’s Reactions
• Initial reaction includes wide range of
emotions
• May be
surprised, pleased, disturbed, disapp
ointed, frightened
• There is element of surprise in every
pregnancy
• As the pregnancy progresses they
must reach an acceptance

6. • Social Influences
• Cultural Influences
• Family Influences

7. SOCIAL
INFLUENCES

8. In the past: Today:
• The pregnancy was • Our society view
conveyed as a 9- pregnancy as a time
month-long illness of health
• The pregnant woman • Women bring their
went alone to a families for prenatal
physician‟s office for care
care

9. In the past: Today:
• At the time of • Instead of general
birth, she was anesthetics to “sleep
separated from her through” labor and
family and admitted birth, they are urged to
to a hospital actively participate in
the experience
• She was hospitalized
in seclusion from • Birthing rooms and
visitors and even family-centered care
from the new baby for helped involved families
a week afterward in childbirth

10. • The couple‟s outlook about
pregnancy and childbirth are
affected by:
 Their cultural background
 Their personal experiences
 Experiences of friends and
relatives
 Current public philosophy of
childbirth

11. • People‟s opinion about the
following have changed:
 Adolescent pregnancy
 “Late in life” pregnancy
 Lesbian pregnancy

12. • Nurses can make pregnancy
and childbirth more enjoyable
for clients and their families by:
 Informing women about their
new health care options
 Continuing to work with
other health care providers to
“demedicalize” childbirth

13. CULTURAL INFLUENCES

14. • Psychological changes and associated
behaviors are triggered not only by
uterine enlargement and hormone
levels, but also by the woman's
culture
• Certain cultural beliefs and taboos
may place restrictions on a woman‟s
behavior and activities regarding her
pregnancy

15. • During prenatal visit, ask the woman
and her partner if there is anything
they believe that should or should
not be done to make the pregnancy
successful and keep the baby
healthy.

16. • Examples:
 Lifting your arms over your head
during pregnancy will cause the
cord to twist.
 Watching a lunar eclipse will
cause birth deformities

17. • Listen to such “tell tales” to show
respect for the person‟s beliefs, but
encourage the woman to ask her
health care provider to find out if
there is any substance to them.

18. FAMILY
INFLUENCES

19. Positive Influence
• Woman and her siblings were loved
and seen as a pleasant outcome of a
happy marriage
• Pregnancy is natural and simple

Positive attitude toward her pregnancy

20. Negative Influence
• Woman and her siblings were seen
as intruders or were blamed for the
break-up of a marriage
• Excruciating pain and endless
suffering in labor
• “If you hadn‟t come along:
 I could have had gone to college.”
 I could have had a career.”

21. 
View pregnancy as a disaster

22. • „People love as they have been
loved.‟
• To mother her baby well, she
should be able to feel
pleasurable anticipation at the
prospect of rearing a child

23. • Becoming a mother is a second
adjustment above and beyond being
pregnant
• The mother who views mothering as
a positive activity is more likely to be
pleased when she becomes pregnant
than one who devalues mothering

24. Mother’s Emotional
Responses
• Narcissistic response is an
early reaction
• Extroversion, glowing behavior
is common
• Difficulty staying focused
• Emotional mood swings
 Husbands need to be
forewarned about these
changes to expect in wife

25. Steps in Preparing for
Motherhood
• Mimicry and role-playing
 Association with other
pregnant women or new
mothers
 Spend time with own
mother
 Identifies parenting role she
wants to mimic

26. • Fantasy--How will it be to
be a mother
• Grief work--giving up her
current lifestyle as life will
never again be the same

27. Hindrances associated with a
mothering breakdown
• Multiple births
• Children born within 10--12 months apart
• Moving

28. • Loss of security (job/illness of
self or family)
• Loss of husband/ or infant‟s
father
• Previous loss of a child

29. Father’s Reaction to
Pregnancy
• Acceptance is also his major
developmental task to be
achieved
• Need preparation for the
changes that will take place for
his wife
• Narcissistic or self-centered
response of mother may be
misunderstood

30. • May have feelings of jealousy
• His childhood background will
also influence his preparation
• Needs to also identify a role-
model or parenting style he
wants to mimic
• Preparation also includes
fantasy and grief work

31. Concerns of Fathers
• Breadwinner--most are still
primarily concerned with the
financial obligations
• Protective and supportive role
• Symptoms of pregnancy often
are felt by dads

32. Effects of Pregnancy to
Other Children
• Most parents agree children will
need some warning
• Effects of the pregnancy may occur
early for the children
 Mood swings of Mom and
unpredictable response to
behavior
 Physical changes in the home

33. The Unwed Pregnant
Patient
• Overall birth rate is decreasing, but
for the teen-age mother under age
15, it is rising

34. • Teens are more prone to
complications than older
mothers
• Infant mortality is higher as
well
• Often may have a problem
with acceptance of the
pregnancy and seek to hide
it

35. Teen-age Mothers
• Often the first major decision
is to tell the parents of the
pregnancy
• There may be an initial
reaction of
anger, disappointment and
even grief
• After parents have time to
adapt and accept the
pregnancy, they can be the
teen-age mother‟s best ally

36. Options facing the teen-
age Mother
• Stay in school is the first option to be
stressed
• Marriage may be considered
• Abortion--may feel initial relief, and
then guilt and depression
• Adoption
• Single-parenting

38. A baby is something
You carry inside you for nine months,
In your arms for three years,
And in your heart till the day you die.
-Anonymous (A Mother)

39. THANK YOU!
Have a nice day.