Emotional Changes during Pregnancy
A pregnant woman undergoes a variety of emotions during pregnancy, from the start of confirming pregnancy up to the period after child birth. It is believed that a baby in the mother’s womb can feel whatever emotion the mother is feeling. These emotions can negatively or positively affect the child’s development all throughout the period of pregnancy. This article aims to describe the normal emotional responses not only of the expecting mother but also the expectant father during pregnancy.
During the first trimester, the fetus is perceived to be an unidentA pregnant woman undergoes a variety of emotions during pregnancy, from the start of confirming pregnancy up to the period after child birth. It is believed that a baby in the mother’s womb can feel whatever emotion the mother is feeling. These emotions can negatively or positively affect the child’s development all throughout the period of pregnancy. This article aims to describe the normal emotional responses not only of the expecting mother but also the expectant father during pregnancy.A pregnant woman undergoes a variety of emotions during pregnancy, from the start of confirming pregnancy up to the period after child birth. It is believed that a baby in the mother’s womb can feel whatever emotion the mother is feeling. These emotions can negatively or positively affect the child’s development all throughout the period of pregnancy. This article aims to describe the normal emotional responses not only of the expecting mother but also the expectant father during pregnancy.
During the first trimester, the fetus is perceived to be an unidentified concept with great implications for the future but without a tangible evidence of reality. Some women may feel a degree of rejection, denial, and repression especially if the pregnancy is unplanned. At this time, the woman is faced with the psychological task of accepting the pregnancy. It is important that proper guidance be given regarding the importance of prenatal check-ups for both the baby’s and the mother’s well being. It is also advisable that appropriate education about the bodily changes occurring during pregnancy be emphasized at this stage for the mother to recognize the abnormal from the normal body adaptations during pregnancy.
In the second trimester, or the fourth to sixth month of pregnancy, the fetus is recognized as a separate entity. It is at this time that both mother and father fantasize about the appearance of the baby. Excitement over whose physical attributes, such as the color of the hair, color of the eyes, type of nose, etc. will be taken after by the baby. The mother’s psychological task at this stage is accepting the baby.
The mother begins to have a personal identification with the real baby about to be born during the third trimester. Preparing for the baby and the labor process is the psychological task during the seventh to ninth month of pregnancy. Both parents develop realistic plans for future child caring responsibilities. Couples discuss whether or not the mother will be allowed to go back to work or should stay at home full-time to watch over the baby. Some apprehension on whether or not the woman will be a good mother is common at this time, especially if it is the woman’s first pregnancy. This is the best time to teach the expectant parents about infant feeding methods and family planning. Fear of their baby’s death is also common at this time and may be allayed by letting the pregnant woman listen to the fetal heart sounds.
During the first trimester, the fetus is perceived to be an unidentified concept with great implications for the future but without a tangible evidence of reality. Some women may feel a degree of rejection, denial, and repression especially if the pregnancy is unplanned. At this time, the woman is faced with the psychological task of accepting the pregnancy. It is important that proper guidance be given regarding the importance of prenatal check-ups for both the baby’s and the mother’s well being. It is also advisable that appropriate education about the bodily changes occurring during pregnancy be emphasized at this stage for the mother to recognize the abnormal from the normal body adaptations during pregnancy.
In the second trimester, or the fourth to sixth month of pregnancy, the fetus is recognized as a separate entity. It is at this time that both mother and father fantasize about the appearance of the baby. Excitement over whose physical attributes, such as the color of the hair, color of the eyes, type of nose, etc. will be taken after by the baby. The mother’s psychological task at this stage is accepting the baby.
The mother begins to have a personal identification with the real baby about to be born during the third trimester. Preparing for the baby and the labor process is the psychological task during the seventh to ninth month of pregnancy. Both parents develop realistic plans for future child caring responsibilities. Couples discuss whether or not the mother will be allowed to go back to work or should stay at home full-time to watch over the baby. Some apprehension on whether or not the woman will be a good mother is common at this time, especially if it is the woman’s first pregnancy. This is the best time to teach the expectant parents about infant feeding methods and family planning. Fear of their baby’s death is also common at this time and may be allayed by letting the pregnant woman listen to the fetal heart sounds.ified concept with great implications for the future but without a tangible evidence of reality. Some women may feel a degree of rejection, denial, and repression especially if the pregnancy is unplanned. At this time, the woman is faced with the psychological task of accepting the pregnancy. It is important that proper guidance be given regarding the importance of prenatal check-ups for both the baby’s and the mother’s well being. It is also advisable that appropriate education about the bodily changes occurring during pregnancy be emphasized at this stage for the mother to recognize the abnormal from the normal body adaptations during pregnancy.
In the second trimester, or the fourth to sixth month of pregnancy, the fetus is recognized as a separate entity. It is at this time that both mother and father fantasize about the appearance of the baby. Excitement over whose physical attributes, such as the color of the hair, color of the eyes, type of nose, etc. will be taken after by the baby. The mother’s psychological task at this stage is accepting the baby.
The mother begins to have a personal identification with the real baby about to be born during the third trimester. Preparing for the baby and the labor process is the psychological task during the seventh to ninth month of pregnancy. Both parents develop realistic plans for future child caring responsibilities. Couples discuss whether or not the mother will be allowed to go back to work or should stay at home full-time to watch over the baby. Some apprehension on whether or not the woman will be a good mother is common at this time, especially if it is the woman’s first pregnancy. This is the best time to teach the expectant parents about infant feeding methods and family planning. Fear of their baby’s death is also common at this time and may be allayed by letting the pregnant woman listen to the fetal heart sounds.
