ical

Changes
in
Pregnancy

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
Objectives
● After viewing and understanding this flipped
video, the students will be able to
1. Describe the common psychological changes
that occur with pregnancy and the
relationship of the changes to pregnancy
diagnosis
2. Use critical thinking to analyze how the
psychological changes in pregnancy affect
family functioning and develop ways to make
nursing care more family centered
3. Implement nursing care such as health
teaching related to the expected changes of
pregnancy.
4. Integrate knowledge of the psychological
changes of pregnancy with nursing process
to achieve quality maternal and child health
nursing care.
● Pregnancy is such a huge change in a woman’s
life that it brings about more psychological
changes than any other life events beside
puberty. A woman’s attitude towards pregnancy
depends a great deal on psychological aspects
such as the environment in which she was
raised, the messages about pregnancy her
family communicated to her as a child, the
society and culture in which she lies as an adult
and whether the pregnancy has come at a good
time or less than a good time in her life.
 Factors Affecting
Psychological
Changes in
Pregnancy
1. Social Influences
2. Cultural Influences
shaiamariebautistamayo0910
3. Family Influence
● Social influences – pregnant client’s relationship to her support
groups wherein the support grp tend to participate actively in the
experience BUT if the pregnant client does not have this support
grp and a good relationship with them then she will be alone
attending to her prenatal check-up; ALONE to this esxperience.
● Cultural influences – affected by her cultural background as
well as her beliefs and taboos that would try to influence her
active role in her pregnancy.
● Family influences – affected by the family’s beliefs because it is
a part of her cultural environment. If she’s being loved then she
will have a positive attitude towards her pregnancy BUT if she’s
not being loved then she will have difficulty loving others and
difficulty loving and accepting the fetus growing within her.
● Individual influences – this is about the woman’s ability to cope
or adapt to stress, also being influence by her family, culture as
well as the environment where she belongs.
 The
First 3
months
…
shaiamariebautistamayo0910
● Woman and partner both spend time
recovering from shock of learning they are
pregnant and concentrate on what it feels like
to be pregnant.
Psychological Task :Accepting
Pregnancy
● “I AM PREGNANT”
● During the first trimester: the mother copes with the
common discomforts and changes
● Ambivalence – feeling both pleased and not pleased;
interwooven feelings of wanting and not wanting
● Denial – maladaptation to pregnancy
● Focus – bodily changes

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
Mother’s
Reactions
● Informs father secretively or
openly.
● Is aware of physical changes,
day dreams of possible
miscarriage and “dream baby”,
etc.
● Develops special feelings for and
renewed interest in her own
mother, with formation of a
personal identity.
shaiamariebautistamayo0910
Health Teaching
Focus:
●Growth and development of fetus
Let her feel that the life inside her is still
a part of herself
* Quickening / Ultrasound of baby
* Mom identifies fetus as separate
entity

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 On the
Second
Three
Months…

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
● Woman and partner move through emotions
such narcissism and introversion as they
concentrate on what it will feel like to be a
parent. Role playing and increased dreaming
are common.
● Narcissism – self centeredness
● Introversion – turning in on oneself,
concentrating on one’s body
Psychological Task :
Accepting the Baby as a
Separate Being 
● “A BABY IS GROWING INSIDE ME”
● Tasks include mother-image development,
coping with body image and sexuality
changes, and prenatal bonding
● Sexual desires may increase or decrease
● Women generally feels their best
shaiamariebautistamayo0910
Mother’s Reactions
● Remains regressive and introspective
● Projects all problems with authority figures
onto partner
● May become angry as if lack of interest
● Feels movements and is aware of fetus and
incorporates it into herself.
● Dreams that partner will be killed, telephones
him often for reassurance.
shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 Teaching
Focus:
● Help follow prenatal
instructions
● Hygiene of pregnancy
● Nutritional status, diet
● exercise

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 Going through the
last three months
….

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
● Woman and partner prepare clothing and
sleeping arrangements for the baby but also
grow impatient with pregnancy as they ready
themselves for birth.
Psychological Task : A
Preparing for Parenthood/
Preparation of Childbirth
● “I AM A MOTHER”
● Task is to overcome fears the woman may
have about the unknown, labor pain, loss of
self-esteem (feelings of “ugliness”), loss of
control, and death.
● Feelings of awkwardness and clumsiness.
● Spurt of energy or “Nest-building”
activities)
shaiamariebautistamayo0910
Mother’s Reactions
● Feels much discomfort and insomnia from
physical condition.
● Prepares for birth (birth classes),
assembles layette, picks out names.
● Dreams often about misplacing or not
being able to give birth, fears birth of
deformed baby.

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
Health Teaching
Focus:
● To alleviate fear , let her listen to FHT
● Couple to attend to child birth
education (preparedness for
parenting)

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
Fatherhood
“ my life turns
now that I
am a father..

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 The First
Trimester

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 Psychological Tasks of
Pregnancy
Conformation and Realization of
Pregnancy

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
● Accept the certainty of pregnancy and the
reality of the child as well as accepting the
woman in her changed state
● Also experience ambivalence sometimes
more so than pregnant women if they are not
well prepared for parenthood or have little
experience with children.

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 Father’s Reactions
● Differs according to age, parity,
desire for the child, economic stability.
● Acceptance of pregnant woman's
attitude or complete rejection and lack
of communication.
● Is aware of his own sexual feelings, may develop
more or less sexual arousal.
● Accepts, rejects or resents mother-in-law.
● May develop new hobby outside of the family as a
sign of stress and lack of attention
shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 On the
Second
Trimester

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 Psychological Tasks
of Pregnancy

● Adjusting to Pregnancy

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 Father’s Reactions
● May feel that he’s alone
● Waiting to be asked to take part in the event
● if he can cope, will give extra attention she
needs; if he cannot cope, will develop a new
time-consuming interest outside of home.
● Overly absorbed in work

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
● May develop a creative feeling and a "closeness to
nature".
● May become involved in pregnancy

and buy or make furniture.

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
● Feels for movement of baby, listen to
heartbeat, remains aloof , with no physical
contract.
● May have fears and fantasies about himself
being pregnant, may become uneasy with
this feminine aspect in himself.
● May react negatively if partner is too
demanding, may become jealous of
physician and of physician's importance to
partner and her pregnancy.
shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 On the
Third
Trimester

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 Psychological Tasks
of Pregnancy
● Active Involvement
in the Pregnancy
and Relationship
with his Child

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
 Father’s Reactions
● Adapts to alternative methods of sexual contact.
● Becomes concerned over financial responsibility.
● May show new sense of tenderness and concern,
treats partner like doll.
● Dreams about child as if older and not newborn,
dreams of losing partner.
● Renewed sexual attraction to partner.
● Feels he is ultimately responsible for whatever
happens.

shaiamariebautistamayo0910
Summary
trimester Psychological Task

woman man

1st Trimester Accepting pregnancy Confirmation and

Realization of pregnancy

2nd Trimester Accepting the baby as a Adjusting to pregnancy

separate being

3rd Trimester Preparing for parenthood Active involvement in the

pregnancy and
relationship with his child
Activity:
● Perform assessments on three pregnant
women in the first, second and third
trimesters. Record findings from your
interviews that describe the psychological
tasks of accepting the pregnancy, accepting
the baby, and preparing for parenthood
●Thank you
very much