Psychosocial Adaptation to Pregnancy

PSYCHOSOCIAL ADAPTATION OF PREGNANCY

Maternal Role Assumption

·         Attainment of motherhood role occurs with each pregnancy.

·         Involves a series of cognitive operations.

o    Mimicry woman begins observing and modeling her behavior after other pregnant women.

o    Role-play woman begins acting out behaviors of a mother. For example, the woman will rock a baby to sleep.

o    Searching for a role woman has perceptions of how the motherhood role will be. She observes others' behaviors to determine how well they fit with her expectations of the motherhood role.

o    Grief work woman experiences a sense of loss of her self as she prepares to begin her new role as a mother.

·         Maternal task commonly divided by trimesters.

o    First trimester (first 3 months):

-Acceptance of pregnancy progressive movement from a state of conflict and ambivalence to one of acceptance of the pregnancy, the child, and the motherhood role.

-Realignment of roles expectant parents begin to realign their roles and responsibilities as they relate to the child.

-Safe passage although the mother seeks to ensure a safe passage for her fetus and self throughout her pregnancy, the main focus during this trimester is on self-safety.

o    Second trimester (second 3 months):

-Safe passage in this trimester, the mother's main focus is on appropriate nutrition and exercise.

-Acceptance by others acceptance of this child by each family member.

-Binding-in to the child maternal perception of the child as a real person.

o    Third trimester (last 3 months):

-Safe passage during this trimester, the main focus is on the safety of the fetus and is inseparable from self-safety.

-Giving of oneself the most complex task, in which the mother is learning to give to the unborn child and placing the unborn child's need in relation to her own needs.

-Critical to this trimester is the preparation of the nursery because it solidifies the acceptance of the unborn child.

Rubin's Framework for Paternal Role Assumption

• The fatherhood role can also be attained with the pregnancy.
• Paternal tasks can also be divided by trimesters.
• First trimester (first 3 months):
• Announcement and realization of the pregnancy father will exhibit excitement over the announcement of the pregnancy and is more interested in maternal changes. Usually, he will insist on accompanying the mother to each prenatal appointment.
• Some fathers will even begin to experience the same signs and symptoms of pregnancy experienced by the mother. This is more commonly referred to as couvad
• Midtrimester (second 3 months):
• Anticipation father anticipates and adapts to the role of fatherhood.
• Fantasy and exploration along with the mother, the father begins to imagine what his child will look like and may also begin to explore the talents and attributes of the unborn child.
• Adjustment of sexual expression to accommodate the pregnancy.
• Third trimester (last 3 months):
• Preparation now, serious preparation for the forthcoming child includes preparation of the nursery and childbirth education courses to prepare for labor and delivery.
• Reassurance provided by the father to ease the anxious mother's fears regarding labor and delivery.