Pregnancy is a turning point in a woman's life. It is possible to see this period as a crisis period related to the process of adapting to new roles. It is a very difficult and complex process for a woman to embrace pregnancy and the feelings of motherhood that will come with it.
In addition to the daily stressors that affect a woman's life, pregnancy; Birth or inability to have a child even though desired increases the daily stress of the person. (Gökalp;2007)
Pregnancy indicates that individuals step into the role of parenthood. However, the decision to become pregnant or become a parent is not always planned, conscious and based solely on the individual's own will.
Most of the time, individuals are not aware of the factors that motivate them to give birth to a child. When this happens, it becomes more difficult to adapt to the pregnancy and parenting role.
Spouses; They may want to have a child to gain status in society, to compensate for a loss, to prove sexual ability, or due to cultural pressures. The pregnant woman; His physical condition, behavior and reactions are largely determined by the social environment in which he lives. Factors in the social environment that shape the pregnancy experience; They can be listed as family, culture, religion, social, economic, political and intellectual conditions.
There is significant pressure in almost every society, especially for women, to be pregnant and take on the role of motherhood. In many societies, motherhood is viewed as a duty that an individual must fulfill as an adult, and women are socially prepared for this task. (Taskın 2007; Beydag 2007)
Pressures from spouses, peer groups and family can also be an influencing factor in spouses' decision to have children. Even if the individual does not want to, she may decide to get pregnant to make others happy.
In some studies; It was observed that 2.1% of the women made the pregnancy decision themselves, 5.9% of the women's husband decided, and 18.5% of the women who made the pregnancy decision became pregnant with the request of their husband's parents. (Buran, Sürenler 2005)
According to the results of another study, a significant relationship was found between pregnancy problems, intentional pregnancy, and harmony between the environment and the family. Moreover A significant relationship has been found between the depression levels of pregnant women and their compatibility with their spouses and the people they receive support from during pregnancy.
If the psychosocial situation of the expectant mother is not understood and supported, the likelihood of pregnancy depression increases. Psychosocial factors play a role in pregnancy depression. These; Indecisiveness about pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, history of childhood abuse, young age or negative thoughts, large number of children, domestic violence or marital conflicts, low education level and unemployment, substance abuse and smoking. (Marakkoglu 2008).
If we examine the psychological changes in pregnant women according to their pregnancy periods; I. II. and III. Including trimester; It is necessary to review the pregnancy process.
First Trimester
Ambivalent (opposite) feelings (the period in which there is little joy about the baby), having nausea, feeling tired, feeling unwell even though one is not sick. is not feeling well. On the other hand, she wants to believe that she is healthy in this trimester and that her pregnancy is going well.
The 12th week of pregnancy is the period when opposite emotions are experienced most intensely.
II. Trimester
During this period, the woman's nausea disappears and her strength gradually increases. She feels good and develops positive emotions. Ambivalent feelings disappear.
However, the woman's attention is directed within herself. She can feel that she is alive inside she. While she initially feels it as a part of herself, she later accepts that it is a different entity than her.
The pregnant woman's personality is in more balance during this period. Even if pregnancy is accepted, there are some surprising behaviors.
-hypersensitivity
-resistence
-restlessness
-sudden anger
-sudden and unreasonable changes in feelings of great happiness are observed.
He is eager to learn information about himself and the baby. This is the period when he starts talking to other women.
III. Trimester
Physical appearance changes completely. His growing belly restricts his movements. She has trouble complying with new body limits, gets tired more quickly, and these problems disturb the woman. I was starting to get tired of pregnancy. ir. They have concerns about birth. The movements of the fetus turn into strong kicks. She worries that if she leaves the house, something will happen to her baby and herself. The warnings coming from those around him are also in this direction. It is of great importance that the baby is waited on by other members of the family. Rejection of the baby means rejection of herself for the woman. She asks for her husband's support.
She begins to experience ambivalent emotions in the last month. She hates pregnancy, wants the baby, but is afraid of birth.
In order to provide emotional support to the pregnant woman;
We must investigate the meaning of pregnancy in the lives of women and their families, and examine the positive and negative aspects of pregnancy. The mother should be supported to explain her feelings, events that increase ambivalent feelings should be determined, and the degree of anxiety experienced should be determined. The pregnant woman should be evaluated from many aspects and her problems should be determined. It must be ensured that it can cope with these problems. In order to reduce physical and psychological problems, care and treatment should be carried out by including the pregnant woman and her family. A better pregnancy and birth occurs when the support of healthcare professionals, as well as the support of family and friends, is included in the care.
The psychologist should;
support the woman in expressing her feelings, what pregnancy means for the woman, must determine when he/she will need help and support. It should focus more on solvable problems and direct women to the facts.
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