Unplanned Pregnancy

Your Pregnancy Experience

What does it feel like to be pregnant.

Understanding what pregnancy feels like if you’ve never had this experience can be difficult. Here, we’ve answered some of your burning questions on this topic, including “What does being pregnant feel like?” and “How does being pregnant make you feel?”

Being pregnant is a life-changing experience for many women — but it’s one that’s hard to comprehend if you have never been pregnant before. The idea of growing another human inside of you for nine months is a feeling only certain women can experience and, as much as they try, it’s hard to explain in words exactly what pregnancy is like.

Still, people often ask: What does it feel like to be pregnant? How does it feel to be pregnant, and what can you expect from a pregnancy experience?

These questions tend to come from women who are interested in becoming pregnant or are thinking they might be pregnant, but they can also come from men who are curious about what their wives, spouses, friends and other loved ones go through during this process. While every pregnancy is different, we’ve tried to describe in general terms what it is like to be pregnant below — to help all those who are curious understand this beautiful process in more detail.

Remember, it’s always best to speak with your doctor if you are curious about pregnancy or think you might be pregnant. They can offer the best medical advice for your situation.

What Does It Feel Like to Be Pregnant?

While some of the questions about what pregnancy feels like come from curious outsiders, others ask “What does being pregnant feel like?” for a more serious reason — they think they might be pregnant.

The first symptoms of pregnancy are different for everyone, and so is what being pregnant feels like for each individual. Perhaps you feel nauseous, tired and cranky, or maybe you think your breasts are tenderer than they usually are. Maybe you’ve missed your period this month.

Panic alarms may be going off inside your head, prompting you to ask, “What does it feel like when you get pregnant?”

It’s common to hope you can determine whether you are pregnant simply from side effects , but the most effective way to find out you are pregnant will always be through a pregnancy test. You can pick one up from your local drugstore or go to your doctor to receive a professional blood or urine test.

In the meantime, you may want to identify some of these side effects — how you will feel when you are pregnant. Here are a few early pregnancy symptoms that you may want to look out for during this time:

  • Morning sickness, or nausea at any time of the day
  • Cramps or headache
  • Slight bleeding
  • Food aversions or cravings
  • Breast tenderness
  • Mood swings
  • Faintness or dizziness
  • Missed period

Sometimes, women wonder what being pregnant feels like because they simply “feel different” and have a hunch they are pregnant. The abovementioned side effects can be due to many things other than pregnancy but, if you are not feeling like yourself or feel like something is “off,” you may be finding out for yourself what pregnancy “feels” like.

If you are experiencing any of these signs and wondering “How do you feel when you’re pregnant?” remember that a pregnancy test is the best way to confirm any possible pregnancy.

What Being Pregnant Feels Like as Your Baby Grows

Once you have your answer to the question, “How do you feel in early pregnancy?” you are probably just as curious to know the answer to this question: “What does it feel like being pregnant as your baby continues to grow?” After all, this is the one of the biggest questions from people curious about the pregnancy process; carrying a living human being inside of you is such a foreign idea to those who haven’t experienced it themselves.

Again, every woman’s pregnancy is unique, and only you will be able to know what it is like to be pregnant in your later trimesters. For many women, the earlier side effects of pregnancy lessen as they enter their second and third trimesters , but that’s not the case for everyone. Sometimes, the side effects of early pregnancy are replaced with more constant side effects that a woman can’t alleviate until her baby is born.

When you carry a child inside of you, your body reacts in certain ways. A lot of your energy is going toward creating this child, and you can’t expect your body to feel the same as it did when you were not pregnant. In addition to the symptoms listed above, you may also feel:

  • The constant urge to urinate, a lot
  • Fatigue and muscle soreness from carrying an ever-growing child inside of you
  • Irritability due to difficulty sleeping and getting comfortable with an expanding stomach
  • Mood swings due to changing hormones
  • Constipation and other upset stomach
  • Heartburn and backache

Don’t forget: All of what you feel during your pregnancy will likely seem trivial compared to the experience of labor and delivery .

Of course, what pregnancy feels like for some women will be easier than for others — but it’s important to be aware of these potential side effects if you are considering becoming pregnant in the near future. Having all the information before you get started will help you have the appropriate expectations for your pregnancy journey and understand that everything you are feeling during this time is normal.

What is it Like to Be Pregnant?

Typically, when you ask women, “What does being pregnant feel like?” they’ll say it is the most beautiful thing they have ever experienced. It’s a powerful feeling, to grow a child from nothing to a tiny human, and many are so happy with the end result that they may gloss over some of the harder parts of pregnancy.

But, before you become pregnant yourself, you need to understand: While many say it’s worth it in the end, pregnancy is very hard , comes with certain risks and possible complications, and should not be seen as anything less than a great commitment of your mind and body.

In addition to the physical challenges of pregnancy, there are a few mental and emotional challenges that many women have to cope with. The hormones of pregnancy can cause extreme mood swings that are often not helped by the stress of pregnancy and preparing to bring a little one into your family. While these mood swings are normal, they can be overwhelming for someone who doesn’t know how it feels to be pregnant.

If you are pregnant, you may feel:

  • Stressed at the all the preparations needed for a baby
  • Tired from the physical challenges of pregnancy
  • Worried about your baby’s future, especially if you did not plan to become pregnant at this time in your life
  • Misunderstood by unsupportive partners
  • Panicked about how your life is going to change
  • Depressed about your situation, whether due to personal circumstances or antenatal depression

While every woman’s experience is different, and it’s difficult to predict exactly what it will be, knowing the answer to the question “How do you feel when you are pregnant?” beforehand can help you better prepare yourself for the challenges and experience awaiting you. Remember, if you find yourself overwhelmed during your pregnancy or worried that you’re not feeling the way you “should,” this is completely normal — and you do have options.

If being pregnant feels like an unexpected, unwanted but unavoidable thing in your life, you always have unplanned pregnancy options such as abortion and adoption. Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you should feel during pregnancy; focus on yourself and your emotions, and don’t be afraid to reach out for support from loved ones and counselors, should you need it.

Related Articles

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10 Common Problems During Pregnancy to Watch For

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High-Risk Pregnancy: Facts, Statistics and Other Important Information

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My Birth Story: Moms Share Their Birth Experiences

What to expect birth stories, jump to your week of pregnancy.

Healthtalk Australia

Experiences of pregnancy

When talking about their experiences of pregnancy, most people described it as life-changing, and discussed both its physical and emotional aspects. Some women enjoyed being pregnant and said they ‘didn’t have any problems’. Others found the experience of pregnancy more challenging, whether for physical or emotional reasons or a combination of both. Some men also talked about their emotional experiences during their partner’s pregnancy.

Common changes women talked about were altering their diets, looking and feeling different, craving certain foods, and experiencing fatigue and nausea. Some were surprised about how exhausted they felt. Many women experienced physical pain or discomfort during pregnancy, including sciatica, restless legs syndrome, deep vein thrombosis, headaches, fluid retention, heightened sensitivity to smell and heat, and tender larger breasts. When pregnant with twins, women felt that their changes and discomforts doubled. A few women loved the physical experience of being pregnant and embraced their new shape. Others felt ‘uncomfortable’ and described being unprepared for the physical dimensions of pregnancy.

> Click here to view the transcript

I went to the physio but they couldn’t push it in, they just said, “It’s the position that the baby’s in, there’s nothing you can do about it and try not to move,” [laughs].

Often women struggled to accept they were experiencing a ‘normal’ pregnancy because they felt so bad physically. Several women with more than one child said their second or later pregnancies were harder, particularly due to having to care for other children. Coping with nausea was more difficult when women had older children, experienced a lack of support, or when they had demanding or inflexible jobs. Some partners helped by providing practical support, including Ajay, a migrant father of one, who learned to cook when his wife was unwell during early pregnancy.

I found it immensely difficult on the train of a morning going into town. My GP gave me this recommendation to carry a plastic bag in my handbag so I that I always had something to throw up into if I needed to. It just places this pressure on you that I had never felt before, and I remember feeling like I didn’t want to be pregnant anymore. If this is what being pregnant is like I don’t want it, you can have it back. And my mum said to me, “You know, it’s only six more weeks and then you should feel better”, and the thought of six more weeks felt like a lifetime. The thought of just getting through the day felt like a lifetime.

So it was very draining, just very difficult – and again it placed a strain on the relationship with my husband because on the weekends he’d say, “Do you want to go out, do you want to go to a café, would you like to do this, would you like to do that?” and I said, “I don’t want to do anything, I just want to be at home with a bucket in my tracksuit pants [laughs] doing nothing”, because I just felt rotten. And you inevitably compare yourself to other people and the very early pre-birthing classes that I went to, they were talking about the importance of healthy eating and exercise and other pregnant ladies would say, “I go swimming four times a week”, and “I’m walking and I’m doing this”, and I thought, ‘I’m lucky if I can make to the letterbox and back’.

The physical and emotional aspects of pregnancy were intertwined for many women. Chelsea, a mother of one, described wondering if her nausea was caused by her anxiety or if it was the other way around. Others experienced a sense of disconnection between being pregnant and their day-to-day lives. Loretta described having difficulty focusing in formal work meetings while feeling her baby’s hiccoughs inside her: ‘That’s something I will never forget, just thinking – these two worlds are not matching in any way and I don’t know how they’re ever going to’. A few women mentioned social expectations to be happy, positive and ‘glowing’ during pregnancy.

And I can see that it’s a sacrifice. I’ve got a newfound respect for pregnant women and I will from now on question when they tell you how happy they are whether that is true because that’s the perception I gained before falling pregnant that pregnancy is lovely and exciting and sure, on many levels it is but the physical changes that happen to you and the daily aches you have.

And how sleep gets disturbed to the point that for me going to bed is actually the least pleasant part of the day because I feel breathless and I feel dizzy and I don’t feel comfortable and I can’t sleep.

I feel like nobody told me that, as if they either kept it to themselves, surely I’m not the only one going through these symptoms.

And I feel like the pregnancy affects my productivity. I’m always very goal-oriented person so to come home and not having energy to do what I would have normally done. Or not being able to walk somewhere as fast as I would have liked or as far.

Women talked about how the novelty of the experience of a first pregnancy distracted them from thinking about parenthood. Zara explained how she felt during her first pregnancy: ‘I think the whole time the focus was on the practical matters and I didn’t really give a lot of thought at all to the emotional consequences or realities of what it would mean to become a mother’. As a result, many women described being unprepared for life with a new baby – yet said they were not sure anyone could have prepared them.

A sense of vulnerability and responsibility for their unborn child was described by some women, while others remembered marvelling at having a baby growing inside them. Pregnancy brought emotional ambivalence for women such as Susanne who had always wanted to become a mother, but found pregnancy challenging and felt ‘miserable’.

I felt good for like a week. I’m like, ‘I can totally do this pregnant thing,’ and I just had this feeling, I just had this ridiculous idea that I’d be a bump and I’d be rosy and glowing and I could still walk and I could wear those tops to show off the belly.

I put on 10 kilos within about 30 seconds of being pregnant. I now know that it’s because I developed a form of arthritis which messes with your metabolism, whatever. So I had ongoing health issues throughout the whole thing, but I had no idea. So I couldn’t do any exercise, I could hardly walk, I could definitely not run, and I was emotionally… I’ve really bad psoriasis and the type of arthritis that I get is psoriatic arthritis. So it’s connected to psoriasis. I’d never had it before, never been diagnosed before, but looking back I’ve had it since I was a kid, it just wasn’t that serious. So the flare-ups went sort of undetected in an arthritis context.

The type of psoriasis and arthritis that I get is triggered by an immune system overloaded stress on your body which is exactly what pregnancy is [laughs]. So looking back that started pretty much straightaway, that achiness and, yeah, that beached whale thing.

So it was a really awful pregnancy and I felt really conflicted through the whole thing because this is all I wanted my whole life, and not only is this what I wanted my whole life but I left a heterosexual relationship and a heterosexual identity to be true to myself and I still am managing to have this amazing gift and living my dream and I am hating every single second of it.

A number of people related emotional distress during pregnancy to past experiences of depression and anxiety, or childhood experiences. When pregnant with her second child, Maree was worried about unconsciously repeating the favouritism she thought her parents had shown towards her younger sibling. Others experienced anxiety, stress, or antenatal depression related to the pregnancy itself (see talking points under the theme ‘Perinatal depression and anxiety’).

essay on pregnancy experience

From my previous experience as a mental health worker, I started to spot warning signs that I needed to have some kind of communication. Because I think that the first step in anything, when you think that there’s something going wrong with your head, because that’s the first thing people spot, the first thing to do is to actually talk to people about it. So we’ve had a very open communication with my partner, and we’ve been able to talk a lot about the way that I’ve been feeling. And I’ve also been quite lucky, that I have quite a tight-knit group of male friends who are actually the partners of – my partner has a mum’s group, so there’s probably six mums who hang out every week with the kids, and they’ve all grown up together.

And the dads have actually got a tight bond now. And without trying to scare the males into having sort of bonding and talking sessions, that’s what we’ve been doing, and it’s been really useful. Because it’s not just me who’s been going through this, there’s been a couple of other guys who are in a similar situation of just stress, panic, fear, all of those sorts of things, coming out into the open. I think it’s the fear of the unknown, and wondering whether you can actually cope with having another child. There’s always an assumption that a guy can cope with everything that’s thrown at him and there’s not so much availability for support networks.

And there’s an assumption that a guy can get through this without any help. And yeah, I don’t feel strong enough to be able to do that. I’ve broken down a number of times. And by that I mean lots of crying and thinking that I can’t do it and I don’t have enough mental strength to get through the situation. But being able to express that has been very, very useful. As I got closer to the time of the birth I was much more excited about the birth.

A number of people experienced significant life events, including losing jobs, relationship breakdowns, family violence, or moving interstate or overseas, including to escape war. These experiences significantly contributed to emotional distress in pregnancy. Melanie described how a difficult relationship with her mother became more complicated after finding out that her mother had lung cancer. Tolai migrated from Afghanistan to Australia during very late pregnancy.

essay on pregnancy experience

Parents described a range of complications during pregnancy involving the mother’s health, the baby’s health, or both. These included ectopic pregnancy, bleeding, placental problems, ‘incompetent cervix’, gestational diabetes, severe nausea (hyperemesis gravidum), ovarian cysts, high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia. Two people experienced problems with their babies, including supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and gastroschisis.

The emotional impact of these experiences ranged from a sense of inconvenience through to significant distress. Erin described a range of complications including gestational diabetes in her fourth pregnancy and bleeding for over half of her sixth pregnancy due to a hematoma within her uterus.

So they could see that I had a sub-chorionic haematoma, which is like a blood sac next to the gestational sac. That was – it was bigger than the baby at that stage. And they said, “Prepare yourself for the worst, because the bleed could push the foetus out”. And there was nothing they could do really. It is what it is. So I was going on and I was just bleeding all the time and, you know, being pregnant and bleeding does your head. I know what it was like when I was bleeding when I had my fourth child. It was horrendous, you know. You just can’t relax. But, I mean, there was a break there. It wasn’t happening all the time, whereas this was constant bleeding and it was awful.

I couldn’t function. I just felt like I was walking on eggshells all the time. It was like, ‘Can you either just make up your mind, are you going to stay or are you going to go, but don’t have this constant’. Because going to the toilet was doing my head. It was a constant reminder that things were not normal. And there’d be days where all of a sudden it would just be a huge bleed, and I’d think, ‘Oh God, is this it’? You know, it was awful. So I could never relax. I was always just really tense, which is not a good thing to be when you’ve got five other kids to look after as well and life to continue.

Prenatal testing results that fostered fears about a baby’s health were stressful for people. Despite Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) revealing that Sarah M’s baby did not have Down Syndrome, she continued to have ‘morbid thoughts’ about her pregnancy. Loretta’s first child was diagnosed with a genetic condition while she was pregnant with her second, making her anxious about her unborn daughter. Rarer or more serious complications were experienced by some women, sometimes with a risk of stillbirth or a threat to their own health or fertility. These included extremely rare conditions such as placenta percreta. A few women were hospitalised for part of their pregnancies. Surgery for an ectopic pregnancy left Jane, who is now a mother of twins, unable to conceive, leading her and her partner to undergo IVF (which was successful).

So after that I had to heal and it was emotionally difficult, but it was just one more thing. We just kind of kept it aside – so that was pretty horrible. So we kept trying, once I’d recovered. It took a few months, because I was just so lacking in iron, and we started trying again and then just couldn’t, because I’d lost one fallopian tube. So, I really felt violated and brutalised and it was hard. But, you know, we really wanted to have children.

So my mother had said she would help us and she gave us some money so we would be able to afford to do IVF and we did three IUIs, which weren’t successful and even though my husband has this amazingly high, fantastic sperm count, it just didn’t work. So we had to try IVF and we only did two cycles and the first time we had two implanted and it didn’t work and at that point I thought we’ve got to give this all we could do. I’m always on the internet, so I’d known the statistics on how hard it was going to be at my age, because by then I was 41, 42, while we were doing this and anything over 35 can be very difficult. Over 40 you are incredibly lucky.

So I thought we’ve just got to go all out. We can’t keep affording to do this forever. So we found a woman, through a friend of mine, through word of mouth. Found this woman who was a Chinese herbalist and naturopath and I’d read that acupuncture is really good for IVF. So she had me on all these potions and things I had to drink, herbal remedies and, acupuncture quite a lot and – that cost us thousands too. But I think it really made the difference. So three months later, from the first IVF we went again.

Further Information:

Talking Points Experiences of pre-term birth, special care, stillbirth and death of a baby Experiences of conceiving, IVF, surrogacy and adoption Talking Points under the theme ‘Perinatal depression and anxiety’

Other resources

COPE: Expecting a baby

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  • Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being
  • v.6(2); 2011

First time pregnant women's experiences in early pregnancy

There are few studies focusing on women's experiences of early pregnancy. Medical and psychological approaches have dominated the research. Taking women's experiences seriously during early pregnancy may prevent future suffering during childbirth.

To describe and understand women's first time experiences of early pregnancy.

Qualitative study using a phenomenological hermeneutic approach. Data were collected via tape-recorded interviews in two antenatal care units in Sweden. Twelve first time pregnant women in week 10–14, aged between 17 and 37 years participated.

To be in early pregnancy means for the women a life opening both in terms of life affirming and suffering. The central themes are: living in the present and thinking ahead, being in a change of new perspectives and values and being in change to becoming a mother.

Conclusions

The results have implications for the midwife's encounter with the women during pregnancy. Questions of more existential nature, instead of only focusing the physical aspects of the pregnancy, may lead to an improvement in health condition and a positive experience for the pregnant woman.

Introduction

Women's overall experiences during childbirth are an important outcome of labour (Waldenström, 2003 ) and may affect them for years to come (Simkin, 1991 , 1992 ). Therefore, it is important to gain knowledge and understanding of women's experiences, in particular those arising contact with the health care system. However, studies focusing on women's experiences tend to address childbirth rather than pregnancy (Lundgren, 2002 ), and studies about pregnancy are more focused on late rather than early pregnancy (Coggins, 2002 ).

Most studies of pregnancy have a medical perspective as a result of the dominance of the obstetric concept of risk in maternity care and research. According to this perspective, pregnancy and childbirth are dangerous and can only be considered non-pathological in retrospect (Davis-Floyd, 1992 ; Mead, 2008 ). According to Mead ( 2008 ), there should be a shift from approaching childbirth from the perspective of a catastrophe waiting to happen to the conviction that pregnancy and childbirth are normal until proven otherwise.

Pregnancy may also be described as a crisis (Raphael-Leff, 1991 ) or from a psychological and psychoanalytical perspective (Bondas, 2000 ; Reid & Garcia, 1989 ). According to these perspectives, pregnancy is a period of a mature crisis with significant potential for positive development (Eriksson, 1996 ). However, according to Bondas and Eriksson ( 2001 ), the classic crisis, role, and stress paradigms focusing on negative and pathological versus external societal perspectives might no longer provide a full understanding of the experiences of pregnant women in the Western world. Consequently, existential questions seem to be neglected in maternity care organisations (Bondas & Eriksson, 2001 ). Hence, there is a lack of knowledge about pregnancy as the point of departure in the birthing woman's lifeworld (Bondas, 2000 ).

However, there are some studies focusing on pregnancy from a caring perspective. Pregnancy may be understood as a transition (Imle, 1990 ) and as a part of a woman's transition to motherhood (Bergum, 1997 ). Changing relationships with people around the women (Bondas & Eriksson, 2001 ) and reflections about their own life situations are seen to be of primary importance (Lundgren & Wahlberg, 1999 ) during pregnancy. Women with diabetes experience a sense of objectification during pregnancy; combined with a lack of control; and the awareness of having an unwell, high-risk body. They also refer to an exaggerated sense of responsibility, constant worry, pressure, and feelings of self-reproach (Berg, 2005 ; Berg & Honkasalo, 2000 ). Coggins (2002) found that women were dissatisfied with the emotional and psychological support they received in early pregnancy. Recognising the importance of women's experiences and posing relevant questions that reveal suffering in both lay and professional caring might prevent the potential postpartum misery of motherhood (Bondas & Eriksson, 2001 ).

In Sweden, maternity care during pregnancy is integrated in the general health care system and is free of cost for all women. Midwives provide all the antenatal care for healthy women with normal pregnancies (Kaplan, Hogg, Hildingsson & Lundgren, 2009 ). A Swedish midwife working in antenatal care meets almost every pregnant woman several times during the pregnancy. A woman will often meet the same midwife in maternity care for both her medical check up and care during pregnancy. During these meetings, the midwife also provides information and guidance about pregnancy and childbirth (Socialstyrelsen, Board of Health and Welfare, 1996 ). Although a midwife's responsibility is normal pregnancy and childbirth, research from Sweden indicates that there is a tendency to neglect a woman's lifeworld and to focus mainly on medical issues (Olsson, 2000 ).

To summarise, there are few studies focusing on women's experiences of early pregnancy from a caring perspective and especially that take into account the woman's lifeworld. Medical and psychological approaches have dominated the research. According to Coggins ( 2002 ), women express a need for midwifery care during early pregnancy. The aim of this study was to describe and understand women's first time experiences of early pregnancy.

The research was conducted using a hermeneutic approach with the lifeworld as a fundament (Dahlberg, Dahlberg, & Nyström, 2008). The intention was to describe the lifeworld of a pregnant woman, but also to reach an understanding of what it means to be in the early stages of pregnancy for the first time. The lifeworld is the foundation of phenomenological philosophy and existential hermeneutics (Dahlberg et al., 2008). In the development of the lifeworld theory, Husserl ( 1936/1970 ) referred to natural experience or natural attitude. Meeting the woman from a lifeworld perspective means to be able to see, understand, describe, and to analyse parts of her world, as perceived by the woman soon after she became aware of the pregnancy. This perspective focuses not only on the world or the subject but also on their interaction. The lifeworld perspective is formed by an interest in people's own stories and life histories (Dahlberg et al., 2008 ). A hermeneutic approach (Gadamer, 1997 ), with openness as the starting point, was chosen to interpret women's accounts of early pregnancy and to understand their meaning. A hermeneutic approach based on Gadamer's (1997) philosophy regarding the pre-requisites of understanding, existential interpretations can be described as an attempt to understand how the women experience their lives or life situations. From a hermeneutic perspective, the data that is compiled is dependent upon interpretation and any relevant insight or understanding stemming from the authors’ backgrounds (Ödman, 1994 ). Two of the authors have backgrounds of several years of experience of meetings with pregnant women in antenatal care, experience of the reactions of mothers to the birth of a child, and years of teaching midwifery within the subject field of pregnancy. In addition, they have their own pregnancies as points of reference. One of the authors has no such directly personal or professional background.

The participants

Every woman, pregnant for the first time, was asked to participate in the study by a midwife during their first visit (pregnancy week 10–14) to the midwife at two public antenatal care units in Sweden. One of these was situated in a suburban area and the other in a city. The purpose of inviting women from both suburban and city areas was to reach variation in relation to the studied phenomena. The importance of appreciating linguistic nuances for the interpretation of the interviews, lead the researchers to only select Swedish speaking mothers to participate (Bengtsson, 1999 ). Of 14 women meeting these criteria, 12 wished to participate. The women were between 17 and 37 years old, healthy, and assessed as having normal pregnancies. Of the 12 participants, 11 had planned their pregnancies and one was unplanned. The midwives at each antenatal care unit, who had been informed about the study by the first author/researcher (CM), gave the women a short verbal introduction to the study at their first visit to the antenatal care unit. The researcher (CM) was present in order to conduct a short verbal presentation of the study and to ask if the women would like to participate. If the women agreed to participate, they then received more detailed written information about the study and confirmation that participation would be confidential. The women were given time to read through the information. The researcher was close by in order to answer any questions. If the women still wished to participate, they were asked to sign a formal consent agreement. Five women chose to participate in an interview some days later. The interviews took place at the public antenatal care unit and lasted between 30 and 40 minutes.

The data collection consisted of two stages. To begin with, the woman was encouraged to draw a picture depicting her experiences of early pregnancy. She was left alone and without distractions for 3–5 minutes until the drawing was finished or until she indicated that she had nothing to add. After that, the tape recorder was switched on and the woman was encouraged to tell about the picture. It was asked, “Please, tell me about your drawing and what you feel or experience right now.” When the telling reached a natural pause, the researcher asked questions about the picture and its description. Follow-up questions were posed as necessary. The conversation ended when the woman did not have anymore to say and when she felt satisfied that they had managed to accurately pin down her experiences. The purpose of a lifeworld phenomenological interview is to get the informant to reflect upon a particular phenomenon or in this case the experience of early pregnancy for the first time (Dahlberg et al., 2008 ).

Participants were asked to draw pictures as it is thought that a picture adds a dimension of “communication” to the verbal account according to Dahlberg et al. ( 2008 ). Högberg ( 1996 ) writes that the process of creating a picture prompts self-reflection. The picture content can be described as building a bridge between the inner and the outer. According to Dahlberg et al. ( 2008 ), a drawing can lead the interview dialogue directly into lived experiences, which gives the participants and the interviewer access to the lifeworld. The drawing can be said to exist somewhere between lived and verbally expressed experience. A drawing can also add depth to a subsequent interview, as talking about the picture can make it easier to establish contact. The drawing can also help to give a concrete form to the pregnancy. The recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim.

Data analysis

The data were analysed according to the principles of lifeworld hermeneutics as described by Dahlberg et al. ( 2008 ). The purpose of the analysis was to search for “otherness” and to see something “new” (Gadamer, 1997 ). First, all of the interviews were read through to get a picture of them as a whole. When the researcher had gained a preliminary understanding of the data, a new dialogue with the text began. Meaning units were formed according to the aim of the study. The data were then organised into different themes and sub-themes. The text and the themes were then read again to search for a new whole, a main interpretation, going from the whole to the parts and back to the whole again. The main interpretation was structured at a more abstract level than the earlier interpretation made during the analysis process (Dahlberg et al., 2008 ).

The research project has been approved by the research committee at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and by the operation managers of two public antenatal care units in Western Sweden (Ö 439-02).

Living in the present, looking back, and thinking ahead

Having a secret.

The women describe feelings of happiness and a desire to tell others about their pregnancy. At the same time, they want to keep the pregnancy a secret, something that they and their partner have in common until everyone can tell that they are expecting a child. Keeping the secret of being pregnant can, in turn, lead to a feeling of loneliness. They may also want to share their joy, to tell everybody about their secret, as it is not yet visible. In due time, the pregnancy will become visible and will no longer be a secret. By then, it will be easier to be “different” and also to act differently as this will be understandable from other people's perspective.

Sometimes you don't want people to know either. I feel that I have a secret, that they don't know … if you meet someone you don't know. Then it can be nice to keep it all to yourself and not have to share anything, which will happen later anyway, when it's all visible. By then everybody in town will probably look at you. You know yourself what you do when a pregnant woman comes by. It's very beautiful and you can't help looking. (2)

Sharing the secret

The need to share the happiness of being pregnant is strong; the women express relief once they have told friends and colleagues. While close friends are informed about the pregnancy at an early stage, most women wait to tell their colleagues about their pregnancy. The women express worries about miscarriage. They are also concerned about the potential effect on their jobs and careers. Some of the women express a feeling of uncertainty as to how their colleagues will react. Some women worry about how their careers might be affected. Once a woman has shared her secret, she usually gets support and understanding at work. The opposite can also occur; that is, no perceived understanding or change of working conditions. In the cases where the woman does not like her work, she can experience it as yet more important that the pregnancy ends in delivery of a child.

And then I started to think that it would be noticed, so it was just as well to tell them. It was great to tell people at work since it lead to an acceptance that you might not be able to keep up the same pace and you sometimes might seem irritable. So that worked out well, and then we waited quite a while to tell friends and relatives. It felt good to leave everyone else in the dark, because it felt like it was only my and John's thing to begin with … (4)
I felt at risk of being overtaken. There are others at work, who have passed their childbearing age, so to speak, and who are getting positions and promotions that I know could get. But I'm considered less eligible because I am likely to have children sooner or later. At the moment I don't feel like going back to that position after my maternity leave. I'm counting the months that are left now. (3)

Being a part of a larger context and a longing to give

The women express a sense of security in the relationship with their partner and their partner's family and a sense of community being a part of a larger context. The pregnancy became more real to them when they told their parents that they were expecting a baby. The women refer to both joy and pride when they talk about the moment when their parents got to know about the pregnancy.

Some women relate that they are the only ones that can give their family a grandchild and how this contributes to a sense of power within the family. They see the pregnancy as a gift to their parents. They are proud that they can contribute a new generation to the family. There is a desire for closer and deeper bonds within the family during the wait for the expected baby and this makes the family grow together as a family.

So this is their only chance to become grandparents, through me … Mother must also realise that if it's going to happen it might just as well be now … (10)
Have you noticed a difference with your parents?
Yeah, yeah I think so and it's great, they have reacted extremely positively which was really nice, a relief, because one wants anyway, even though you are grown up you listen to what your parents say. It was really nice to have their full support and feel that they were really happy, they are already getting involved and talking about what it will be like and all the toys and so on. My mother thinks this is truly wonderful. At the same time you start to think about the fact that they live quite far away, 300 kilometres from here. What are we going to do afterwards, you want your children to see your parents and also John's parents and so on, you want to see your family more often and make sure the children get to see your family … I haven't felt like that really before … I feel that I've had little contact with my parents, not so often, perhaps once a week or every other week or something or talked on the phone … whereas now we speak more often … (2)

Hesitating to share the joy

The women who do not dare to tell their mothers often miss this contact and can feel loneliness, which in turn affects their experience of being pregnant. Those women who do not have a good relationship with their mothers hesitate to share their joy; they feel uncertain and are unsure of their mothers’ feelings. They want to share their joy about being pregnant but hesitate to do so. The women whose mothers seem to display a lack of interest in their pregnancies express sadness and describe a lack of supportive contact and affirmation.

And so I have thought a lot about my parents and what they are going to say and how they will react and so on, because this is what I have been most worried about, telling my mother, I haven't told her yet, I will do it this week-end … (10)

In the interviews, the women also refer to something being missing, to not dare or be able to talk to their mothers about their pregnancy. This can stir up childhood memories. Those women who have had a poor relationship to their mother and have taken a lot of responsibility as a child recall less than fond memories, things they would rather not pass on to their own children.

I don't have such a good relationship with my mother and of course this stirs up a lot of thoughts now … because I both really want her closeness but at the same time I don't … I don't want her to be too involved in my life though … and I really want to ask her about how she felt when she was expecting me and my brother but I know that she doesn't really want to tell me anything. It's a bit of a complicated relationship quite frankly, so it certainly sets your mind racing … (4)

Looking back in sadness

The women say that the pregnancy has made them aware of their own life and family histories. Grief over the death of a parent is brought back, stirring up feelings of loss and longing. The women feel sadness over the fact that the deceased parent will not experience and share the joy regarding the pregnancy.

Well, I think quite a lot about my father who is no longer with us, not frightening thoughts, more a sense that life carries on in spite of the fact that he is no longer here and that he is still with me. It feels a bit, when I think about Father in such moments, when I think of him very intensely then I get sad that he can't be a part of this. But then again, I know that he will anyhow. Something like that, it feels like I think of him both in a positive and a negative way well … the grieving is like, it came back in a way now when I became pregnant. I thought a lot about him but then … back then I could become very sad, as if attacked by grief. Now I think about it in a more practical way, well that the family will live on now, Mother will have a life again, it will make her happy … well things like that, I think quite a lot about family … (1)

Thinking about the future

The women start thinking about their future family and what it will be like, how they will be as mothers and about work in the future. They also share their reflections about their partners—maybe he was more mature about starting a family than they were. They are aware of the fact that there will be a huge difference and are eager to know what will happen and how they will be as mothers. The women happily anticipate being able to put all their focus on caring, being with the baby, and being off work. However they also speak about living here and now; they try to delay thinking about the actual birth.

John is the kind of a person who takes one day at a time. He has always been like that, but I float away in my thoughts and think ahead more … Not that I plan my future but I think about the future so it's good in a way that he holds me back sometimes and makes me think a bit more about the present … I feel that it is extra important now that I actually take one day at a time both because I don't know what will happen if all goes well and of course it's an exciting time, a wonderful time. I don't want it to just fly by … (4)

Being in a change of new perspectives and values

Feeling disappointed about not feeling happy.

The texts from the interviews indicate that the women feel happiness over their love for their partner and the expected baby. They also feel that their partner loves them. There are, however, women who express astonishment over their feelings of unhappiness, something they could not have imagined prior to the pregnancy. They are expected to be happy but feel unable to do so. The women also say that in spite of being happy about the pregnancy, they feel unwell and that this surprises them. Physical sickness and faintness counteract their joy and cause disappointment.

Growing closer in relationships

Some women hope that the love between them and their partner will become deeper and stronger and that they will grow closer. The pregnancy has made them feel a new sense of caring for their partner; they realise the importance of him being there for her and a fear that something might happen to him and that they might not become a family.

You become more … more afraid … I am not usually like that I am not worried if John, my fiancé, is away. But now I have started to think like that, what if something happens to him and this just cannot happen. I have never been like that because I have always felt that he can manage, he always takes care of himself. It is much harder when he is away or is doing something else and I don't know if something might happen to him, it's kind of an odd feeling. You also feel that you are more protective of close friends and loved ones and that you want more contact with your parents (2)

Not daring to be happy

The women try to commit themselves to the expected baby in different ways. They say that they try to understand that they are pregnant by patting and stroking their tummy. This helps to reinforce the experience of being pregnant and make it more real. There is a desire to indulge in daydreams and thoughts about the baby and to give him/her a name. Some express this in terms of feelings of joy and others as happiness. There are also women who hold back their thoughts and feelings and are wary of feeling joy or happiness in advance, which can be seen as a way of protecting themselves in case something goes wrong.

I don't dare to buy a pram or anything like that yet, what if something happens, we thought about that a lot. Should we perhaps buy one and leave it at my parents’ in the meantime, but then I thought, no I don't want to do that, no, ugh, bad luck too I'd say. (3)

Fears and doubts and feeling lost

The women express doubts and describe feeling lost in their new situation and they wonder if they are mature enough to be pregnant or to become a mother. They say that they were surprised and unprepared for their feelings of both joy but also of frustration. They wonder about what they have entered into, struggle with feelings of inadequacy, and worry that they are too old to be pregnant, at the same time as they have high expectations and demands on themselves to be prepared properly for the pregnancy. The women are preoccupied with the changes they feel within their body and thoughts about the pregnancy. They think about the seriousness of life and whether they are mature enough to become a parent with all the responsibility that entails.

I am afraid, afraid of becoming a mother … or I am afraid that I am not finished with myself? It could be that that I am afraid that I thought I wanted this but that I'm not really ready. I didn't want to have children before, it was just a feeling that came all of a sudden a year ago and then I have thought a lot about it and when I did get pregnant it felt like, do I really want this now, so I am a bit lost … (1)

The women also indicate that it is difficult to grasp the impact this will have on their lives because at the same time as they experience joy about the pregnancy they also struggle to gather their thoughts, which sometimes makes them feel lonely and lost. In spite of that, they cannot control these thoughts or understand their feelings of, for example, fatigue; they do not think too much of it, they hope that everything will be better. At the same time, they do not want to think too much about the pregnancy but in spite of that there are a lot of thoughts and thinking. They do not really recognise themselves and they indulge in day dreaming about the baby who is inside their tummy.

How the pregnancy feels … well it's double-edged, I can just really say that I'm feeling both joy and fear … and sometimes one is stronger … sometimes I am more afraid and sometimes I am more happy … so it's just about those feelings that I have … and how it can make you feel lonely, the feeling of fear one can make you feel a bit lonely sometimes I think … (3)

Facing choices and feeling alone

The women also refer to loneliness in making decisions, for example, whether they should take an amniotic fluid test that could harm the baby and what they would do if the amniotic test results show that the baby carries a defect or is not healthy in some way. This is a new situation that puts their relationship with their partner to the test and the women can feel disappointment when they find out more about their own and their partner's true values. Even if they agree with their partner, the women confirm that in the end they alone make the decision. Some feel that they cannot talk to their partners about this; instead, they would prefer to discuss the issue with another woman. The women who decide to take the amniotic fluid test claim that they postpone thinking about the baby and do not dare to feel joy about the pregnancy until they have received the test results.

You think ahead, what will happen if we don't take an amniotic fluid test, what will happen if we have a baby that is mongoloid or a baby with chromosome defects that we could have chosen not to be born. What will life be like in that case, will I commit to the baby, yes I will do so, and I will probably love him/her even more than I would love other children. But how will I react when people will look at me, oh, well, you had a mongoloid baby, well, ok, what a sad thing for you. And what happens if I take the amniotic fluid test and we don't have a miscarriage and we start thinking about the fact that we are expecting a mongoloid baby. I will get to know just before Christmas and I usually say that we will either have a great Christmas or an awful Christmas. Because it's not so easy, it's not black or white, terminate or not terminate. It's still a pretty hard decision. I don't really think that John is always such a good support in this discussion. I need support from someone that has gone through the same thing. I need support from a woman instead. (3)

To becoming a mother

To be identified as a mother-to-be.

Being pregnant means changes in the relationship and contact with parents. Contact with parents increases, especially with mothers that want to give the women support. Their mothers get a central role, become more important, and are often the first to know that their daughter is pregnant. The women who have close relationships with their mothers, refer to an increased intimacy and openness with their mothers. The women identify themselves with their mothers. They notice a shift in roles, from being their mother's daughter to becoming a mother. At the same time, as the closeness to the mother is increased, the women feel that having a baby is a part of the process of liberating themselves from their mothers and from their parents. The women experience that they mature as a woman and that they become respected as adult women by their mothers. Even if the relationship with their mother is complicated, it seems that the pregnancy often leads to changed and better relationships.

We have a very strong relationship me and my mother, for better or worse but it has become stronger in a good way now. I have struggled and fought with our relationship over the years. I have felt that she has wanted to control and steer me and that she has never seen me as an individual. I get the feeling, that she let go just a bit and has started to see me as an adult woman for once, she listens to me in another way. She might have done so all along, but she speaks to me in another way, she uses different words now. (1)

To feel an inner change: new perspectives and values

The women relate that they are happy and preoccupied with the pregnancy and that they like to talk about it with others. They are also surprised about the mood swings that they experience. They feel that they do not react in the same way as before, they react more strongly, become angry more easily, and feel intensely engaged. The women are also more sensitive or emotional in terms of how easily they are moved by things. They feel humility towards life and express this as an inner change, an inner calm, and as if they are taking a new path in their lives and that they have changed mentally. The women claim that knowledge about their pregnancy leads to change and development of their personality through a process of reflecting on their thoughts and core values and about the changes that are taking place within them. They say that they have developed a new self-esteem. The pregnancy in this context brings a new understanding of what is important and essential in life and what is not. This can result in the forming of new values.

I feel a calm in my body that I haven't had before in my life … so I feel that I am in balance with myself thanks to this force. I haven't got time for unnecessary things or place or time, you know what I mean, it doesn't feel so important anymore to think of myself so much whereas before I kept analysing what I felt. But I don't anymore and it's nice to not have to do that... (1)

To feel a miraculous vigour

The women refer to a sense of the divinity of life, a supernatural force within their body, and that they feel the soul of the foetus within themselves. This and the feeling of a miracle awaken almost religious thoughts. The experience of being in balance is a joyous one and being pregnant also gives the women a sense of calm within their body. The women discuss being pregnant as something great; it is a natural part of life connecting them to the meaning of life and life is great. They feel gratitude towards life. At the same time, they think about the responsibility they will have as a parent.

Then there are grander thoughts about, well the whole world and the state of things. Being pregnant feels like an amazing miracle but it also awakens a lot of thoughts. I'm not religious, but it prompts some kind of religious contemplation, about whether there is something greater that controls things, well, I don't know how to explain. I have thought more about … the circle of life, people that were born and people that die and well, that it goes around all the time like this and one wonders what happens afterwards, if something happens afterwards, a lot of thoughts like that … that life actually feels fantastic and beautiful really and that what one thinks about, is if there really is somebody pulling the strings after all, some kind of greater force or something … (4)

Interpreted wholeness

To be in early pregnancy for the first time represents a life opening , including both life affirmation and suffering and that is a process of opening up different dimensions of life. The women express themselves as being chosen and refer to a feeling of holiness. For the women, a life opening is to be confronted with questions of life and to see certain values from a wider perspective. This means to meet and reflect on their own existential and spiritual values. The women become aware of their own lives at the same time as becoming aware of the fact of giving a new life. This may cause loneliness and a feeling of being lost, both in trying to understand the meaning of life and in making important decisions. Becoming and being pregnant does not always generate happiness and joy and this can be difficult in the face of people's expectations. Bodily discomforts and an increased sensitivity may contribute to feelings of being alien to oneself. Not being able to share the pregnancy and joy with parents, especially mothers, awakens feelings of loss, sadness, and disappointment. Relations with others mean that the women see themselves as a part of a greater context, from a girl to a woman becoming a mother; they are integrated with other human beings and especially with their mothers and families. The love for the children and the security of their partner are expressed as being the most life enhancing. For the women who have lost a parent, the grief is brought back again and they feel a loss over the fact that the deceased parent will never know his or her grandchild. At the same time, the women express joy about the fact that the expected child will bring a new generation to the family. When reflecting on becoming a mother and starting a family, the women say that they have developed as a person and that a new consciousness about life has grown within them, a life opening.

The interviews in our study consisted of two stages. First the woman had to draw a picture about her experiences of pregnancy. The picture was the starting point for the interview (Högberg, 1996 ). The aim was to give the women an opportunity to reflect on her experiences. This may be one explanation as to why so many existential questions were raised during the interviews. This format is unique to studies about pregnancy. The limitation of our study is that it is conducted in a Swedish context with a small group of women. All qualitative studies must be related to a particular context and, thus, never to be understood as presenting universal claims (Dahlberg et al., 2008 ). This is also in accordance with Davis-Floyd ( 1992 ) who states that pregnancy is a culturally, socially, and physically transformative event that must be viewed in the context in which it occurs. However, the fact that these results are contextual does not imply that they are inapplicable and have no meaning in other contexts. Application of the results to new contexts could be understood as entailing an open-ended process of understanding, which is also depicted in the metaphor of the hermeneutic circle (Dahlberg et al., 2008 ). In order to establish confidence in the interpretations of the meaning of the data, quotations are included so that the reader can judge if these interpretations are reasonable or not. The ambition has been to be aware of the subtle voices of the women and true to the phenomena that are studied. In order to achieve this, two of the authors (CM and IB) made the analysis and the third (IL) read and reviewed the analysis in relation to the themes and sub-themes.

The results from this study show that early pregnancy for first time pregnant women is a life opening. Life opening in early pregnancy may be understood as a starting point for women's development during the childbearing process (defined as the period from pregnancy to birth). Confronting one's own values and tackling existential questions is important according to our study. The importance of existential questions for women during early pregnancy may be a result of the fact that the women during birth, as mentioned by Hall ( 2002 ), border the very edges of life and death. The act of birth has a raw earthiness that leads women to the very roots and bareness of their being (Hall, 2002 ). Furthermore, pregnancy is a rite of passage (Davies, 2002 ) whereby existential and spiritual questions are emphasised. This is also verified by Callister ( 2004 ), who states that a transcendent emotional and spiritual experience is essential for women's experiences of birth. Seibold ( 2004 ) also shows how pregnancy changes the woman. Pregnancy marks a transition to adulthood and a positive, evolving sense of identity. This is further verified by Hall ( 2006 ), who claims that the birth of a child has the potential to have a profound effect on women's personal wholeness. Thus the concept of life opening has similarities with the concepts of transition (Imle, 1990 ) and transformation (Bergum, 1997 ), especially concerning motherhood.

According to our study, becoming a mother can generate unusual feelings, feelings touching on holiness, power, and life. This is verified by Hall ( 2002 ), who states that there is more to the period of childbearing than just the physical and emotional experience. There is potential for spirituality in all humans and it can be expressed in many ways. Callister, Semenic, and Foster ( 1999 ) discussed in their study the possibility that religious beliefs help women define the meaning of birth and may provide coping mechanisms for the intensity of giving birth. In the light of our study the meaning of early pregnancy can be understood as an integral part of the spiritual dimensions of the women's lives. It is interesting that this existential dimension is so central in our secularised society.

Another aspect of life opening is about making connections with other women. Bondas ( 2005 ) calls this sisterly communion, which is central for women's experiences of pregnancy,birth and the first days with the new baby. According to Callister ( 2004 ), connectedness with women across the generations is important for pregnant women. Women want to be connected to other women and to share both joy and suffering. To connect to other women is also to prepare for the new role as a mother. Wiktorell and Saveman ( 1996 ) show how the pregnant woman is influenced by both her mother and grandmother. During early pregnancy, the woman's knowledge of childbirth and raising children is often gained through contact with mothers and grandmothers (Wiktorell & Saveman, 1996 ). The importance of contact across the generations is verified by our study. Our study shows that the woman's own mother is important and that pregnant women often want more contact with them. For women with bad relationships, this experience may stir up intense feelings. Women express pleasure in providing a next generation through the expected child according to the results of our study. Seibold ( 2004 ) has similar findings.

Support is very important throughout the pregnancy according to Schneider ( 2002 ), and women seek the reassurance of important others. They wonder about changing relationships with their partners, friends, and mothers. Even if support during childbirth has been evaluated as one important aspect of labour (Hodnett, Gates, Hofmeyr, & Sakala, 2007 ), very little research has focused on pregnancy. Pregnancy at a young age brought a renewed sense of closeness and appreciation of the women's mothers. According to Bergum ( 1997 ), women hope that they will be transformed so they can be the mothers they want to be. Their own mother is the most important woman to connect to but other women can also give hope to go through the unknown in the pregnancy.

Early pregnancy can be a balancing act between sharing with others and keeping the pregnancy a secret according to our study. The women keep the pregnancy a secret, since they are not sure that everything will end as hoped. Pregnancy is a patchwork of joy and suffering. A woman's altered mode of being involves worries and variations in moods (Bondas & Eriksson, 2001 ).

According to Melander ( 2002 ) and Melander and Lauri ( 1999 ), all the women in their study expressed fear that was associated with pregnancy, childbirth, or stemming from feelings of uncertainty. As in our study, Melander ( 2002 ) found that primiparous women's fears were based on uncertainty because they had no prior experience of pregnancy. Schneider ( 2002 ) considers that most of the women have experienced anxiety about the possibility of having a miscarriage or foetal abnormalities.

Further aspects of life opening involve making important decisions that may cause feelings of loneliness and suffering. Melander and Lauri ( 1999 ) have similar findings in their study. During the early stages of pregnancy, some of the women did not dare to speak about how they felt and suffered quietly by themselves (Melander & Lauri, 1999 ). Some of the women felt fearful and uncertain according to Schneider ( 2002 ) and the need for support from family and friends became obvious. In our study similar feelings and experiences were expressed by the women. Some women have a close contact with others and can discuss existential questions of life. The support friends give a woman can be described as natural care (Eriksson, 1997 ). However, professional care (Eriksson, 1997 ) has other dimensions, which are of importance for all women. A midwife's professional care may give the woman a feeling of connecting to other women. This can equip the woman to cope with health issues during pregnancy, to prepare for birth, and the contact with the baby. Meetings with a supportive midwife during early pregnancy can encourage the woman to talk about existential questions. This form of care may be seen as health promoting. It is a challenge for maternity care to not only emphasise the medical aspects of care, as earlier research has indicated is often the case (Olsson, 2000 ).

This is further verified by Coggins ( 2003 ) who claims that it is time for midwives to re-examine their role and responsibilities in the first trimester, and develop practice accordingly for the sake of the profession and for the women and families it cares for. According to Coggins ( 2003 ), early contact with a midwife may be important from a family perspective, concerning lifestyle alterations, and to reduce the need for medical interventions in later pregnancy. Hall ( 2006 ) also claims that there is little discussion about meeting spiritual needs and personal wholeness at the beginning of life compared to the end of life.

For some women, the suffering associated with being pregnant was overwhelming and they even questioned what they were a part of and the existence of life. To find meaning they tried to motivate themselves and endure. According to Wiklund ( 2000 ), meaning provides an opportunity to integrate suffering. The suffering becomes a part of the process of becoming, whereby the woman shapes herself and her being. Bergum ( 1997 ) considers that women expect to be different as mothers; they are continually reminded by everyone that they will never be the same again. In choosing to become mothers, women worry about this change.

Becoming a mother also implies change in relationships with colleagues at work. Women may be more irritable at work, but when they finally tell their colleagues they receive understanding. Do women want to be treated in a special way during pregnancy? Schneider ( 2002 ) suggests that when the women told their colleagues they became supportive and interested in the pregnancy and they were notably more protective. However, the women in our study expressed worries about being left behind in terms of their future careers.

Implications for health care

The findings from our study describe how first time pregnant women articulate their experiences of being in the early stages of pregnancy. Early pregnancy is a life opening , which may prompt reflections on existential questions, a process that might lead to loneliness. Therefore, it is important that women have an opportunity to meet a midwife in early pregnancy, something which is lacking in Sweden and other countries today.

Conflict of interest and funding

There is no conflict of interest. The authors have not received any funding for conducting this study.

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Pregnancy & Motherhood

Relationships between a man and a woman is one of the most powerful and amazing things on a planet. They can vary considerably, and all of them have their beginning and end or may last forever. People meet, learn each other, have emotions to each other, start dating, get married, and, if they lucky enough, give birth to a child. This is one of the most successful lines of how relations can be developed. Unfortunately, not all people have this type of relations. Nowadays, numerous obstacles can take place, and people are not always ready to solve them properly. At the same time, not all people define pregnancy as a gift (due to a considerable amount of abortion acts), those, who really want it, cannot but admire an idea of having a baby. And pregnancy is considered to be a magnificent period, when a woman carries her baby under her heart and feel the emotions never known before.

Everything begins when a person sees two lines on a pregnancy test. These two lines symbolize of a hope for every woman, who is eager to know what it is to be a mother. These two lines become a start of a new life. These two lines offer a woman new opportunities and responsibilities that can never be neglected. It is hard to describe the feelings of a woman, who see these two lines for the first time. For some women, it is a real shock as it is unexpected and, sometimes, undesirable. Some women cannot but smile and inform the closest relatives about this happy occasion. Someone may accept this fact as something ordinary that requires many efforts, much time, and the necessity to change the priorities. Anyway, the presence of these two lines in a life of a human leads to a number of changes, happiness, and a possibility to make this world better and kinder at least for a while.

With time, a woman experiences a number of new emotions and demands. Some men cannot even realize that this is a real challenge to carry out a baby, to be a one whole with a baby, and to feel a serious responsibility for someone’s life. Still, women should know that along with happiness of pregnancy, certain difficulties will certainly come. First, pregnant women should follow their feeding and drinking processes as it is desirable to avoid using harmful products like coffee, alcohol, or some spicy food. Second, smoking women should drop their habit to provide a child with a chance to have a healthy life. Finally, to be pregnant means to avoid certain physical activities that may influence a baby. Women are happy indeed when they have a chance to enjoy each day of their pregnancies, think about their future, plan numerous details connected with babies, etc. It seems to be so nice to look at a pregnant woman with a belly, who is choosing some clothes for her future child. As a rule, many emotions embrace people, who observe this picture.

For some women, the period of pregnancy lasts too long due to constant health problems and the necessity to control their lives and bodies. To enjoy the day when it is possible to see a real face of a baby, a woman should pass through some challenges and obligations like morning sickness, headache, leg cramping, and inabilities to use drugs to decrease pain Flazman & Sherman, 2008). Of course, it is not an easy task to give a life, still, women are provided with such a possibility. Men do not have a physical chance to understand what pregnancy really means (except Arnold Schwarzenegger in Junior), how it is difficult to have a huge belly and do not have a chance to sleep on it (Tropp, 2013). In fact, there are many DON’Ts that should be followed by every pregnant woman, and there are so many DOs that should be demonstrated by a man. If future parents want to benefit from a gift offered by a stork, they have to believe in it and do everything possible and even impossible to create the most appropriate conditions (both tangible and intangible) for their future baby.

In nine months, the period of pregnancy comes to its end. The baby is coming. The mother is worried. The father does not know what to do. This turmoil is an ordinary thing for a day of birth. However, an unbelievable silence and amazement take place as soon as a newborn child appears in a room. The moment when a mother, a father, and a child (or several children) are in one room at the same time, causes a variety of emotions. This first meeting inspires a lot and proves that the world is not as cruel as it seems and people are kinder and more sympathetic. Being pregnant is a period that is over. Now, it is high time to look at a baby and accept it as a new part of this life, the part that cannot be forgotten or left but has to be loved and taken care of.

CDC Home. (2013). Pregnancy rates for US women continue to drop.

Flaxman, S.M. & Serman, P.W. (2008). Morning sickness: Adaptive cause or nonadaptive consequence of embryo viability? The American Naturalist, 172(1), 54-62.

Tropp, L. (2013). A womb with a view: America’s growing public interest in pregnancy. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

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Essay on Pregnancy

Students are often asked to write an essay on Pregnancy in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Pregnancy

What is pregnancy.

Pregnancy is when a baby grows inside a woman’s womb or uterus. It starts when a sperm from a man joins with a woman’s egg. This tiny new life is called an embryo at first, and then a fetus as it gets bigger. A full pregnancy usually lasts about nine months.

Stages of Pregnancy

Pregnancy has three parts called trimesters. Each trimester is about three months long. In the first, the baby’s body is forming. During the second, the baby grows bigger and stronger. In the last trimester, the baby gets ready to be born.

Changes in the Mother

A pregnant woman’s body changes a lot. She may feel tired, have morning sickness, and her belly will grow as the baby does. She needs to eat healthy foods, get checkups, and take care of herself to help her baby grow strong.

The Birth of the Baby

When the baby is ready to be born, the mother will feel labor pains. This is when her body tells her it’s time for the baby to come out. The baby will come out through the birth canal, and the family will welcome a new member.

250 Words Essay on Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the time when a baby grows inside a mother’s womb. It starts when a sperm from the father joins with an egg from the mother. This can happen through a natural process when parents are trying to have a baby, or through medical help if they are having trouble.

Pregnancy lasts about nine months and is divided into three parts, called trimesters. In the first trimester, the baby is just starting to form. The mother might feel tired and sick. The second trimester is often easier. The baby grows bigger, and the mother can feel it move. In the last part, the third trimester, the baby gets ready to be born. The mother’s belly is very big, and she might feel uncomfortable and excited to meet her baby.

Health During Pregnancy

It’s important for the mother to take care of herself and the baby. Eating healthy food, going to the doctor for check-ups, and staying away from bad habits like smoking or drinking alcohol are all very important. These things help the baby grow strong and healthy.

Having the Baby

When the baby is ready to come out, the mother will feel pains called contractions. This is when the baby is pushing to get out of the womb. The mother will go to a hospital or a birthing center where doctors or nurses will help her give birth. After the baby is born, it’s a happy time for the family as they welcome the new member.

Pregnancy is a special time when a new life is being made. It’s full of changes, care, and excitement as families prepare for a new baby.

500 Words Essay on Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the time when a baby grows inside a woman’s womb or uterus. It starts when a sperm from a man joins with an egg from a woman. This is called fertilization. The fertilized egg then attaches to the wall of the uterus. This is the beginning of a nine-month journey, which we divide into three parts called trimesters.

The Three Trimesters

The first trimester is from week one to the end of week 12. During this time, the baby is called an embryo. It’s a critical time because all the baby’s organs start to form. The mother might feel very tired and sick as her body changes.

The second trimester is from week 13 to the end of week 26. The baby is now called a fetus. This is when the mother can feel the baby moving. The baby’s skin is thin and red, and its bones start to harden.

The third trimester is from week 27 until the birth. The baby grows bigger and stronger. It can now blink, dream, and even listen to sounds. The mother’s belly is very big, and she might feel uncomfortable and excited to meet her baby.

Changes in the Mother’s Body

A woman’s body goes through many changes during pregnancy. She might gain weight and feel different emotions. Her belly will grow as the baby grows. She will also visit the doctor often to make sure she and the baby are healthy. These visits are called prenatal care.

Healthy Habits for Pregnancy

It’s important for a mother to take care of herself during pregnancy. Eating healthy foods and staying away from harmful substances like cigarettes and alcohol are very important. Taking vitamins, getting rest, and doing gentle exercises can help keep the mother and baby healthy.

When the baby is ready to be born, the mother will feel contractions. These are like very strong belly aches that come and go. They mean the baby is pushing its way out. Birth usually happens in a hospital, but some choose to have their babies at home. Doctors, nurses, or midwives help the mother during birth.

After the Baby is Born

After the baby is born, it’s a time for joy and celebration. The mother will keep taking care of herself and the baby. The baby will need to eat often and sleep a lot. The mother might feel many emotions and get tired, but it’s important to ask for help if she needs it.

Pregnancy is a special time when a new life is growing. It brings changes and new responsibilities. It’s important for the mother to take good care of herself and get ready for the arrival of her baby. With support from family, friends, and doctors, she can look forward to the birth of her child. When the baby finally arrives, it’s the start of a new adventure for the whole family.

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The Other Pregnancy Depression

I wanted this baby. i planned for this baby. why wasn’t i happy.

For eight months, I tirelessly tracked my periods, stockpiled ovulation strips and pregnancy tests, and even borrowed a busty fertility statue curvy enough to make a Kardashian jealous. After putting our toddler to bed, wearing a stained nightshirt and messy topknot, I’d tap my fatigued husband on the shoulder with a raised eyebrow, tilting my head toward the bedroom—the epitome of romance. I brought home the sample cup and informed him what he might have to do with it, or rather, in it. I’d begun entertaining the pros and cons of IUI vs. IVF; had tests to confirm I was still ovulating; and agreed that, at my next appointment, they should push dye through my fallopian tubes to check for blockage. It’s a miracle anyone gets pregnant by accident.

“I just don’t know how we’ll afford another one,” my husband moaned. Child care is expensive and time is scarce for two full-time working parents who moonlight as a writer and a musician.

A part of me agreed that two children were too many. I imagined myself underslept and overstimulated, racing between soccer and ballet. I could picture the manic orchestration of two packed lunches instead of one; all those emotional negotiations, doubled. (Cheese string or cheese cube? Banana peeled or unpeeled? But you just asked for … )  I was also not particularly excited by the idea of repeating the postpartum period ever again, complete with its bloody nipples and night sweats, rageful fits, and submarine-size mesh underwear. But I had no idea about the emotional deluge that awaited me.

My first pregnancy, at 37, was a product of decision fatigue. I didn’t ache for a baby, but my curiosity poked at me. We conceived without much effort, and I was immediately at peace with the decision. I came to understand that I’m the kind of person who’d never be satisfied not knowing the dark, expansive truth about motherhood. Writers are addicts, too; motherhood was abundant with new material.

This time, I was about to turn 40. As I considered the question, my OB-GYN spoke to me as if getting pregnant “at my age” would be a holy miracle worthy of its own biblical passage. Two of my closest friends had been in yearslong battles with second-child infertility. I saw the money they’d spent and the disappointment they’d weathered. But, I have a brother and I’ve always found it deeply comforting to have one other person who will always speak the language of my childhood. So I persisted, like some baby-obsessed sadist.

“I know, I know ,” I said to my husband. “But finances change. Biology doesn’t.”

Then, on a Tuesday morning in May, while waiting patiently on the seat of my toilet, I finally saw the two pink lines. I burst into tears. They were not happy tears.

A sick, sticky feeling of regret rose up to the base of my throat. Dread arrived in the pit of my stomach. I was having the kind of stark realization that comes after you push a red button and immediately understand the deep, eternal consequence of your actions. Instantly I began to mourn my nightly eight hours of sleep, my early-morning writing time, the work I’d done to repair a fragile relationship to my changing body, and the dissolution of my little family of three.

When you have a second child, people say things like, “You know what to do now! You’ve been here before!” And yet, this is exactly where my fear stemmed from. The first time, I only had my own optimism to rely on. This time I knew exactly what to expect, and I knew it wasn’t always pretty.

First came the depression-crying, the kind of tears that run like a faucet, unprovoked and without warning. Nothing prompted them, and I couldn’t attach their overflow to any particular emotion. The crying just … happened. In the car, at my desk, while cooking dinner. I felt sadness as if it were a vague, misty concept that came knocking, uninvited in its hazmat suit, to fumigate my entire body.

Next came the anxiety, a certainty that something would be wrong: with me, the baby, my pregnancy. I feared that because I was less excited about this pregnancy—more distracted, lethargic—that I would somehow damage the baby by osmosis. I got a therapist. She tried to assure me this was not possible and that I was experiencing something called “cognitive dissonance.” I had already created an alternate reality for myself with no basis in fact. Colored by my past experiences and deepest fears, I fabricated a false truth that did not exist. Too bad hormones don’t care about logic—or psychology.

Soon I began to obsess over the postpartum period, certain I would suffer from debilitating postpartum depression. If it’s this bad now, I thought. Aside from some white-hot postpartum rage, I’d managed to evade this common disorder—the subject, lately, of so many articles , books , and movies —after my daughter’s birth, but I remember seeing it from afar. It loomed just out of my periphery; if I’d taken just one wrong turn, I could have been enveloped into its blackness.

This fear only made the tears come harder. I imagined long, mind-numbing days at home, sobbing while the baby shrieked its tinny, incessant wails. I tried not to entertain what sort of intrusive thoughts I might have. I feared I would resent my new baby for taking me further from my writing, my body, my relationships, my daughter. That the baby would sense this anger and grow up to be the subject of one of the true-crime documentaries my husband and I often watched.

More than anything, however, I was caught off guard. I was officially middle-aged, a mother for three years now, and I didn’t consider that I could be this sad during my pregnancy. Especially a pregnancy I planned—and thought I wanted. I was drowning in the emotional quicksand of my own making.

Begrudgingly I’d deliver the news to friends, knowing they’d respond with squeals of joy and congratulations. I didn’t know how to explain that I did not feel like celebrating. I simply told them the truth, that I was sad, that it wasn’t like this last time, that I’m working on it, because people need resolutions. Then one day, a friend sent me a life raft.

“I got on Zoloft as soon as I hit the second trimester. First time in a decade,” she replied in a text.

You can do that? A small, invisible weight was lifted from my shoulders.

Another friend said something similar. She didn’t take one photo of herself pregnant, she told me. She cried often and struggled to be the mom she wanted to be for her 2-year-old. This friend also happens to be a clinical psychologist. I was relieved to hear her personal anecdotes, but I also wanted to know her professional point of view: Why aren’t more people talking about this? Are they? And I’m just left out of the conversation? I asked her to speak with me, not as my friend, but as Dr. Rebecca Lesser Allen.

“Statistically, antenatal depression is almost as common as postpartum depression,” Allen told me. “There’s increased awareness about postpartum depression. You get screened for it by your OB and your pediatrician, and they talk to you about it at the hospital, but no one really addresses antenatal depressive disorders, and I have no idea why that is.”

According to the Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 1 in 7–10 women will develop a depressive disorder during pregnancy. For reference, 1 in 5–8 women will experience depression postpartum. That’s more than a half million women each year who will confront a depressive disorder at some point during or after gestation.

We can (finally) talk about depression and anxiety after the baby’s born, but not while we’re pregnant? Since it’s not commonly discussed outside of mom circles, does the stigma around it run deeper? Logically, I knew that I had no reason to be ashamed of my emotional downward spiral. Intellectually, I understood that hormones are a racket and it’s OK to feel something other than elation about a pregnancy. The reality of motherhood can be joyful but also brutal. But why is this nuance so hard for us as a culture?

“We have this expectation that people are supposed to feel a consistent, simple way about something as enormous as creating and giving birth to and raising a baby, and that’s not fair,” Allen said. “It’s a huge thing.” Even for those who’ve gone to extensive lengths to get pregnant, it’s not so black and white. “Going through IVF and fertility issues is challenging, complicated, and traumatic, and so there becomes this huge expectation, but the reality is that being a mom is hard,” Allen said.

Allen points to Brooke Shields’ memoir, Down Came the Rain , published in 2005, which contained the story of Shields’ postpartum depression, and the subsequent press in which she promoted it. In the early aughts, such confessions were still new, and Shields received a great deal of criticism for openly sharing stories of her thoughts of infanticide, and for taking medication. Today that kind of vulnerability might receive much more support—but even in 2024, it depends on what side of the aisle you sit.

“Back [in the early 2000s], people believed that postpartum depression definitively meant that you didn’t want to be a mother. Now we know that’s just not accurate,” Allen continued. “I think because there hasn’t been the same normalization of depression during pregnancy, we assume it must mean that you don’t want the baby, simply because we don’t have enough practice talking about it.”

Still. I’m a woman who was born in the Deep South in the early 1980s. The patriarchal, puritanical voices I’d grown up around still speak to me, wanting me to believe that these fears were all my fault. I wanted this, right? So why am I so sad? I explained my fear to Allen: If I admit I feel anything less than elation, I’m afraid I won’t only feel guilty, I’ll somehow be punished.

“It reflects your internalization that this is not allowed,” she said. “And when we feel depressed or anxious during our pregnancy, it creates so much shame because we think, ‘I’m so lucky, people struggle to get pregnant, I’m selfish.’ It’s a bad way to feel.”

What’s even more bleak is that I can’t help but assume that this dead zone in conversation simply reflects our nation’s priorities. Does the silence confirm our lack of concern for women’s mental health? (I feel like I know the answer.)

Part of me wonders if we put less emphasis on maternal health during pregnancy because there is no baby yet. Do we care more about the mother’s mental health after the baby’s born because, in society’s mind , If she’s incapacitated, who else will take care of the baby ?! If you look at current public policy, it appears that all religious conservatives want is for the baby to be born, full stop, regardless of the financial, emotional, or physical toll this takes on a mother.

Allen is now out of the haze of newborn-toddler life. As for me, my son was born on Jan. 29. From behind a blue sheet and beneath the lucent glow of an operating light, I heard his first cries, a piercing shriek through air and liquid. For the first time in nine months, I felt pure and simple relief. You could even call it unbridled joy. I thought of Allen, who told me that as soon as her daughter was born, the fear and anxiety she’d carried along her pregnancy melted away. As I cradled my second child to my chest, I cried because he was finally here. I cried because, in that moment, I did not resent him. I cried because I know it doesn’t always happen like that for people with prenatal depression.

I still worry about the chaos of my new life with a newborn and a toddler. I wonder how I will maintain my writing practice, as well as excel in my full-time job, with two children. Ultimately, I find ease in knowing I’m not the only person who’s ever asked such questions. In her memoir, You Could Make This Place Beautiful , poet Maggie Smith writes, “I wonder: How will my children feel if they think that being seen as a mother wasn’t enough for me? What will they think of me, knowing I wanted a full life—a life with them and a life in words, too?”

What will my son think when he finds out that I felt pangs of sadness at his positive pregnancy test? That I struggled with the decision to bring him into our family? That I was overwhelmed by all that I wanted in life? I hope he’ll see an imperfect woman who isn’t afraid to tell the truth. Someone who wants to ask difficult questions. A woman who believes in the beautiful mess of an honest life, nuance and all.

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Essay On Pregnant Womens Health

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Children , Family , Pregnancy , Parents , Women , Health , Education , Food

Words: 1700

Published: 02/22/2020

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This paper will talk about pregnancy. It will give the physical and the psychological changes that the pregnant mother will experience throughout the period of pregnancy. Pregnancy is a journey will ensure the safe delivery of the baby while maintaining the mother in a healthy condition. The paper will also talk about the tests that the pregnant mother will undergo during the period of pregnancy because in this period the mother faces many risks of getting a disease basing on the previous pregnancies or developing conditions. The diet that the pregnant mother uses in the period is also of vital importance and the paper will give what the mother will eat during and after pregnancy to ensure the health of the baby is good. It will also give what the mother should not eat that may pose a risk to the mother and the baby. A special connection exists between the mother and the unborn baby and the paper will give how they connect. Finally, the paper will give the summary of the changes that the mother will go through in the three trimesters.

Introduction

Becoming a mother is the most exciting time in a woman’s life. Pregnancy is an amazing journey and a pregnant woman experiences many changes both physical and emotional changes. The changes will totally have an impact on the woman’s life from relationships to the way she eats and the choices she makes at home and work. All the changes and the choices are to ensure the mother and the baby are safe. Pregnancy involves many sacrifices because the mother must put the needs of someone else above her own. The woman must have emotional readiness to receive the baby and be ready to become a mother. She also has day-to-day needs of the house even though the husband may help. The woman must change her lifestyle to accommodate the child. Every pregnancy has some risks of problems. The causes of the problems may be because of the conditions the mother has or conditions developed during the pregnancy. The problems also include being pregnant with more than one baby. They affect the health of the other and the baby.

There are prenatal tests that the pregnant woman undergoes before delivery. The first test is first to determine if the pregnancy is there. Screening tests are necessary because it helps in detecting the disease or a condition in the early stages before it develops into a bigger problem. Early detection of a disease is easy to treat. During the early stages of pregnancy, the doctor will to the pregnant woman and asks her general questions about her family history, social history, general health and previous pregnancies. For example, if the pregnant woman had diabetes in the previous pregnancy, she will require close monitoring to ensure safe delivery. If also, the woman has a social problem like domestic violence, a special help to her is important. The weight and height checks occur during the early stages of pregnancy. This is to see if the mother is underweight or overweight which increases the potential of developing problems during pregnancy. The assessment of the growth of the baby occurs during the antenatal checks. This happens by use of a tape measure from the top of the womb to the pubic bone. The blood pressure of the mother is also an important aspect of the health of the mother during pregnancy. Blood pressure of pregnant mothers tends to increase during pregnancy. This affects the unborn baby and may even lead to death of the fetus. Examination of the baby`s position must also happen. This occurs at about week 36 of pregnancy. This is to ensure that the baby is lying in the breech position. Urine tests include the tests on protein, glucose and bacteria. Test on protein in the urine indicates the existence of pre-eclampsia. Glucose testing is a test for sugars and it is an initial check for diabetes. Blood tests check for anemia, Rhesus factor, infections and hemoglobin disorders. The infections checked for include HIV status, syphilis and hepatitis B (Mattison, 2013). The checks on hemoglobin disorders will detect the presence of any disorder like anemia. Ultra sound scan happens to give the images of the unborn baby. Two scans normally happen: during the early pregnancy to work out on the due date of the baby delivery and later in the pregnancy to show if there are any developing problems with the baby.Screening for downs syndrome must also happen during the pregnancy period. Down`s syndrome is a genetic chromosome disorder that babies are born with.

Eating well during pregnancy is important because it ensures the health of the mother and the development of the unborn baby occurs. A pregnant mother should consume 300 calories a day than she did before becoming pregnant (Lammi-keefe, 2008). Nausea and vomiting may make eating difficult during the first months of pregnancy but the mother should try eating a well balance diet. The mother needs to eat variety of foods to get the nutrients for the nourishment of the baby. A healthy diet for the mother includes carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, fats, plenty of water and minerals. The proteins ensure the blood production and cell growth. The best sources for proteins include eggs, fish, peanut butter and lean meat. The carbohydrates provide daily energy for the mother. The sources include bread, potatoes, fruits, vegetables, rice and cereals. Vitamins promote the formation of red blood cells, healthy skin, assistance in iron formation and growth of bones. The minerals important for the pregnant mother include iron, which is important in the production of red blood cells to prevent anemia. The foods rich in iron include spinach and lean red meat. The fats act as store for energies and the foods rich in fats include dairy products, meat, margarine and peanut butter. There are foods and drinks that the mother must avoid during pregnancy.The mother should take no amount of alcohol consumption. The alcohol is not good for the development of the baby. Seafood is a great source of omega 3 fatty acids and proteins necessary for the brain development. However, there are fish that contain high levels of mercury that leads to the damage of the baby`s developing nervous system. The mother should avoid this. Undercooked meat is not also good for the mother and the developing baby. Unpasteurized food products are posing as risk to the health of the mothers. The pregnant mothers should avoid eating the unpasteurized foods because they lead to foodborne illness.

Mother and fetus connection

The baby becomes a living being from conception time and reacts to the changes to the changes in the environment of the mother`s womb. The physical, emotion, food intake and psychological condition of the mother are factors that affect the baby.What the mother takes as food influences the development of the baby. A pregnant woman shares physical effects with the baby by the hormones and chemicals in her bloodstream. If the mother is stressed the baby reacts to the emotions the mother experiences by being restless. The babies in the womb communicate, perceive and learn at multiple levels. They are very aware and sensitive of their mothers experience and the environment. For example, playing loud music affects the baby in the womb and they respond by kicking. The baby seeks tenders, happiness, delight and laughter. Each pregnant mother develops way to bond with the baby in the stomach

Summary of the changes during pregnancy

Pregnancy lasts for about forty weeks if you count from the first day of the last normal period. The summary are in weeks trimesters and the mother has the following changes:

First trimester (week 1- week 12)

During this period, the body of the mother undergoes many changes. The hormonal changes affect almost every organ of the mother. The changes include extreme tiredness, tender swollen breasts, morning sickness, mood swings, constipation, weight loss/gain, heartburn and vomiting.

Second trimester (Weeks 13- week 28)

This trimester is not difficult like the first trimester. The abdomen is expanding during this trimester and the mother begins to feel the baby move. The mother experiences aches on thigh, groin and back pains. The stretch marks begin to appear on the breasts, buttocks and thighs. The skin around the nipples begins to dampen and become dark. The mother feels itchy on the abdomen, soles of feet and palms (Tulman &Fawcett, 2003). There is loss of appetite and likelihood of vomiting. The ankles face and the ankles become swollen. This is leads to an increase in weight.

Third trimester (Week 29- week 40)

This is the homestretch. The discomforts in the second trimester may continue in this trimester. In this trimester, breathing becomes difficult and the mother has to go to the bathroom many times. This is because the baby is growing bigger and it puts pressure on the organs. The tender breasts sometimes start leaking pre-milk called colostrum. The belly button sticks out and the woman experiences sleepless nights. Heartburns are also a characteristic in this trimester. There are contractions, which are signs of false or real labor. Hemorrhoids may also occur in this trimester. When the due date approaches, the cervix becomes thinner and softer through a process called effacing. This process helps the birth canal to open.

Lammi-Keefe, C. J., Couch, S. C., & Philipson, E. H. (2008). Handbook of nutrition and pregnancy. Totowa, N.J: Humana Press. Mattison, D. R. (2013). Clinical pharmacology during pregnancy. Amsterdam: Academic Press. Tulman, L., & Fawcett, J. (2003). Women's health during and after pregnancy: A theory- based study of adaptation to change. New York: Springer Pub. Co.

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My pregnancy experience.

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                          Before my pregnancy I had heard different types of stories about pregnancy, labor, and delivery. Some of the stories were good and some of the stories were bad. Therefore, in my mind I expected to feel a certain way when I found out I was going to be a mother. All sorts of questions were running through my head. "Are the stories true about pregnancy?", "Will I feel like that?", "Will the labor hurt that bad?", and most of all "Am I ready to be a mother?" Well, I guess all I could do was wait and find out for myself. Instead my pregnancy, labor, and delivery were an experience that I never anticipated and will never forget.              When I found out I was two months pregnant, I had all sorts of emotions run through my body. I thought about the consequences I was going to have to face such as what my mother would say or think when she found out I was pregnant, especially at the age of 18. I also thought about what my family would say and how they might disapprove of the situation. I also knew that the activities I enjoyed doing with my friends and family would have to stop. Five months later, I finally had the courage to tell my mother that I was pregnant. I knew my mother would be disappointed and upset at the news. But to my surprise she became very happy and supportive of throughout my pregnancy so was my family. I also stopped engaging in some of my old activities such as going to ceremonies, hanging out with friends late at night, and family occasions, but continued to make myself do other things such as go to school, work, and start a closer relationship with my mother. .              During my pregnancy, I thought I would be very miserable. Sometimes I read articles on pregnancy through the Internet and magazines. I read that pregnant women can do unhealthy things to themselves such as weight gain before birth and after birth or high blood pressure and thought all these actions would be terrible.

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Essays Related to My Pregnancy Experience

1. life or liberty.

essay on pregnancy experience

These groups generally only believe in ending the pregnancy early in case such as certain death caused by pregnancy, such as ectopic pregnancy. ... This is a belief that I have always had and that ultimately was cemented by my own experience. I found myself unprepared for a pregnancy shortly after high school in my late teens. ... Luckily I had the freedom to choose to end my pregnancy. ... Sharing my experience with friends over the years always opens up lines of communication with many of them that have gone through the same experience, or have known someone who has. ...

  • Word Count: 1267
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2. Teenage Pregnancy

essay on pregnancy experience

Teenage Pregnancy The subject of teenage pregnancy is a very personal subject for me because one of my best friends is currently pregnant. ... So the topic of teenage pregnancy is very relevant in my life right now and something that I would like to research to help out my friend, and friends in the future. ... And looking into the experiences that I am having right now with my friend I am actually noticing how much a child actually costs. ... In my opinion I believe that if everybody is more educated everywhere, just not in inner cities then maybe the teenage pregnancy rate would g...

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3. Difficult Pregnancy

essay on pregnancy experience

Difficult pregnancy, stronger faith, trust in God my experience brought all of these things together. ... My pregnancy was very stressful and the stress lasted throughout the next five month's. ... My sister became pepper in her early months of pregnancy and she appeared to have a glow around her. ... Many women have babies and never experience this kind of problem. ... Can a difficult pregnancy develop a stronger faith? ...

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4. right to choose

essay on pregnancy experience

Based upon my personal experience and ability to refute opposing views, I believe every woman, no matter what race, marital status, or age, has the right to her own reproductive self-determination and privacy of the decisions she makes. ... If not for freedom of choice my friend Jamie would not be where she is today. ... She is also thankful that the option of terminating the pregnancy was available to her. ... These are done by inducing pregnancy and then severing the fetus' cerebrum when delivered. ... In an ectopic pregnancy, the egg becomes implanted in one of the woman's fal...

  • Word Count: 963

5. Teenage Pregnancy

Teen Pregnancy Everyday more than 3,000 girls find out they"re pregnant. ... Most teen mothers are less likely to graduate from high school and their kids are often born at low birth weight or experience health and development problems. ... "The media also plays a big role in the teenage sex and pregnancy. ... Easy access to contraception's help reduce the cost of teen pregnancy. ... I know how much it cost because I get the shot and for now my insurance plan covers it until I am 18 then I"m going to have to play for it which gets expensive. ...

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6. Pregnancy - A Letter to My Son

essay on pregnancy experience

The purpose of this letter is to provide you with all the information about my pregnancy, the process of giving birth to you, and include all the factors that I believe affected your overall development. ... That feeling of confusion and depression I was experiencing, I now know were influenced by different domains; social-emotional and social-cultural factors, and perhaps some biological factors, too. ... I have to admit my temper got worse the first few months of pregnancy; I felt like I hated your father, everything seemed to irritate me. ... I can tell you, that after the third month afte...

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7. Birth Control and Teen Pregnancy

essay on pregnancy experience

The young couple would lose precious years of experiencing successes, failures, and teenage life in itself. ... My story is first-hand proof to how the typical parent acts when going through "the talk." My parents sat me down in my high school years, to tell me to "save myself for the married years.... As much as my heart was pounding along with the alarming thoughts in my head as to what they were going to say, I finally caught enough breath and nerve to release my secretive information. ... Teen pregnancy rates have dropped in recent years. ...

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8. Teen Pregnancy

She took a pregnancy test and when the pregnancy test came out positive, she kept it a secret and explored her possible options. ... Her pregnancy not only affected her, but her family as well. The social problem focused on in the film is, teenage pregnancy. ... There are just so many people and things affected by teen pregnancies. ... Like, "what if my parents find out or my partner's parents, we could get in trouble with the law." ...

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9. Teen Pregnancies

Statistics about teen pregnancies are indicators of a societal problem. ... A fair number of pregnancies result from such foolishness. ... Initial sex experiences outside of marriage are often disciplinary because of high anxiety and guilt levels. ... What are my true feelings about this person? Are my partner and I able to communicate? ...

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  • Love & Sex

The Dilemma of Having a Breeding Kink When You Don't Want to Get Pregnant

Published on 2/22/2024 at 9:30 AM

Lesbian couple lies in bed together, covered with a duvet while their legs are entwined

I was at a party when I disclosed my "pregnancy fetish " — a phrase coined by my most recent partner — to a friend. In short, the idea of my partner impregnating me (read: ejaculating inside me) during sex was, to put it politely, exceptionally exciting.

"That's a breeding kink," replied my friend — a term I'd never heard. A quick Google search led me to the " impregnation fetishism" Wikipedia page , and for the first time, I could put a name to a sexual desire I'd experienced, but struggled to describe, for years.

What Is a Breeding Kink?

Simply put by therapist Emily May, LMFT, "the breeding kink is when someone fantasizes or gets turned on by the risk of becoming pregnant or getting someone pregnant." You may have heard about it on TikTok — search for #breedingkink , and you'll find jokey clips of it being "taken too far."

"I like the idea of getting pregnant, but I don't want to be pregnant."

The kink is often hard to explain because it's inherently irrational. "I like the idea of getting pregnant, but I don't want to be pregnant," I tell my friends as I'm met with perplexity. I'm 24 right now, and I don't want to have kids until I'm at least 30.

Melissa Cook, PhD, a relationship expert and sex therapist, confirms the kink's contradictory nature. "The allure of the breeding kink can be attributed to various factors that don't involve getting pregnant or having a baby," she says. "Sexual kinks commonly have a distinction between fantasy and reality, which allows people to explore scenarios and emotions that they might not wish to experience in real life."

Annabelle Knight, a sex and relationships expert, echoes this: "While some people may enjoy the mere idea of impregnation in sexual play, they may not desire pregnancy or parenthood. This is very commonly the case with many sexual fantasies."

Knight adds it's possible that there are more people that have "some form of breeding kink" and don't even realize it. "For example, anyone that enjoys the risk of unprotected sex, or asks their partner to finish inside of them, could be [experiencing] a breeding kink," she says.

My Experience as a Cis, Straight Woman With a Breeding Kink

My own fetish first reared itself when I was 18, when I asked my partner to ejaculate inside me. He seemed mortified by the thought of impregnating me, either accidentally or on purpose — so he declined my request. Despite the fact that I was on the pill, we were incredibly cautious, using condoms most of the time and the infamous "pull-out method" always.

I had a few sexual encounters as a single person after that, but I didn't experience the fetish again until I started seeing my most recent partner. From the beginning, we had undeniable chemistry and, better yet, a romantic connection. I realized then that I might have to be emotionally invested for the kink to kick in.

"The breeding kink may be rooted in the biological instinct to reproduce for others, the power dynamic, or the deep intimacy and connection felt during the act," May explains. For me, the latter reason seemed the most likely.

The impregnation fetish also doesn't correspond with one sexual orientation or gender identity over another. "There's no research to say the breeding kink is more common in those who can get pregnant, and people of all genders can enjoy the fantasy regardless of biological ability," May says. "It's not only opposite-sex couples that engage in the kink."

"My breeding kink never posed a threat in terms of having an unwanted pregnancy — that is, until last spring."

That said, I'm a heterosexual cisgender woman who's only ever sexually engaged with heterosexual cisgender men. I've been on some form of hormonal birth control since I was 14, so my breeding kink never posed a threat in terms of having an unwanted pregnancy — that is, until last spring, when I had my IUD removed. For the first time, my partner and I weren't using any protection, and my fetish only intensified. We had unprotected sex a few times, getting caught up in the kink and acknowledging the risks only afterward. I ended up taking Plan B twice within a four-week period.

But access to the morning-after pill isn't always a given, and as conservatives continue to attack reproductive rights , it's becoming less and less so. I was fortunately living in the UK at the time, where emergency contraception and safe abortions are widely accessible.

Not everyone can be so lucky. " Living in places where reproductive rights aren't assured can have a big impact on those engaging in the breeding kink," Dr. Cook explains. "This situation can lead to feelings of guilt, anxiety, and fear, all detracting from the pleasure of the fantasy."

According to Knight, a breeding kink "does come with the inherent risk of getting pregnant due to the nature of it often involving unprotected sex." I don't want to have children anytime soon, but I don't want to have an abortion as a result of my own recklessness, either — though I would choose to terminate an unplanned pregnancy. My breeding kink could literally derail my life, if I were to let it. Besides the strain of carrying a baby, there are medical bills and other expenses associated with pregnancy and childbirth — not to mention the costs, both financial and otherwise, of contraceptives in the first place.

As a woman in her mid-20s, I'm also hyper-aware that my child-rearing years won't last forever. I have friends who are pregnant or already have children; I have other friends who don't want kids at all. Being on birth control should be a personal choice, and if I didn't have this kink, I'd happily opt out of hormonal contraception.

I'm constantly reminded that as someone with a functional reproductive system, there are always larger considerations when it comes to sex. That's why it's so essential to have these conversations and provide adequate sex education (beyond bare-minimum anatomy lessons).

While I may choose to have children one day, for now, I'd like to keep fantasy and reality separate.

  • Personal Essay

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