WOMEN ‘S PREGNANCY ACCEPTANCE AND IDENTIFICATION WITH A MOTHERHOOD ROLE LINKED WITH RESPONCE TO PREGNANCY OF CLOSE PERSONS

Abstract

The aim. To analyse the links between pregnancy acceptance, identification with a motherhood role and the reaction to women ‘s pregnancy of close people - husband/partner, mother and father. Methods. The anonymous survey of pregnant women was performed in December 2018 - March 2019 in several healthcare institutions in Kaunas. Study participants were 217 pregnant women. Results. The study results revealed that better acceptance of pregnancy was related with more positive reactions to this pregnancy of husband/partner, women ‘s mother and father. Married women accepted the pregnancy more positively then cohabiting women. A stronger identification with a motherhood role during pregnancy was related with better pregnancy acceptance, more positive reactions to this pregnancy of husband/partner, women ‘s mother and it was more expressed in the third trimester of pregnancy. Other socio-demographic and pregnancy factors were not related with pregnancy acceptance and identification with a motherhood role. Conclusions. Positive reactions to pregnancy of close people, especially of husband/partner, may facilitate pregnancy acceptance and identification with motherhood role for pregnant women, as well a negative reaction may complicate it.