Psychology for Women Chapyter 10
Pregnancy
Biology of pregnancy
o Egga nd sperm unite down the fallopian tube
o Egg much more active in fertilization
o Floats in uterus, implants self in skin of uterus
o If it does not implant; becomes mentral flow
o If in ideal enviornemnt in uterus; baby
o Right after fertilization; placenta made; oxygen and nutrients to flow to embryo
o Estrogen and progesterone are higher than before at end of pregnancy
o First sign is missing a menstral cycle; tests; prenatal care
o Developed countries 65% receive prenatal visit 8% in underdeveloped
Physical reactions during preganancy:
o Affects almost all her organs; relatively minor
o Report fatigue, urinations, breast tenderness, nausea, some want sex, some don’t
Emotional reactions:
o May have wide variety
o Positive:
Excitement, anticipation, wonder and awe, approval, social support given\
Transition, purpose, accomplishment, anticipations,
o Negatives:
Fear, anxiety, pain, continually changing emotions,
Most adapt well; stress wont bug the fetus
Self image deteriorates; fat ugly,
Most respond well to women preggers
Difficult to stop addiction of complicating preganacies; native American highest
Pregenant singles rejected and working expeirnce that stress
Miscarriage-termination of preganacy unintended; greif results
Attitudes toward pregnant women:
o Hostile sexism- blatant sexism—shown to pregnant ppl applying for jobs
o Benevolent-subtle sexism—more to pregnant ; she needs extra help, patronizing
o Some place maternity clothes at back; some near larger clothes
Employement during pregnancy
o Usually stopped; some worked until labour
o Contnue jobs shortly until date of birth
o If job will cause physical hurt; they ususaly take off
Childbirth:
o NA 2 children average; Canada 1.6
o Psychologists ignore this event though
o Biology of childbirth:
Uterus contacts strongly, labour into 3 stages; st
1 stage-Contractionsf uterus, dilation of cervix(few hours to day),
2 stage- few mins to hours- contractions move them down vagina, pushing
positive time, stressful and stretch, progesterone drops, baby is born
rd
3 stage- anticlimax- placenta seperates, other tissue, estrogen and
progesterone drop,
Women needed less medication if they had women accompanying them
Doula-women coach delivery girl
29% by Cesearean section; needed if otherwise would be risky; convenient
Preterm birth-less than 37 weeks ; normal is 40; complications likely
Women overly thin and uneducated most likely
Blacks 2x as likely than whites; health perhaps
o Emotional reactions to childbirth:
Vary vastly
o Alternative models of childbirth:\
Prepared childbirth-
1. Education in reducing fears and mths
2. Relaxation techniques and exercises to get muscles well
3. Breathing techniques, less pain
4. Social support and trainers
Does not elimante pain; reduces; prepares; more positive; less medications
High tech may sanitize every part of woman while reducing deaths
Family centered approach-
contrast to high tech- womens sense of individuality, psychological
needs
Vast majority are normal
Focuses on mother not technology; psychpolgy very important
Changes to promote family centered approach
1. Physican shouldn’t indue labour artificially
2. Women should habe special birth rooms; pleasent
3. Coach and fgamily should be present
4. Should choose how to sit and move around
5. Birth practices showing no ads should be optional; enemas and
shaving
6. Anesthetics should not be used unless neccesry or desired
7. Must be empoathetic to encourage thrir sense of empoweremt
during childbirth
Motherhood:
o Suggest some stereotypes that are well established although contradictory
o Stereotypes about motherhood:
Motherhood inspires a rich variety of pleasent emotions as warmth, strength,
nurturance, devotion, self sacrifice, Stereotype-pregannt person is expected to be happy and upbeat; acheivemtn
Will assume they be perfectly competent when give birth; natural given skills
will take over
Will enjoy being completly giving to child only; no self needs
Many feel guilty when they cant live upn to such stereotypes
Mother blamed in medias ambivalently
o Reality of motherhood:
Our society values money and power; rather than motherhood
Don’t get proper appreciation
Negative factors:
Child care physically take toll, sleep deprived,
Many unmarried and do all alone; income ot raise an issue
Fathers help less, less pleasant tasks
After birth discharges; pains in region
Feelings of incompetence,
Babies cry and aren’t what they expected; 2 months maybe
Little contacts with other, social isol.
Romantic partner neglected, guilttrips
Don’t match the ‘’perfect mother’’
Infant mortality rate- 10% in some African countries
Positive factors of motherhood:
May not predominat in early motherhood; own strength
We too often focus on negatives
Fun and interesting infants, develop part of mothers personality
Helped identify their nurturing selves
Many father can care too; marital satisfaction increases after boirth
Positive side more abstract than details and symptoms in negatives
Children create ways to communicate
Intimate relationships grow with infants
o Motherhood and women of colour:
Smaller differences in childbirth family size than expected
Invisible research of women of colour
Extended families in black families stabilize the families especially in poo
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