Attitudes to motherhood of women in high-risk and normal pregnancy

Abstract

One hundred and ten childless women in the last trimester of pregnancy were interviewed to investigate their attitudes towards pregnancy and motherhood. Two questionnaires (Matusewicz's Test of Moral Values, Zawadzki's List of Life Goals) were also administered. Women in high-risk pregnancy (i.e. with serious cardiac defects or after previous miscarriages) were found to evaluate motherhood on the rating scales lower than women in first uncomplicated pregnancy. On the other hand the same women were more likely to report having planned their pregnancies, and had changed their life-styles in gestation markedly to increase their chances for successful outcome of pregnancy. Some theoretical and clinical implications of the results are discussed.