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Pregnancy Interview

Alexandra Malatesta

501020459

Toronto Metropolitan University, School of Early Childhood Studies

CCLD 442: D10: Infant Mental Health

Professor Audrey Huberman

Friday, October 27th, 2023

Interview Transcript:

Interviewer: Alexandra Malatesta

Interviewee: A New Mother

Interview Setting: The interview took place at the interviewee’s residence at 3:00 p.m. On

Saturday, October 14, 2023.

Affiliation with Interviewee: The interviewee is a close family friend.

(Start Interview)

Interviewer: Did you or your partner discuss the possibility of having children?

Interviewee: Yes, my partner and I had several discussions around the topic of having children

before getting married. We decided that we would wait until we were financially prepared to

welcome a child. We waited three years after marriage to begin trying to have a baby.

Interviewer: Did you experience any difficulties when trying to conceive?

Interviewee: Yes, I thought getting pregnant was going to be easy, but it wasn’t. Consequently,

after trying for over a year the doctor decided it was time to consider a fertility clinic. Doctors at

the clinic ran several tests/procedures from a laparoscopy, follicle tracking, and semen analysis

and then I began Clomiphene Citrate (a medication) to help induce ovulation.

Interviewer: Did you experience any side effects from the medication?

Interviewee: I had some upset stomach, weight gain, headaches, and hot flashes.

Interviewer: How did you learn that you were expecting?

Interviewee: I had a history of missing my periods, but was experiencing nausea, tiredness,

frequent urges to urinate, and my breasts felt enlarged. I visited the clinic, where bloodwork was

completed to determine if I was pregnant, and the results came back positive.
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Interviewer: Were there any moments that you felt scared or anxious in learning that you were

pregnant?

Interviewee: As I began to process the news, I did become somewhat anxious at the possibility

of miscarrying or experiencing other complications or even having a baby with birth defects.

Interviewer: How did you share the great news with your spouse?

Interviewee: I purchased a pair of booties and placed them on his pillow. He looked at me and

began crying. Though, I was still scared I knew that having the support from my spouse would

help me navigate through this journey.

Interviewer: Did you immediately share the news with friends and family?

Interviewee: We wanted to share the news with everyone but thought it would be a good idea to

wait until I was in my second trimester. The news was shared with close family and understood

that support from our parents was necessary as we began to transition into the roles of parents.

Though it was stressful at times to listen to their parenting stories, experiences, or advice we

knew they meant well.

Interviewer: When did you really start to believe that you were going to be a mom?

Interviewee: It was when I went for my ultrasound and was able to see the fetus and shortly then

I felt the first kick. I knew this was real.

Interviewer: How did you prepare for this baby? Did you read specific literature or attend

prenatal classes?

Interviewee: I started to read the book “What to Expect When You Are Expecting,” by Heidi

Murkoff. During appointments, I took the time to ask questions. We enrolled in a prenatal

education program that helped us to prepare for the birth, breastfeeding support, nutrition, and

what to expect when becoming a parent.

Interviewer: What concerns/anxieties were you experiencing?

Interviewee: Given that this was my first pregnancy I was extremely anxious over the delivery,

whether to have an epidural, would I have a healthy baby, be able to breastfeed, establish a bond

for the baby’s emotional wellbeing, or have time for my spouse. My husband and I were entering

into new roles, and I wondered if this would affect our relationship/intimacy. Would I experience

post-partum depression which is quite common, and what could that mean for the baby, my

spouse, and myself? Would there be complications during the delivery requiring a cesarean? One

of my greatest concerns was if I would have a child with a disability.

Interviewer: As a new parent what would you say has been the most challenging?

Interviewee: I would have to say that being a parent is extremely stressful and overwhelming.

Giving birth was a beautiful experience, however, reading books or attending classes does not

prepare you for the reality of caring for a child. I believe the support from my spouse and family

has made it more bearable. I felt guilty at times when considering how exhausted I was, and that

I was missing out on social interactions with friends. Trying to adjust to this new role as a

mother, spouse, and daughter was without challenges.

Interviewer: Would you like to have more children?

Interviewee: Yes, we would love to have more children in the future. I was an only child and

always knew I wanted more than one child.

Interviewer: What advice would you offer to other women wanting to have a baby?

Interviewee: I think women should be mentally prepared to have a baby. As it is a huge

commitment and an exhausting one. You should be somewhat financially stable because babies

are expensive, especially if unable to breastfeed. I would definitely not trade being a mother for
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the world, but your life does change (in a good way) however, you have the responsibility of

another human being that requires your attention twenty-four-seven.

Introduction

The birth of a child characterizes a joyous moment in the life of a woman and her partner.

For some women, pregnancy can be a time of complete bliss, a unique and individual experience.

However, for some, it represents moments of considerable anxiety. During the interview with the

new mother, I was able to ask questions about her pregnancy and the transition into parenthood.

The psychological processes and motherhood constellation were the predominant themes noted

during the interviewee's path into parenthood.

Psychological Processes

The likelihood of becoming pregnant is closely related to a woman’s menstrual cycle, and

engaging in sexual intercourse during this fertile period can create life. Some women do

experience challenges with infertility, needing particular treatments involving medications,

surgery, in vitro fertilization, or egg donation. Although hearing the words “you are pregnant”

arouses feelings of absolute joy, there exists a reality of coping with anxiety, depression, mood

swings, fear, emotional lability, and equivocation that is often unavoidable and typifies even the

most “normal” and stable women (Slade & Sadler, 2019). During pregnancy, hormonal changes

can impact the brain, instigating symptoms of depression in some women. Though experiencing

these emotions is thought to be normal, it is concerning if symptoms last for extended periods of

time, as it can have detrimental consequences for the mother and child. In the article entitled

Pregnancy and Infant Mental Health, written by Slade and Sadler, they refer to this phenomenon

as parental maternal stress (Slade & Sadler, 2019). Slade & Sadler (2019) explained that

maternal stress can be the result of psychological or physical stressors women experience
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through day-to-day living or environmental influences. Studies have advocated that prenatal

stress and the hormones triggered by stress are transmissible to the fetus by the mother

(Satyanarayana et al., 2011). This translates to negative outcomes for the child such as academic,

behavioral/mental health issues or difficulties with emotion regulation (Slade & Sadler, 2019).

The interviewee expressed feeling stressed due to the challenges she experienced in becoming

pregnant, anxiety of not delivering a healthy baby, whether she would be able to breastfeed,

worries of becoming a parent, being mentally prepared, and if she would be able to find time to

spend with her spouse. These stressors can become overwhelming and, without proper support,

leave women to experience cumulative allostatic load.

The Anxieties and Distresses of an Expectant Mother

As women transition into motherhood, they are consumed with anxiety as they prepare

for their new roles. During my interview, the interviewee shared her experiences with particular

issues causing her to become anxious during the pregnancy. She stated that her anxieties were

focused on whether she would be a good mother if the child were born with a disability,

breastfeeding issues, labor, delivery, and allocating time for other commitments. The birth of a

child with a disability is often seen as a “wound” or injury to oneself predominantly for the

mother (Costa, 2006). Daniel Stern expressed that another aspect of parenthood, especially for

mothers, is the “motherhood constellation (Costa, 2006). An expectant mother will experience

four main themes of worrying thoughts as she prepares for motherhood. The first theme is the

life theme that encompasses thoughts of the mother and her ability to foster life and provide the

necessary provisions for development. The second is the relatedness theme, which has the

mother questioning whether she can establish an emotional bond with her child to ensure optimal

mental and emotional development. The third theme, the support matrix, reflects whether the
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mother will have the necessary support to meet the existing themes. The fourth theme is identity

reorganization, which questions whether the mother can transform her identity to meet those

themes (Costa, 2006). This ideology permits expectant mothers with time to reflect on their

expectations, memories, and allied experiences and offers some direction as they embark on their

new role as a mother.

The Journey into Parenthood

As a woman realizes she will soon have a baby, the journey into parenthood commences,

a multifaceted process translating to significant changes occurring in daily routines and dynamics

between partners. Stressful situations can arise when first-time parents listen to particular

philosophies or parenthood experiences relayed by others. Women often experience guilt by

having negative feelings about motherhood that are habitually glorified on social media

(Satyanarayana et al., 2011). The interviewee supported the idea that pregnancy and the ability to

transition successfully into parenthood were dependent on the social networks around her and the

reorganization of her identity. It is easy to undervalue the influences of socio-environmental

factors, such as stress, that can impact the psychic well-being of the expectant mother. Stressors

experienced by the expectant mother can become intensified during the gestation period. Those

women who receive little to no social support while pregnant can experience a greater risk of

suffering from mental illness or birth complications. However, with a mother’s extending belly

and ultrasound advancements, the attachment process can begin immediately, placing parents in

a position to reflect on their perceptions and expectations concerning their caregiving capacities.
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References