The effect of pregnancy experience on the level of stress, acceptance of pregnancy and readiness for delivery

This study was conducted as a descriptive and correlational research to examine the effect of women's pregnancy experiences on stress, pregnancy acceptance, and birth preparedness during the antenatal period. The sample consisted of 637 pregnant women who attended the Obstetrics and Gynecology Outpatient Clinic of Konya City Hospital between September 15, 2023, and February 15, 2024. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, along with the Pregnancy Experience Scale (PES), the Prenatal Distress Questionnaire (PDQ), and the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ). The mean age of the participants was 27,82±4,72 years (min = 19, max = 43), and the mean age of their spouses was 30,83±5,12 years (min = 22, max = 49). The average number of living children was 1,49±0,73 (min = 1, max = 4), the mean weight gain during pregnancy was 8,48±3,95 kg (min = 1, max = 20), and the average number of antenatal healthcare visits was 6,33±3,03 (min = 1, max = 16). The mean scores for the subdimensions of PES were as follows: frequency of positive emotions 7,89±1,52, frequency of negative emotions 8,28±1,66, intensity of positive emotions 1,94±0,39, and intensity of negative emotions 1,70±0,35. The mean PDQ score was 9,64±4,23, while the mean PSEQ scores were 24,59±7,51 for pregnancy acceptance and 21,75±5,02 for birth preparedness.A significant relationship was found between the frequency of positive emotions (p = 0.002) and the intensity of negative emotions (p < 0.001) and prenatal distress. Furthermore, significant positive correlations were identified between the frequency of positive emotions, frequency of negative emotions, and intensity of negative emotions and the levels of prenatal distress (p <0.001). A positive correlation was observed between the frequency (p = 0.019) and intensity (p = 0.003) of negative emotions and pregnancy acceptance, while a significant negative correlation was found between the intensity of positive emotions and pregnancy acceptance (p = 0.006). Additionally, the intensity of positive emotions (p = 0.010) was negatively associated with birth preparedness, whereas the intensity of negative emotions (p = 0.016) was positively associated. Sociodemographic variables such as educational level, number of pregnancies, and history of miscarriage were found to cause statistically significant differences in the frequency and intensity of positive emotions. In conclusion, prenatal distress was found to significantly affect the pregnancy experience and may lead to an increase in positive emotions; however, this relationship should be evaluated from a multidimensional perspective. The findings provide important guidance for planning individualized prenatal care services. It is recommended to enhance interventions focusing on distress management, antenatal education, and psychosocial support for pregnant women.