The expectations of the first-time pregnant women with regard to pregnancy

Determining the expectations is significant in evaluating the emotional state during pregnancy, detecting the risk of potential emotional problems during and after pregnancy, planning the nursing care that the pregnants needs and in providing the necessary prenatal care to pregnant women. Especially in the first time pregnancies, the expectations of women affect their perceptions of pregnancy and maternity.The purpose of this study is to determine the expectations of the first-time pregnant women with regard to pregnancy. The sample of the study consists of 387 healthy pregnant women at gestational ages of between 20-28 weeks. The participants were asked to answer the questionnaires, in the waiting rooms of the maternity and gynecology units of Akdeniz University Hospital (n=83), Antalya Education and Research Hospital (n=151) and Antalya Ataturk State Hospital (n=153) between April 1st - October 30th 2008. The analyses of the data have been performed using SPSS 15.0 The dates were assested with descriptive statistical methods, Pearson Chi-square test (x²) and Logistic Regression Analysis.At the end of the Perason Chi-square analysis, it has been determined that the pregnant women, who have had a pregnancy at an early age, who have a lower education level, who have no social coverage and whose monthly income is below 1000 TL, have negative expectations. On the other hand, the expectations of pregnancy are more positive with a planned pregnancy, a willingness for the baby, wife?s willingness for pregnancy and getting emotional and physical support during her pregnancy. Women with positive expectations of pregnancy get more prenatal care, done pregnancy-related tests, they are less afraid of the birth process and choose vaginal birth more often. It has been found out that the emotional state during pregnancy is affected by the cases of negative expectations of pregnancy. Also at the end of the Logistic Regression Analysis it has been determined the positive and significant relationship between the pregnancy expectations with increasing the maternity age, planning pregnancy, not be affected the sexuality in pregnancy, not have the fear of childbirth.Key Words: First Time Pregnancy, Expectation of Pregnancy, Emotional State During Pregnancy, Nursing