Pregnancy has two ambivalent poles, the "wanting" versus "does not want" the child, or the pregnant woman wants the child, but does not want childbirth pain, so the conflict of attraction arises - repulsion referred by Kurt Lewin This opposition of motivations can be causing frustration being a conflict from where the pregnant woman, as such, can not leave, because the end of pregnancy is even childbirth. At the beginning of gestation the woman is happy, the feeling of attraction is greater than the sentiment of repulsion, but with the evolving of pregnancy and the approaching the date of delivery the situation tends to reverse. As they refer to Rail & Vieira (1988), the escape is impossible, which generates anxiety, especially in the third quarter. However, in the second quarter the tendency for introversion and passivity, manifesting itself as a greater peace of mind. Lamb (1986) states that the woman is more concentrated on herself and about the child in gestation, emerging the need for more support from the companion and a greater dedication to the baby's laying. Throughout gestation, the future mother idealizes and fantasy her future child; Some authors report that this expectation may be reflected in an increase in anxiety. This feeling presupposes the perception of a threat based on more or less intense objective or subjective aspects.

First quarter.


Colman and Colman (1994) consider the first quarter as a period of joy, during which pregnant woman feels that she has a secret within her, who just shares when and with whom she wants. The first quarter, as previously mentioned, is also characterized essentially by a feeling of ambivalence. This ambivalence is manifested in relation to believing in the viability of pregnancy, the acceptance of the fetus, the changes that pregnancy implies and maternity. To overcome this feeling is necessary, in a first instant the definitive confirmation of pregnancy, and later acceptance and support by the baby's father and closest family members.

In the same line of thought, but sustained with different arguments, camarndeiro, based on reports of several women, states that pregnancy is a period characterized by feelings of ambivalence, since it is a period of joy, but also of concerns and fears, presented under This sentiment of ambivalence is also reinforced by the clinical symptomatology characteristic of this phase, already described above. In this quarter the maternal identification process begins, during which the pregnant is to seek references in known maternal models, especially with his mother. In relation to the emotional experiences of the pregnant woman, these are partly determined by the intense physiological modifications that the woman suffers, whose adaptation takes its time. In summary, in this first quarter, it is essential that the pregnant pregnant with the integration and acceptance of pregnancy successfully.

Third quarter.

In the third quarter, one of the main tasks passes, as we have already mentioned earlier, by accepting the pregnant woman, the baby as a separate being from you. For this reason, this period is characterized once again for a feeling of ambivalence, since the desire to see the child and finish the pregnancy coexist with the desire to prolong, as a way to postpone the moment of childbirth and responsibilities that the birth of the Baby Baby According , this quarter is a period characterized by an increase in anxiety due to the anticipation of childbirths. In this final period of pregnancy, the pregnant woman feels the need to reassess and restructure her own identity so she can integrate maternal identity, this task implies analyzing all the gains and losses that motherhood has imposed him. In this sense, feelings of ambivalence, anxiety and emotional disorders are the most significant symptoms. Feelings of ambivalence, arise from combining personal pride and fulfillment with anxious anticipation of birth, which is unknown, in the case of primiparous, and perceived as physically uncomfortable.

The anxiety is due, in addition to the questions already described, that during the third quarter the pregnant woman, despite knowing that childbirth occurs to the ninth month, he fears that a preterm delivery, being always afraid and in alert In addition, in this period, the dilation of the uterus reaches its maximum, which causes frequent complaints of bad being, the stomach and diaphragm. The increase in anxiety levels are also due to the fact that, with a delivery approach, the fears are emerged as to the ability to take care of the baby and to be a good mother. In short, pregnancy being a privileged moment of personal and social transformations, unquestionably changes a woman's life, to the point that it is questioned about its own identity and personal concept, throughout the process of adaptation to a new condition and paper. The way the pregnant woman experiences all significant changes and events requires, in developmental terms, a double physical and psychological effort, not always easy to manage, in order to prevent emotional imbalances and disorders.