Article Version of Record

What is my baby like? Representations concerning the baby in the third trimester of pregnancy

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Pedreira, Marta
Leal, Isabel

Abstract / Description

Aim: To investigate if during the third trimester of pregnancy fantasies emerge in the baby representations based on the information that pregnant women have on their real babies through ultrasound techniques. Method: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research based on a sample of 30 pregnant Portuguese women, whose average age is 32 years old, was developed. A socio-demographic questionnaire and a semi-directive interview entitled "Interview of Maternal Representations During Pregnancy – Revised Version" (IRMAG-R, Ammaniti & Tambelli, 2010) were employed. Results: Baby representations are immersed in a fantasy dimension, which means that the imaginary baby is quite present in this phase of pregnancy. Pregnant women mainly attribute psychological characteristics to the babies, rather than physical characteristics. Regardless of the type of characteristics analysed, the preference for these characteristics emerges based on their wishes. Secondly, characteristics of the parents may also emerge. Fetal movements and information from ultrasound have no significant influence on the characterization of the baby. Conclusion: Despite the development of ultrasound techniques, the imaginary baby defines parents representations about the baby on the third trimester of pregnancy. Consequently, a new understanding of how pregnant women experience the transition to the postnatal phase has to be considered.

Keyword(s)

pregnant women third trimester of pregnancy babies representations imaginary baby real baby ultrasound techniques

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2015-11-27

Journal title

Psychology, Community & Health

Volume

4

Issue

3

Page numbers

156–170

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Pedreira, M., & Leal, I. (2015). What is my baby like? Representations concerning the baby in the third trimester of pregnancy. Psychology, Community & Health, 4(3), 156–170. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v4i3.141
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Pedreira, Marta
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Leal, Isabel
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-12-06T06:49:10Z
  • Made available on
    2018-12-06T06:49:10Z
  • Date of first publication
    2015-11-27
  • Abstract / Description
    Aim: To investigate if during the third trimester of pregnancy fantasies emerge in the baby representations based on the information that pregnant women have on their real babies through ultrasound techniques. Method: A qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research based on a sample of 30 pregnant Portuguese women, whose average age is 32 years old, was developed. A socio-demographic questionnaire and a semi-directive interview entitled "Interview of Maternal Representations During Pregnancy – Revised Version" (IRMAG-R, Ammaniti & Tambelli, 2010) were employed. Results: Baby representations are immersed in a fantasy dimension, which means that the imaginary baby is quite present in this phase of pregnancy. Pregnant women mainly attribute psychological characteristics to the babies, rather than physical characteristics. Regardless of the type of characteristics analysed, the preference for these characteristics emerges based on their wishes. Secondly, characteristics of the parents may also emerge. Fetal movements and information from ultrasound have no significant influence on the characterization of the baby. Conclusion: Despite the development of ultrasound techniques, the imaginary baby defines parents representations about the baby on the third trimester of pregnancy. Consequently, a new understanding of how pregnant women experience the transition to the postnatal phase has to be considered.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Pedreira, M., & Leal, I. (2015). What is my baby like? Representations concerning the baby in the third trimester of pregnancy. Psychology, Community & Health, 4(3), 156–170. https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v4i3.141
    en_US
  • ISSN
    2182-438X
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1919
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.2285
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/pch.v4i3.141
  • Keyword(s)
    pregnant women
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    third trimester of pregnancy
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    babies representations
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    imaginary baby
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    real baby
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    ultrasound techniques
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    What is my baby like? Representations concerning the baby in the third trimester of pregnancy
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    3
  • Journal title
    Psychology, Community & Health
  • Page numbers
    156–170
  • Volume
    4
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record