A prenatal educator is asking a partner about normal psychological adjustment of an expectant mother during the second trimester of pregnancy

Question

Which of the following answers by the partner would indicate a typical expectant mother's response to pregnancy? 1. "She is very body-conscious, and hates every little change."
2. "She daydreams about what kind of parent she is going to be."
3. "I haven't noticed anything. I just found out she was pregnant."
4. "She has been having dreams at night about misplacing the baby."

Answer 1

2
Rationale: Psychologic adjustment to pregnancy is as significant as the physiologic changes. In the first trimester, pregnant women tell their partners of the pregnancy, explore their relationship with their mother and think about their own role as a mother, might fear miscarriage, and might feel ambivalence or anxiety about the pregnancy and the changes to their life that a child will bring.
Rationale:
1. The third trimester brings insomnia and physical discomfort from body changes, and preparation for childbirth.
2. The second trimester brings increased introspection and consideration of how she will parent. She might begin to get furniture and clothing as concrete preparation, and as quickening is experienced, the fetus becomes real and is incorporated into the sense of self.
3. This answer is incorrect.
4. In the third trimester, the needs of the newborn are addressed, and excitement is often felt as the due date gets closer, but dreams of misplacing the baby or being unable to get to the baby are common.