Pregnancy fears and peculiarities of self-evaluation of pregnant women

Methods. The participants of the research included pregnant women of the LUHS Kaunas Clinics, Clinics of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics (n=215) and the pregnant women of P. Mažylis Maternity Clinic, Department of Women Consultation (n=130). A quantitive research method was applied – an anonymous questionnaire, which was conducted in January – February of 2016. To evaluate the fears of pregnant women the Pregnancy Anxiety Questionnaire and Pregnancy Expectation/Experience Questionnaire were applied (part A). To evaluate self-evaluation, the Self-evaluation During Pregnancy Questionnaire was applied. Results: The results of the research show that women do not fear the difficulties of pregnancy. The only exception is the fear of splits and traumas, 68,1% of the women fear them. The women, for whom the pregnancy is not the first, will feel stronger (p=0,0001), more confident (p=0,046) and safer (p=0,019). Such criteria as content and regret concerning the pregnancy as well as the preparation and support of the mother are evaluated similarly because of the pathology of the pregnancy and the prophylactic check-ups. Conclusions: It was noted that women, who are not pregnant for the first time, fear splits and traumas more. The women, who are pregnant for the first time, have more fears about painful injections. The women, who are pregnant for the first time, have a stronger feeling of not being in control of their bodies and that they have lost control. The women, who are pregnant for the first time, feel more content with the pregnancy while the women, who are not pregnant for the first time and are treated in the Department of Pregnancy Pathology, are more prepared for birth and feel more anxious