title: Evolution of childbirth expectations in Spanish pregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the change of childbirth expectations over the course of pregnancy as well as their relation to socio-demographic and clinical variables.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study of expectations in pregnant women is gaining more interest from a biopsychosocial approach because of its consequences on pregnant women's wellbeing. To our knowledge there are no previous studies analyzing the evolution of childbirth expectations over the course of pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study (first trimester and third trimester). Women were evaluated for childbirth expectations in their first trimester (n=285) and third trimester (n=122) of pregnancy. They also completed questionnaires collecting socio-demographic information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Childbirth expectations appear to remain more or less stable over the course of pregnancy, although they tend to become slightly negative at the end of gestation, specifically referring to personal control and delivery circumstances. Multiparity and planned pregnancy are associated with higher positive expectations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems essential to explore and to try to adjust childbirth expectations to more realistic ones, in order for them to be fulfilled. Midwives and other maternity healthcare providers play a key role in this regard.
authors: Department of Psychology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.. Electronic address: cecilia.penacoba@urjc.es.
authors: Cecilia
authors: C
authors: Peñacoba-Puente
authors: Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Francisco Javier
authors: FJ
authors: Carmona-Monge
authors: Department of Obstetrics, Hospital Universitario de Fuenlabrada, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Dolores
authors: D
authors: Marín-Morales
authors: Department of Psychology, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Écija Gallardo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D036801:Parturition / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Childbirth expectations; Low-risk pregnancy; Pregnancy