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• >> Pregnancy >> Emotions and relationships in early parenthood >> Emotions and relationships in early parenthood

Emotions and relationships in early parenthood

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Emotions and relationships in early parenthood >> Emotions and relationships in early parenthood

Emotions and relationships in early parenthood

• >> Pregnancy >> Relationships and sex >> Relationships and sex

Relationships and sex during pregnancy

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Relationships and sex >> Relationships and sex

Relationships and sex during pregnancy

• Clip
• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> Discovering she was pregnant unexpectedly made her reassess some aspects of her life, but she knew she wanted to keep the baby. (Read by an actor.)

Single mother. First pregnancy miscarried. Second pregnancy was normal and straightforward. She planned to have a natural birth, but after a long labour chose to have a caesarean.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> Previous experience of miscarriage made her more determined to go ahead with her next pregnancy, even though it was unplanned. (Read by an actor.)

Single mother. First pregnancy miscarried. Second pregnancy was normal and straightforward. She planned to have a natural birth, but after a long labour chose to have a caesarean.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 28 >> They felt strongly that adoption could be a good option for them, and might consider it again in future.

Supported partner through fertility treatment and pregnancy. Is looking forward to becoming a father.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 06 >> Men may find it difficult when their partner is having fertility treatment, and it can strain the couple's relationship.

First pregnancy through ICSI IVF. Experienced hyper ovarian stimulation. Induced at 42 weeks with birth by emergency section. Second pregnancy occurred naturally 7 months after birth of first child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 16 >> Harvesting the eggs for donation was painful but it was an exciting time. The effect of the drugs she had to take was difficult to cope with.

Experienced recurrent miscarriage before entering an egg share IVF scheme. IVF was successful after one cycle and pregnancy was excellent. Vaginal birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 17 >> She found antenatal classes embarrassing, especially as she did not have a partner to go with.

Single mother of two. First child born by emergency caesarean, second by elective caesarean. Faced unhelpful assumptions because she was young and single.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> They considered carefully how having an unknown genetic parent would affect them and their children. (Read by an actor.)

Initial miscarriage followed by second pregnancy, when a scan revealed baby was affected by tuberous sclerosis. Late termination. Subsequent pregnancy by donor insemination led to birth of a healthy child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 07 >> Early on, her main worry was how she would manage financially. (Read by an actor.)

Unplanned pregnancy after graduating from university. Supported by partner but felt a lack of institutional support for young, unmarried women. Looking forward to balancing motherhood with a career.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 22 >> Getting pregnant when she was very young led her to break off the relationship with her boyfriend. She considered adoption but changed her mind after

Unplanned pregnancy at age 15. Pregnancy normal. Part of placenta retained after birth resulting in heavy bleeding. Coping well with motherhood.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 29 >> She was worried whether the baby would have a disability. She had heard marrying one's cousin increased the risk. (Audio clip in Punjabi)

Recently married woman from Pakistan in her first pregnancy. Would like more information and advice in her own language.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 15 >> She was unprepared for the strength of her love for the baby. Parenthood has enriched their lives.

Confusion in early stages of pregnancy about whether or not it was viable. Unexplained abdominal pain. Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (pelvic pain) in latter stages.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 30 >> She was less interested in sex during pregnancy, but it was important to find other ways of sharing physical contact. (Read by an actor.)

Normal first pregnancy. Found antenatal classes useful, but felt a women-only class might be useful for South Asian women. Chose to have an epidural for the birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 40 + >> Interview 09 >> She felt less interested in sex during pregnancy, partly because she was worried about miscarriage. Women should not feel guilty about this.

First pregnancy normal, emergency caesarean after long labour. Next two pregnancies ended in early miscarriage. Now pregnant again and planning vaginal birth. (Interviewed again after vaginal birth).

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 42 >> They continued to enjoy sex during pregnancy, and it reassured her she was still attractive. They had to stop after a bleed at 31 weeks.

Normal first pregnancy. Gestational diabetes was suspected but ruled out. Had to spend time in hospital late in pregnancy for investigation of bleeding. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 01.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 28 >> It is important for him to reassure his wife that she is definitely still attractive.

Supported partner through fertility treatment and pregnancy. Is looking forward to becoming a father.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> Pregnant women want a safe, supportive environment for their baby. Pregnancy made her think again about her relationship. (Read by an actor.)

Single mother. First pregnancy miscarried. Second pregnancy was normal and straightforward. She planned to have a natural birth, but after a long labour chose to have a caesarean.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 13 >> She tended to get very emotional and angry with her family during pregnancy. (Played by an actor.)

Young, single mother. Pregnancy unplanned. Well supported by family. Had Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (pelvic pain) and cholestasis (liver problem) during pregnancy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 13 >> She split up from her partner when she got pregnant, because she could not cope with him as well as the baby. (Played by an actor.)

Young, single mother. Pregnancy unplanned. Well supported by family. Had Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (pelvic pain) and cholestasis (liver problem) during pregnancy.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 26 >> The stress of knowing the baby was so ill strained her relationship with her partner and she lost interest in everything. (Read by an actor.)

Baby diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia at 20-week scan. Mother decided to continue the pregnancy, knowing the outcome was uncertain. Baby died 10 hours after birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 32 >> Having a physical disability herself made her feel she could not cope with a baby with a disability. She felt different from many of her friends.

Mother who uses a wheelchair. Antenatal care from a special pregnancy unit because of her condition. Emergency caesarean. Serious complications following a mistake in managing her medication.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 26 >> She spent the rest of pregnancy expecting that the baby would die, but she felt her partner could not understand her feelings. (Read by an actor.)

Baby diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia at 20-week scan. Mother decided to continue the pregnancy, knowing the outcome was uncertain. Baby died 10 hours after birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 05 >> She knew her baby had a heart defect, but not how serious it would be. The experience brought her and her partner closer together.

First child had heart defect detected antenatally and long period of critical illness after birth. Mother had reactive depression in response to his illness. Second child healthy. Mother had postnatal depression related to extreme worry about her health.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> She was shocked to learn her husband had the same genetic condition as the baby, but relieved she had done nothing to cause it. (Read by an actor.)

Initial miscarriage followed by second pregnancy, when a scan revealed baby was affected by tuberous sclerosis. Late termination. Subsequent pregnancy by donor insemination led to birth of a healthy child.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 26 >> Baby Oscar died 10 hours after birth and the family spent time with him to say goodbye. Her partner was devastated. (Read by an actor.)

Baby diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia at 20-week scan. Mother decided to continue the pregnancy, knowing the outcome was uncertain. Baby died 10 hours after birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 26 >> Physical and emotional recovery were difficult, and she needed antidepressants to help her get through. (Read by an actor.)

Baby diagnosed with diaphragmatic hernia at 20-week scan. Mother decided to continue the pregnancy, knowing the outcome was uncertain. Baby died 10 hours after birth.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 31 >> Being parents has made them stronger as a couple. Now they know what they had been missing. (Read by an actor.)

Her first, long awaited baby was stillborn at 25 weeks. Her second pregnancy was normal, but an accident at 20 weeks made it an anxious time. Birth was induced, with epidural.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 19 >> Nothing had prepared her for how much parenthood would change her life, but she and her partner love it. They try to make time for each other in the e

Successful pregnancy after an early miscarriage and blighted ovum. Caesarean due to baby lying breech. Lack of support for breastfeeding in hospital due to pressures on staff.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 37-39 >> Interview 30 >> The demands of caring for a small baby make them really tired, but they try to find time to go out together at weekends. (Read by an actor.)

Normal first pregnancy. Found antenatal classes useful, but felt a women-only class might be useful for South Asian women. Chose to have an epidural for the birth.