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• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 24 >> NHS classes were very practical and NCT more about emotions. She was the only person in her classes planning a home birth.

Became pregnant in a another country where care philosophy was very interventionist. Returned to UK at 7 months and had a successful home birth with an independent midwife.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Aged 40 + >> Interview 09 >> Antenatal classes provided an opportunity to chat to other parents. She was more interested in practical information than talking about emotions.

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 37-39 >> Interview 02 >> She really enjoys being pregnant and seeing her body change shape.

Normal first pregnancy. Additional scanning and care in specialist unit because of previous splenectomy. Mother has higher susceptibility to illness and infection.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 16 >> She enjoyed pregnancy so much she did not want it to end.

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 >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 28 >> He is really looking forward to being a dad and playing with the baby.

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

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> Being pregnant again after donor insemination was something happy coming out of all the sadness. (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 >> Despite the baby's problems, she wanted to experience a whole pregnancy, in case she never had another chance. (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 >> Aged 24 & under >> Interview 13 >> It was emotional feeling the baby kick, but she hated feeling so big. (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 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> She coped with anxiety by just focusing on a week at a time. Psychological counselling helped too. (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 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 04 >> She worried something might be wrong with the baby right up to the birth.

Normal pregnancy. Breech presentation resolved through successful ECV. Induction at 42 weeks. Forceps delivery. Difficulty with breastfeeding. Importance of managing expectations of pregnancy and birth realistically.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 34-36 >> Interview 16 >> Giving birth was an awe-inspiring and emotional moment. She felt privileged to experience it.

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 >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 15 >> She panicked if she couldn't feel the baby kick. She was especially anxious because her sister had a stillbirth.

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 25-30 >> Interview 54 >> She was very afraid of birth after seeing a TV documentary as a teenager, and did not want her husband to see her giving birth.

After initial contact with NHS, had most antenatal care in France. Baby born 2 months early in England. Good experiences of hospital birth and Special Care Baby Unit. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 23.

• 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 >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> Mothers may challenge their partner's behaviour and lifestyle. Some men may find the pressure and responsibility too much. (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 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> Sometimes people don't realise how devastating it is to have a miscarriage. She wishes she had talked about it more openly. (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 34-36 >> Interview 05 >> More needs to be done to support women's emotional and mental health in pregnancy, especially after a previous bad experience.

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 05 >> Her original plan to have a home birth changed when she found her baby had a heart defect. She decided to have a caesarean and has no regrets.

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 31-33 >> Interview 55 >> Her husband was not allowed to stay with her overnight after labour was induced - she felt disempowered and unsupported.

Persuaded to have induction in first pregnancy; felt unsupported by staff. Labour was long and painful. Second birth, refused induction, insisted on additional checks instead. A better experience, with a doula (birthing attendant). More of this interview can be seen on the DIPEX antenatal screening site as Interview 02.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 55 >> With her second baby she employed a doula. She went into labour spontaneously 15 days after her due date and the birth went well.

Persuaded to have induction in first pregnancy; felt unsupported by staff. Labour was long and painful. Second birth, refused induction, insisted on additional checks instead. A better experience, with a doula (birthing attendant). More of this interview can be seen on the DIPEX antenatal screening site as Interview 02.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> She was so exhausted she wanted an emergency caesarean, but wondered if labour might have been easier if she had stayed at home longer. (Read by an ac

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 54 >> Staff in the special care baby unit were wonderfully supportive and there was a family atmosphere. It was hard to say goodbye to them.

After initial contact with NHS, had most antenatal care in France. Baby born 2 months early in England. Good experiences of hospital birth and Special Care Baby Unit. More of this interview can be seen on the Healthtalkonline antenatal screening site as Interview 23.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 31-33 >> Interview 12 >> She stayed in hospital for five weeks while the baby was in special care. The nurses were very supportive, but she missed being at home.

Normal first pregnancy. Premature labour and birth at 33 weeks. Had to transfer to another hospital because no neonatal intensive care places were available locally.

• 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 37-39 >> Interview 32 >> She and her husband love being parents and would like another baby. She wants family life to be as normal as possible for her son.

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 34-36 >> Interview 08 >> She was worried how they would feel about the baby after birth but they both adored her straight away. (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 40 + >> Interview 09 >> Parenthood has made her more emotional generally, and she can hardly bear news reports about children in poverty or distress.

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 34-36 >> Interview 23 >> Having a baby with Down's syndrome has made her value people more, regardless of their status or achievements.

Antenatal screening test showed raised risk of Down's syndrome. Decided not to have further tests and had a baby with Down's syndrome, now a healthy and lively 2-year-old.

• 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.

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Age 25-30 >> Interview 20 >> Coming home from hospital and realising she was on her own now was quite stressful. (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 05 >> She went back to work after her son's health improved, but became depressed. Counselling helped her come to terms with her feelings about motherhood.

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.

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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 >> Emotions during pregnancy >> Emotions during pregnancy

Emotions during pregnancy

• Pregnancy & children >> Pregnancy >> Emotions during pregnancy >> Emotions during pregnancy

Emotions during pregnancy