Prenatal Fears of Loss of Self-Esteem and Well-Being in Labor

Abstract

A sense of competence in managing life situations, personal growth, and self-acceptance, along with realizing one’s potential, are elements of psychological well-being. If these maternal factors are low, prenatal maternal well-being can have negative physical and psychological outcomes. Many women fear that they will lose self-esteem in labor. The degree of fear depends on the stability of their sense of self and their feelings of well-being. Well-Being and self-esteem are discussed in terms of tolerance of self, value of self, and body image and appearance. Positive aspects of well-being during the prenatal period benefit the mother and fetus, and affect birth outcomes. Low levels of positive affect, self-esteem, and life satisfaction, as well as high levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, characterize poor maternal well-being. Shared knowledge from health-care professionals along with supportive relationships can raise a woman’s self-esteem. Regarding body changes, a woman who respects her body and “listens” to it has high expectations of body performance and is likely to think well of herself. Such women see pregnancy as an important role transition and generally have unchanged or even improved body image during their pregnancies. Pregnancy creates an issue with personal boundaries that can affect a woman’s sense of well-being and concerns over safety for herself and her unborn child. In our reseaech, women who showed high self-esteem during pregnancy tended to find integrity in terms of recognizing their needs and limitations. They searched for solutions to concerns and questions, and persevered in defining and attaining goals for themselves. They were relatively self-confident, adjusting to the unexpected and unknown, accepting risk as a reality, and tolerating future uncertainty.