Abstract

• The purpose of study were to investigate the prenatal psychological adaptation and the perception of birth experience, and the identify the relationship between them. The subjects consisted of 162 women who visited the obstetrical outpatient clinic for prenatal examinations and who delivered the in babies at SNUH during the period from June 20 to August 10, 1990. The tools used for measurement were Lederman's Prenatal Self Evaluation Questionnaire and Marut & Mercer's scale of the Perception of Birth. The results are summarized as follows ; 1. The orders and item means of psychosocial adaptation in pregnancy were the Acceptance of pregnancy(1.58). Identification of motherhood role(1.63). Relationship with husband(1.65) and Relationship with mother(1.67). The preparation for labor, concern for wellbeing of self and baby, and fear of pain, helplessness and loss of control were found to be less adaptive. 2. The level of the perception of the birth experience was mid-range(item mean : 3.22). The score of the perception of birth experience for primiparas was higher than for multiparas. However there was not a significant difference the group. There were significant differences in the perception of the birth experience between certain general characteristics, namely, sex of the baby(p<0.05), type of delivery(p<0.005), and type of anesthesia(p<0.005). 3. There were significant differences in the perception of the birth experience between the groups below the mean and above the mean of concern for wellbeing of self and baby, Fear of pain, Helplessness and loss of control, Relationship with husband and Identification of motherhood role(p<0.05). The perception of the birth experience was predicted by Fear of pain, Helplessness and loss of control(11%), Type of Delivery(6%), Concern for wellbeing of self and baby(3%), Preparation for labor(1%), sex of baby(1%), Relationship with mother(1%), Parity(1%) and Identification of motherhood role(1%). The Childbirth education should be revised to improve the psychosocial adaptation in pregnancy.

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