Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a very specific and complex period in a woman's life. The accompanying changes are observed not only on the biological/physiological plane but also in her psychological and social functioning.
During pregnancy, visible changes occur in the body's appearance, as well as in femininity, affections, and sexuality, whereas the woman's position and role are gaining new qualities. To a greater or lesser degree, every expectant mother experiences psychological am-bivalence, frequent mood changes from exhaustion to exaltation, emotional disturbances, and/or mixed anxiety-depressive disorder.
From a psychosocial aspect, pregnancy could be considered a specific highly emotional state, which may be a potent stressor. Perinatal maternal stress can lead to different complications that may have far-reaching consequences for both somatic and psychic functioning of the newborn. [1]
Physiological changes in pregnant mother affect every organ system in the body.
As compared with nonpregnant women, pregnant women are more severely affected by infections with some organisms, including influenza virus, hepatitis E virus (HEV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and malaria parasites. The evidence is more limited for organisms that cause coccidioidomycosis, measles, smallpox, and varicella[2]
> 200 million pregnancies each year.
> 40% are unintended pregnancies. Unintended does not imply unwanted. [3]
2/3 of sexually active women who wished to delay or limit childbearing stopped using contraception for fear of side effects, health concerns and underestimation of the likelihood of conception. This led to 1 in 4 pregnancies being unintended.[4]
2/3
of sexually active women who wished to delay or limit childbearing stopped using contraception for fear of side effects, health concerns and underestimation of the likelihood of conception