TABLE 5.

Pregnancy Challenges: Examples of Responses

Primigravid Mothers (n = 50)
Subcategories	Responses (%)*	Examples
Maternal health	55	“I wish I had exercised more.”
		“…worked less.”
		“…relaxed more.”
Family well-being	19	“I wish I had better understanding from my family about the pregnancy.“
		“I wish my parents were happier about the expected grandchild.”
Finances	17	“I wish we had had better financial preparation before having a child.”
		“Will I have to work after the baby is born because we will need the money?”
Marital relationship	9	“Changes in sexual relations.”
		“We were overwhelmed and neglected one another's needs.”
Multigravid Mothers (n = 50)
Subcategories	Responses (%)	Examples
Maternal health	36	“I wish I had taken better care of myself.”
		“I wish I had eaten a healthier diet.”
Family well-being	28	“I wish I had better support from my family.”
		“Better prepare my 4-year-old for the baby.”
Finances	21	“Will we manage financially with two children now?”
		“I wish we were more financially stable.”
Marital relationship	15	“I wish I had spent more time alone with my husband.”
		“I wish my husband would have practiced Lamaze breathing with me more.”

^*Indicates the percentage of the women in each group who replied to the open-ended questions with a response conceptually matching this category (Morse & Field, 1995).