The present study investigated mothers' perceptions regarding the reaction of the firstborn to the pregnancy with second child. Eight pregnant women, who had one pre-school child and were in the third trimester of pregnancy, participated in the study. A qualitative content analysis of the interviews revealed that the pregnancy and the proximity of childbirth unleashed anxiety and jealousy in the firstborn, accompanied by demonstrations of joy at the arrival of the sibling. All the children showed attitudes indicative of jealousy, including fear of losing mother's attention and affection, as well as signs of aggressiveness towards the mother's belly. The results suggest that the mother's pregnancy is an outstanding event in the life of the firstborn, emphasizing the importance of parental support in this period.
Pregnancy; Firstborn; Second child
