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Psychological characteristics of the first pregnancy

With the aiming of evaluating the psychological characteristics of the first pregnancy, 150 pregnant women showing no clinical or obstetrical abnormalities were studied in their third trimester of pregnancy. A control group of 55 patients with routine gynecological appointments were selected. These patients had been seen by the same professional at the Maternidade Dr Cury in the town of Osasco, São Paulo. The patients were submitted to the Wartegg Test, under supervision of the same psychologist. Demographic data were obtained by way of a questionnaire. A formal analysis was used (expressive approach) in order to describe the psychological profile of first pregnancies. The psychological profile obtained from the analysis of the answers to the Wartegg Test shows that the pregnancy is a period of psychic normality of adaptive nature. The pregnant individual also goes through vital critical moments of regressive nature, with anxiety and conflicts linked to sexuality and sexual identity, narcissism represented by strong libidinal investment within her own ego, and the intensified use of thought resources, imagination and fantasy.

pregnancy; first pregnancy; projective technique


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