Maternal adaptation during pregnancy among adult early, middle, and late childbearers: similarities and differences.

Women 20-24 (n = 10), 25-29 (n = 13), and 30 and over (n = 18) were interviewed and their responses compared on six variables: maternal-fetal relationship, quality of the marital relationship, preparation for motherhood, attitude towards the pregnancy, maternal role conceptualization, and motivation for motherhood. Later childbearing was significantly related to three variables: motivation for motherhood, maternal-fetal relationship, and maternal role conceptualization. Women 25-29 years old were more similar to women 30 years and older than to younger women. The data suggest that young adult women 20-24 years old may experience more difficulty in prenatal adjustment to the maternal role than those 25 and older. Data also suggest the need to reconsider the traditional age-comparative split of the 20s versus the 30s.