The prolific rise in childcare facilities emphasizes the lack of input parents have in their childrens' lives, whether by choice or necessity. Yet these very facilities also reveal our lack of support - in the past family and community all shared the duties of childraising. All of these issues can be an underlying cause of tension in pregnancy, resulting in higher stress levels. Those in a committed relationship will find this area coming under focus. Coping with the demands of pregnancy and later a new baby, plus balancing personal needs with those of the relationship creates a triangle.
Priorities change, beginning during pregnancy through to parenting.
Social life, sleeping patterns, personal needs and sexuality are all structured around and between the needs of the child. Spirituality is living in the NOW, which is being in the body. For some women their libido is stronger and pregnancy can be a time of strengthening the intimate bonds between the couple. Many women find their need to be nurtured and loved a demanding aspect of their reaction to pregnancy and a coping mechanism for the ensuing, demanding role of mothering. As for other women, their loss in libido is as if all their creative energy is being channelled into the child.