Dramatic physiological changes during pregnancy make it a unique stage of life. Medical professionals routinely track these changes, including weight increase, to keep track of the mother’s and the baby’s health. It’s possible that the psychological and emotional aspect of these shifts is not being captured by weight monitoring.
The female body is frequently seen in Western society as an object that needs to be constantly scrutinized, judged, and appraised for its usefulness and capacity for providing pleasure. Women might subscribe to these ideas as well, constantly scrutinizing and judging their own bodies through the self-objectification process.
Any divergence from the ideal physical shape can lead to a loss of power, and a woman’s ability to conform to cultural expectations for the feminine body can be a source of power. Women are frequently thought of as having the ability to manage their bodies through exercise, food, or a combination of the two.
Achieving effective control of one’s body size, form, and look is seen as a feat. Women who fall short, those who are unable to manage their bodies, may experience both physical and emotional consequences. These women might exhibit symptoms of depression, disordered eating, decreased libido, and a negative body image.Given the prevalence of body objectification, these psychological effects can be a part of daily life for women.
Pregnancy may intensify social demands to preserve the ideal female physique. Previous studies have revealed that women experience mild reductions in body image and body satisfaction as pregnancy develops as they negotiate their new duties as mothers-to-be.While medicalized monitoring during pregnancy has done well to focus on physical development of both mother and infant, psychosocial assessment may be a neglected part of this process.
There are defined psychosocial adjustment goals for several life stages. For example, emerging adults are encouraged to become independent, given space for identity formation, and are nudged towards leaving the parental home. Older adults are encouraged to accept the nature and extent of the physical and emotional changes associated with aging, as well as changes in identity as these relate to family and career.
Similarly, outlining of psychosocial adjustment goals for pregnancy would empower women in their acceptance of their body’s physical changes, and how those differ from societal expectations of the ideal female form. As the level of self-objectification is tracked during pregnancy, pregnant women can be encouraged to move from body dysmorphia towards body acceptance.
