The influence of high‐risk pregnancies and social support systems on maternal perceptions of the infant

This study examines the effects of high‐risk pregnancies on the maternal perception of the full‐term healthy infant, as well as the influence of social support systems on these effects. Thirty mothers after high‐risk pregnancy and 30 mothers after low‐risk pregnancy were interviewed when their infants were 3 months old. Their perceptions of own and average baby were evaluated as well as the amount and availability of and their satisfaction with social support. The obtained results confirm the hypothesis that mothers after high‐risk pregnancies tend to perceive their infant as significantly more difficult than mothers after low‐risk pregnancies. A main finding of this study is that high‐risk pregnancy mothers perceive an average baby in a much more positive way. Social support was not found to affect significantly the maternal negative perception of the infant after a high‐risk pregnancy. These findings are discussed in the context of the continuity of the process of maternal affiliation to the infant before and after delivery.