Parents' constructions of their infants' personalities before and after birth: A descriptive study

Abstract

Thirty five middle class parents, pregnant for the first time, were recruited from childbirth classes for participation in a shortterm longitudinal study of parents' constructions of their infants' personalities during pregnancy and in early infancy. Here, we report qualitative findings about parents' descriptions of their infants' personalities before and after birth, as well as descriptions of their relationships with their infants and their first feelings of love for their infants. Descriptions of infant personalities were remarkably vivid before and after birth, but there were changes in the prominence of several attributes over time.