PSY 325 – Virtual
Pregnancy: The Project that Delivers
This project was originally developed by Shalynn Ford in
1999 and has been adapted for the purposes of
this course. A full description of the project can be found
in the reference below:
Benjamin, L.T., Nodine, B.F, Ernst, R.M, & Broeker, C.B.
(Eds.). (2002). Activities handbook for
the teaching of psychology (Vol. 4). Washington, DC:
American Psychological Foundation.
Concept
The purpose of this activity is to provide students the
unique opportunity of experiencing a hypothetical
pregnancy and its attendant costs (primarily financial but
including emotional, psychological, and lifestyle
costs as well). The idea behind this exercise is to give
students practical experience, information, and
insight into the daunting task of seeing a pregnancy through
from conception to delivery. This activity will
last the entire semester.
Instructions
Each student will select a hypothetical pregnancy vignette
from the list of five below. You are to calculate
the costs of hospital charges, layette items, maternity
clothing, and other miscellaneous items that you
think you will need for your pregnancy and delivery. After
you make a list of these items, begin making the
necessary contacts via telephone calls, emails, or community
visits to the pregnancy-related agencies.
You should keep a log (organized in a narrative fashion) of
each contact person by name, title, agency,
and telephone number or email address. In addition, you will
need to record the exact dollar amount or
cost range of items and services. For the purpose of this
exercise, you are to assume that no friends or
family members will “bail you out” and that neither adoption
nor abortion is an option. In addition, keep a
journal by recording thoughts and feelings as your virtual
pregnancy progresses. For example, you might
write about how being pregnant has changed your lifestyle or
your relationship with others. Please
contact the instructor if you have any questions.
Deliverables and due dates
1. Vignette selection: Submit by email to the instructor no
later than Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of
Module 2.
2. Project materials: Submit to the Dropbox no later than
Sunday 11:59 PM EST/EDT of Module 7.
a) Log detailing prices of items needed and contact
information.
b) Journal detailing thoughts and feelings you have about
the pregnancy including answers to
“thoughts to keep in mind.”
Grading
The project will be graded in two parts for a total of 100
points—50 points for the log detailing the contact
and pricing information, and 50 points for the journal
portion. Past students have included a baby registry
from a department store detailing items needed for the baby.
In the journal, participants should take on
the role of the vignette and include short entries regarding
important stages of the pregnancy (first
doctor’s visit, first sonogram, etc).
Vignettes
1. Forget me not
You are 15 years old and forgetful, especially when it comes
to contraception. Unfortunately, your
forgetfulness, combined with a healthy dose of hormones, has
led to an unplanned, unexpected, and
unwanted pregnancy. However, you were raised to take responsibility
for your actions, so you will do
your best to see this pregnancy through to the end. What
will you do now?
Thoughts to keep in mind:
? You are a minor (find out the
legalities involved).
? Your education may be interrupted. Is
continuing or going back to school a consideration?
? You may be eligible for special help,
given your age.
? Unless this was a divine act, there is
a father involved. What’s his story? What are his legal
rights and responsibilities?
2. I’ll be missing you
You are 27 years old, single, and employed full time
(without health insurance coverage). Your
annual salary is $18,000. Your long-time boyfriend has made
it perfectly clear he does not like kids.
You do, which is good because as luck (and lack of planning)
would have it you will be getting the
opportunity to satisfy your maternal urge in about eight and
a half months. What is your course of
action?
Thoughts to keep in mind:
? You are employed, but without
insurance.
? You are too old to be eligible for much
in social services.
? The father says he will not help.
3. Oh, what a tangled web we weave
You are 36, the mother of two school-age children, and stuck
in a dead-end marriage. You’ve
considered leaving and recently did for three months. During
your sabbatical from marriage
monotony, you met a wonderful man, also unhappily married.
One thing led to another, and suddenly
you find out there will be a seven-pound addition to your
problem marriage. You are in love with
someone else, have no marketable skills, seem unwilling to
make it without a man, and are afraid of
losing the two children you already have. You’ve got a lot
on your mind. One thing is not an issue—
you will have this baby. Now what?
Thoughts to keep in mind:
? Your age will probably make certain
expensive prenatal tests mandatory.
? Several thorny legal issues need to be
resolved.
? You need to establish your priorities.
4. Just when you thought it was safe
You are 44 and free. Your children are safely in college.
Your husband is at the top of the corporate
heap. Life is good. Your consulting work provides you with a
real sense of accomplishment. You
never regretted that tubal litigation you had 18 years ago.
In fact, you never gave it a second thought.
Recently, at your annual checkup, you received the shock of
your life—the clips slipped and you have
involuntarily been drafted back into the baby stroller
brigade. How will you handle this?
Thoughts to keep in mind:
? Your age may have an impact on your
pregnancy.
? You and your family will face lifestyle
changes.
? The pregnancy may cause you to have
special health concerns.
5. Just say no
You are a college-student (any age) who is the first and
only member of your family to have the
opportunity to attend a prestigious university on scholarship.
The heat is on. Pressure from parents,
peers, and professors keep life simmering on miserable. Then
you meet him. He is every wonderful
thing you have ever dreamed of. He has the potential to make
you happy. He is forever. And all he
asks of you is to “prove” your love. You do. Then
unexpectedly you are forced to learn a painful
lesson about mistaking kisses for contracts. He is gone. But
he’s left a part of himself behind with
you. You are confused, hurt, angry, and to top it all off
you’re also two months pregnant.
Thoughts to keep in mind:
? The age you select will somewhat frame
your options.
? The father may or may not be legally
accountable for financial assistance with this
pregnancy.
? Your goals as a college student
and the level of investment your family has in your success
may need to be reassessed.
Timeline for completing the project
You should begin right away! Do not procrastinate! This
project will move rapidly since you will be
experiencing pregnancy and birth of the baby. Keep in mind
that you need to keep a log of expenses and
contacts as well as write a journal. Ideas for the journal
are found below.
Module/week 2
Choose a vignette and submit your choice to the instructor
by email. It is a good idea to start writing in
your journal and making contacts this week.
Hints for journal: You just found out you are pregnant. How
do you feel about the pregnancy? What are
your plans? Who will be your doctor? What do you do at the
first appointment? What symptoms are you
experiencing? Weeks 2-3 represents the first trimester.
Module/week 3
Hints for journal: The first trimester is continuing. Think
about resources that you might need, such as
insurance or WIC. What questions do you have at this point
of the pregnancy? Where do you find
answers? When will you tell people about the pregnancy?
Module/week 4
You are now in the second trimester.
Hints for journal: During week 4, you can begin learning
about the second trimester and incorporate this
into your journal. The second trimester will last from week
4 to week 5 of class. What changes can you
expect this trimester? What are doctor’s appointments like?
How much is the pregnancy costing you so
far? What contacts have you made? Have you registered for
any baby items?
Module/week 5
Second trimester continues.
Hints for journal: How is the baby developing? Are there any
necessary tests that must be performed
during this trimester?
Module/week 6
You are now in the third trimester.
Hints for journal: What changes have you experienced? Are
you exercising? How do you feel? What type
of birth experience do you want? Have you had a baby shower?
What are your fears?
Module/week 7
The end of the third trimester! The baby is born! You will
submit the completed project to the instructor.
