Background and Significance: All women do not experience pregnancy and motherhood in the same way (Mercer, 1995; Sawyer, 1999). As the United States increases in diversity, there needs to be a greater understanding of how women of various ethnic groups experience pregnancy and motherhood (Koniak-Griffin, Logsdon, Hines-Martin, & Turner, 2006). Hispanics in the United States comprise the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States and is much younger than the population as a whole (U. S. Census, 2007). The study’s conceptual model provided the concepts to allow the Mexican origin pregnant woman’s emic views of attachment, commitment, and preparation during pregnancy to emerge during an interview with the researcher. The model is an adaptation of Rubin’s (1967, 1984) work on mothering and the pregnancy stage of Mercer’s theoretical model, Becoming a Mother (Mercer, 2006). The adapted model represents the anticipatory stage of mothering, and emphasizing culture, the partner, family, and friends as important influences in the process. Little research on mothering and the transition to motherhood has been done with the Mexican origin population.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of attachment, commitment, and preparation during pregnancy as an anticipatory phase of mothering for the Mexican origin woman giving birth in the United States.
Study Objectives:
1.      Describe the participant’s words related to attachment, commitment and preparation.
2.      Describe what the meaning of mothering is to them during pregnancy.
3.      Describe how the partner, family, and friends influence them during pregnancy.
4.      Describe the influence of their culture: attitudes, beliefs, and taboos during pregnancy.
Research Design: A qualitative, descriptive inquiry was conducted to explore the anticipatory stage of becoming a mother; (attachment, commitment, and preparation), in the Mexican origin woman. Semi-structured interviews provided direct, in-depth responses about the woman’s experiences, perceptions, feelings, and knowledge of becoming a mother.  Content analysis; the process of identifying, coding, and categorizing the data captured the meaning of the passages within the content of the data.
Results: The richness of the results was highlighted in the statements of the young women reflecting on their pregnancy and anticipation of becoming a mother. The sample consisted of self-identifying Mexican origin women and primigravidas (23-30 weeks gestation) at the time of the interview. They were between 18-23 years of age, monolingual English or bilingual- English/Spanish. The findings are related to the model’s constructs: attachment, commitment, and preparation. Three emergent themes emerged from the categories; determination to succeed, strong woman, and good mother.
Nursing Implications and Conclusions: The young women expressed a determination to succeed, be a strong woman, and to provide a good life for their child. Nurses may use this study to begin to understand what this population wants and needs to succeed. By responding to what they see as important, nurses can assist women and their families in the tasks of mothering. Further research is needed to develop programs attuned to the beliefs and thoughts of this population.