Issues regarding exploratory observations (stage 1): Permission will be obtained from care providers, including obstetricians, certified nurse-midwives, and direct-entry midwives, to observe prenatal care appointments. The researcher will be introduced by the care provider as a graduate student who is observing prenatal care appointments as background research for her dissertation project. In order to respect the privacy and confidentiality of the patient, the researcher will not observe any event if any reservation is expressed by either the care provider or the patient regarding her presence. Observational field notes describing prenatal care appointments will include no names of patients and care providers will be identified by type (e.g., "obstetrician," "CNM," or "midwife"). In order to protect patient confidentiality, the researcher will not recruit or interview patients for this study during exploratory observations of prenatal care appointments. However, the researcher will provide her contact information to care providers in order to make it available to patients with questions regarding this study. In addition, brochures and flyers to recruit informants for this study will be made available in the clinic or office.

The researcher also plans to observe prenatal exercise classes and childbirth preparation workshops as background research. Permission will be obtained from instructors, who will introduce the researcher as a graduate student who is observing exercise classes and childbirth workshops as background research for her dissertation project. In order to respect the privacy of class and workshop participants, the researcher will not observe any event if either the instructor or participants expresses any reservation regarding her presence. Observational field notes describing exercise classes and childbirth workshops will include no names of participants and instructors will be identified by type (e.g., "yoga instructor," "Lamaze teacher"). With the express permission of the instructor to do so, the researcher plans to make a brief presentation regarding this study at the beginning or end of the class or workshop in order to recruit informants (please see question 2 for further details). In addition, brochures and flyers to recruit informants for this study will be made available.

Issues regarding interviews (stages 2 and 3) Recording and consent: Interviews with informants participating in the second and third stages of this study will be recorded on audio tape. In addition to obtaining written informed consent from all informants participating in this study, written consent specifying the use of audio tape recordings will be obtained.

The investigator also plans to conduct at least one interview with the informant and her spouse or partner in order to collect information regarding the couples beliefs, expectations, and experiences regarding family and work. Written informed consent will be obtained from the informants spouse or partner before conducting couple interviews.

Protecting identity of subjects and security of data: The investigator will maintain a list of code numbers, which will be assigned to audio tapes and to transcripts and used in observational field notes in order to protect the identity of subjects. The investigator plans to transcribe all recordings of interviews for analysis. However, if a third party (i.e., hired transcriber) becomes involved, the investigator will review recordings and erase references to the names of subjects. Tapes and transcripts will be stored at the investigators secured home office, where her research will be based. The list of code numbers will be stored separately from tapes and transcripts in a locked security box at her office.

The investigator will retain exclusive access to taped recordings of interviews, except if a hired transcriber becomes involved. The investigator will make no copies of taped recordings of interviews without the permission of the informant expressly to do so for research or teaching purposes. After the interviews have been transcribed and analyzed, the investigator will return the original recordings to the informants. The investigator will retain exclusive access to interview transcripts and observational field notes. However, transcripts will be made available to scholars who request access in writing for research or teaching purposes that they specify.

From Initial Approval Request for Studies Involving Human Subjects (IRB File No. 7313). Submitted to the University of Michigan IRB Behavioral Sciences Committee. Received Approval Notice on September 12, 2002.