What is a planned pregnancy? (Study inside!)

[Mellonhead]

In 2002, there was a British study concerning the application of the term "planned" by pregnant women.

In the study, women applied the term "planned" only if they had met four key criteria. Intending to become pregnant and stopping contraception were not sufficient criteria, in themselves, to apply the term; partner agreement and reaching the right time in terms of lifestyle/life stage were also necessary.

For all who applied the term "planned", the four key criteria are having the clear intention to become pregnant, deliberately not using contraception, having agreed with partner, and having wider life preparations/reaching right time. For some individuals, targeting the fertile period is an additional criterion. For other individuals, pre-conceptual preparations and discussion/involvement of health professionals are additional criteria.

Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12188462

Women generally apply the term spontaneously, so the above published paper is actually useful for physicians and other healthcare professionals and also for people like me who are curious about everything.