This study aims to identify the unmet expectations of Portuguese and immigrant women, for the National Health System, during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.

This is a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study, using semi structured interviews and content analysis proposed by Bardin, with the categorization of verbatim interviews of 82 Portuguese and immigrant women, supported by NVivo 10.

Major emerging categories of unmet expectations referred to the accessibility, human resources, incentives to maternity, physical and environmental conditions, and organization of the health system. There was a greater representation of dashed expectations among immigrant users when compared to Portuguese women.

The areas of greatest shortage in meeting the needs of users are: surveillance by experts in the health centre and maternity hospital; reduced waiting time for pregnant women in consultations; home visits; more incentives to maternity; longer duration of hospitalization; higher number of professionals and presence of a companion with the parturient.