Objective: Describe the beliefs and practices of pregnant women older than 35 years who face a pregnancy, hospitalized in a third level institution in Santiago de Cali, Colombia, during the year 2015.Materials and Methods: Ethno nursing (Leininger) was used to explore the emic perspective of pregnant women.The method of James P. Spradley was used for data analysis.Eighteen women, over the age of 35 who were hospitalized in a third level institution, participated.The sample size was defined by data saturation.The information was obtained through in-depth interviews.Results: The participants admitted feelings of frustration and anxiety at the time they realized they were pregnant, which led them to perform selfcare practices favoring both the pregnant women and their unborn child.Those practices helped them to establish relationships with their family support network and in a way less complex overcome the situation they were living.Conclusions: Pregnant women older than 35 years performed care practices influenced by their beliefs, which have been transmitted through oral tradition by their family, friends or peers whom were living the same situation.