What is Perinatal Emotional Wellbeing?
Perinatal Emotional
Health
Perinatal emotional health is the name given to cover all these different problems that can occur in pregnancy and in the first three years after giving birth.
Pregnancy can be a time of joy but it can also be a time of distress, worries and anxieties which may be caused by a range of factors, including hormonal changes to the body, changes in lifestyle and added pressure on relationships.
Perinatal emotional health refers to the social and emotional wellbeing of the expectant mother, and is about keeping mentally and physically in good shape during pregnancy and after giving birth. This also includes promoting a positive relationship with others, including your partner, family and friends, and keeping worries, such as finances and housing, to the minimum.
The social and emotional wellbeing of the father is equally important. Becoming a dad can be stressful too and puts pressure on different aspects of his life. His role as a father is a significant one as it can contribute to the social and emotional development of the infant.
There is no doubt that the positive perinatal emotional health of the mother and father gives the parents the greatest opportunity to care, love and bond with their baby as well as look to after themselves and the rest of the family.
For the mother, it is important to remember that emotional difficulties during pregnancy may impair her capacity to make good decisions regarding her own health and wellbeing, as well as that of her foetus (for example diet, smoking and drug and alcohol misuse). Equally they can have a negative influence on her relationship with those around her.
If you’re feeling sad, anxious or simply know that you’re not your normal self, there are things that you can do to help yourself and your family get through this time.
References:
Perinatal Statistics in WA, 2003 Twentieth Annual Report Maternal and Child Health Unit, Dept of Health WA, 2004
Post-Natal Depression Support Association of South Africa (PNDSA) http://www.pndsa.co.za
The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing – Lippincott Williams &Wilkins Vol 24 (4) July/August 1999 pp 202-208
Management of Mental Disorders – Anxiety and Somatoform Disorders World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Third Edition
Anxiety During Pregnancy Linked to Behaviour Problems in Children – O’Connor RG et al. Maternal antenatal anxiety and children’s behavioural/emotional problems at 4 years: Report from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children British Journal of Psychiatry 2002 Jun; 180:502-8
Postnatal Depression in Mothers and Fathers - Correlates of Postnatal Depression in Mothers and Fathers, MEG Areias, R Kumar, H Barros and E Figueirdo (first received 1 June 1995, final version 6 February 1996, accepted 7 February 1996)
The Marce Society International Biennial Scientific Meeting 23-26 Sept 04 Oxford UK
beyondblue The National Depression Initiative
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