Investigating the association between metabolic syndrome conditions and perinatal mental illness: a national administrative claims study.

BACKGROUND: Although the association between mental disorder and metabolic syndrome as a bidirectional relationship has been demonstrated, there is little knowledge of the cumulative and individual effect of these conditions on peripartum mental health. This study aims to investigate the association between metabolic syndrome conditions (MetS-C) and maternal mental illness in the perinatal period, while exploring time to incident mental disorder diagnosis in postpartum women. METHODS: This observational study identified perinatal women continuously enrolled 1 year prior to and 1 year post-delivery using Optum's de-identified Clinformatics® Data Mart Database (CDM) from 2014 to 2019 with MetS-C i.e. obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, or low HDL (1-year prior to delivery); perinatal comorbidities (9-months prior to and 4-month postpartum); and mental disorder (1-year prior to and 1-year post-delivery). Additionally, demographics and the number of days until mental disorder diagnosis were evaluated in this cohort. The analysis included descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression. MetS-C, perinatal comorbidities, and mental disorder were assessed using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth, and Tenth Revision diagnosis codes. RESULTS: 372,895 deliveries met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The prevalence of MetS-C was 13.43%. Multivariable logistic regression revealed prenatal prevalence (1.64, CI = 1.59-1.70) and postpartum incident (1.30, CI = 1.25-1.34) diagnosis of mental health disorder were significantly higher in those with at least one MetS-C. Further, the adjusted odds of having postpartum incident mental illness were 1.51 times higher (CI = 1.39-1.66) in those with 2 MetS-C and 2.12 times higher (CI = 1.21-4.01) in those with 3 or more MetS-C. Young women (under the age of 18 years) were more likely to have an incident mental health diagnosis as opposed to other age groups. Lastly, time from hospital discharge to incident mental disorder diagnosis revealed an average of 157 days (SD = 103 days). CONCLUSION: The risk of mental disorder (both prenatal and incident) has a significant association with MetS-C. An incremental relationship between incident mental illness diagnosis and the number of MetS-C, a significant association with younger mothers along with a relatively long period of diagnosis mental illness highlights the need for more screening and treatment during pregnancy and postpartum.

Bidirectional relationship between intraindividual changes in behavioral activation and intraindividual changes in postpartum depressive symptoms: A random intercept cross-lagged panel model.

According to Lewisohn's model of depression, decreases in behavioral activation (BA) occurring after facing a vital stressor may increase the risk of depression. Transition to parenthood is a potentially stressful life event that increases the risks of postpartum depression. We aimed to (a) describe the changes in BA and depressive symptomatology between the prepartum period, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postpartum and (b) evaluate the bidirectionality of the relationship between intraindividual changes in BA and intraindividual changes in depressive symptoms longitudinally. Chilean pregnant women (N = 503) completed a battery of questionnaires when they were between 32 and 37 weeks of gestation and 1, 3, and 6 months after delivery. A repeated measures analysis of variance showed that BA significantly decreased from prepartum to 1 month postpartum. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model supported the bidirectional inverse relationship between intraindividual changes in BA and intraindividual changes in depressive symptoms. The effect sizes of these associations were large (ßs ranging from -.141 to -.243) according to Orth et al. (2022)'s recommendations for cross-lagged effect benchmarks. This relationship showed robustness when multigroup random intercept cross-lagged panel models were conducted to adjust for several covariates (i.e., marital status, the type of health insurance, type of delivery, primiparous vs. multiparous participants, and pregnancy or delivery complication or newborn health problem). Nonetheless, reporting a previous history of major depression moderated this relationship so that intraindividual decreases in BA more likely led to intraindividual increases in depressive symptoms in people with a history of depression than in people without such a history. We discuss implications for behavioral models of depression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Perinatal posttraumatic stress disorder as a predictor of mother-child bonding quality 8 months after childbirth: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Negative childbirth experiences can be related to the onset of perinatal post-traumatic stress symptomatology (P-PTSS), which significantly impacts the mother and the infant. As a response in the face of the discomfort caused by P-PTSS, maladaptive emotion regulation strategies such as brooding can emerge, contributing to the consolidation of post-partum depressive symptoms. Ultimately, both types of symptomatology, P-PTSS and post-partum depression, can act as risk factors for developing mother-child bonding difficulties. Still, this full set of temporal paths has to date remained untested. The present longitudinal study aimed to analyze the risk factors associated with the appearance of P-PTSS after post-partum and to test a path model considering the role of P-PTSS as an indirect predictor of bonding difficulties at eight months of postpartum. METHODS: An initial sample of pregnant women in the third trimester of gestation (N = 594) participated in a longitudinal study comprising two follow-ups at two and eight months of postpartum. The mothers completed online evaluations that included socio-demographic data and measures of psychological variables. A two-step linear regression model was performed to assess the predictive role of the variables proposed as risk factors for P-PTSS, and a path model was formulated to test the pathways of influence of P-PTSS on bonding difficulties. RESULTS: A history of psychopathology of the mother, the presence of depression during pregnancy, the presence of medical complications in the mother, and the occurrence of traumatic birth experiences all acted as significant predictors of P-PTSS, explaining 29.5% of its variance. Furthermore, the path model tested further confirmed an indirect effect of P-PTSS, triggered by a negative childbirth experience, on subsequent bonding difficulties eight months after labor through its association with higher levels of brooding and, ultimately, postpartum depression levels. A further path showed that bonding difficulties at two months postpartum can persist at eight months postpartum due to the onset of brooding and postpartum depression symptoms. CONCLUSION: We identified a set of robust predictors of P-PTSS: the mother's previous history of depression, perinatal depression during pregnancy, the presence of medical complications in the mother and the occurrence of traumatic birth experiences, which has important implications for prevention. This is particularly relevant, as P-PTSS, when triggered by a negative childbirth experience, further indirectly predicted the development of mother-child bonding difficulties through the mediation of higher use of brooding and symptoms of postpartum depression. These findings can serve as a basis for developing new longitudinal studies to further advance the understanding of perinatal mechanisms of mental health.

Knowledge and attitude of spouses of puerperas towards breastfeeding.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent of knowledge about breastfeeding and attitudes towards infant feeding among spouses of puerperas at the time of discharge from hospital, and explore the factors influencing spousal attitudes toward breastfeeding. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire survey among 204 spouses of puerperas who were admitted in the maternity wards at a tertiary hospital in Shaanxi Province between October 2021 and December 2021. Respondents who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were identified using convenient sampling. RESULTS: (1) The score of breastfeeding knowledge among spouses prior to discharge from the hospital was (10.56 ± 3.78), with an accuracy rate of 59.6%, and the lowest accuracy rate was for Item 1 "Newborns should be fed on time, not on demand" (42.6%) and Item 5 "Breastfeeding can prevent infant rickets" (49.5%). (2) The average score of spouses' infant feeding attitudes was (58.15 ± 5.55), and the lowest scoring was for Item 17 "Daily urine volume of infants is a reliable indicator to judge whether they get enough breast milk" (1.99 ± 1.14). (3) Generalized linear model analysis showed a more positive attitude (higher score) among spousal attitudes towards infant feeding in those who had received breastfeeding education [OR = 4.588, 95% CI (0.160 ∼ 3.598)] and those with a master's degree or above [OR = 18.278, 95% CI (3.471 ∼ 9.346)]. CONCLUSION: (1) Spouses that received breastfeeding education and those that had a Masters Degree and above had more positive attitude towards infant feeding. (2) Medical staff should focus on puerperas'spouses with degrees below master's level who had not received breastfeeding education. We recommend using a variety of education methods to enable them to acquire more knowledge on breastfeeding and develop a more positive attitude towards breastfeeding, which will further enhance spousal support for breastfeeding, thus positivizing postpartum co-parenting attitudes and improving the rate of exclusive breastfeeding.

Group Multimodal Prenatal Care and Postpartum Outcomes.

Importance: An increasing body of evidence suggests equivalent if not improved postpartum outcomes of in-person group prenatal care compared with individual prenatal care. However, research is needed to evaluate outcomes of group multimodal prenatal care (GMPC), with groups delivered virtually in combination with individual in-person office appointments to collect vital signs and conduct other tests compared with individual multimodal prenatal care (IMPC) delivered through a combination of remotely delivered and in-person visits. Objective: To compare postpartum outcomes between GMPC and IMPC. Design, Setting, and Participants: A frequency-matched longitudinal cohort study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health care delivery system. Participants included 424 individuals who were pregnant (212 GMPC and 212 frequency-matched IMPC controls (matched on gestational age, race and ethnicity, insurance status, and maternal age) receiving prenatal care between August 17, 2020, and April 1, 2021. Participants completed a baseline survey before 14 weeks' gestation and a follow-up survey between 4 and 8 weeks post partum. Data analysis was performed from January 3, 2022, to March 4, 2024. Exposure: GMPC vs IMPC. Main Outcome Measures: Validated instruments were used to ascertain postpartum psychosocial outcomes (stress, depression, anxiety) and perceived quality of prenatal care. Self-reported outcomes included behavioral outcomes (breastfeeding initiation, use of long-acting reversible contraception), satisfaction with prenatal care, and preparation for self and baby care after delivery. Primary analyses included all study participants in the final cohort. Three secondary dose-stratified analyses included individuals who attended at least 1 visit, 5 visits, and 70% of visits. Log-binomial regression and linear regression analyses were conducted. Results: The final analytic cohort of 390 participants (95.6% follow-up rate of 408 singleton live births) was racially and ethnically diverse: 98 (25.1%) Asian/Pacific Islander, 88 (22.6%) Hispanic, 17 (4.4%) non-Hispanic Black, 161 (41.3%) non-Hispanic White, and 26 (6.7%) multiracial participants; median age was 32 (IQR, 30-35) years. In the primary analysis, after adjustment, GMPC was associated with a 21% decreased risk of perceived stress (adjusted risk ratio [ARR], 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67-0.94) compared with IMPC. Findings were consistent in the dose-stratified analyses. There were no significant differences between GMPC and IMPC for other psychosocial outcomes. While in the primary analyses there was no significant group differences in perceived quality of prenatal care (mean difference [MD], 0.01; 95% CI, -0.12 to 0.15) and feeling prepared to take care of baby at home (ARR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.96-1.23), the dose-stratified analyses documented higher perceived quality of prenatal care (MD, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.01-0.31) and preparation for taking care of baby at home (ARR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.43) for GMPC among those attending 70% of visits. No significant differences were noted in patient overall satisfaction with prenatal care and feeling prepared for taking care of themselves after delivery. Conclusions: In this cohort study, equivalent and, in some cases, better outcomes were observed for GMPC compared with IMPC. Health care systems implementing multimodal models of care may consider incorporating virtual group prenatal care as a prenatal care option for patients.

Lived experiences of mothers with postnatal anxiety: a qualitative phenomenology study from Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of postnatal anxiety is high among women during the first year of childbirth globally. Rates are higher in low and middle-income countries (LMICs), that is, 24%. Existing literature on maternal mood and its impact on child development has largely focused on postnatal depression. Postnatal anxiety has been recognised to have significant independent effects similar to those of postnatal depression, including negative effects on various aspects of maternal well-being including quality of life, parent-child interaction and child development. The evidence exploring lived experiences of postnatal anxiety is limited from LMICs. This study explored the lived experiences of anxiety in postnatal mothers in Pakistan. DESIGN: A phenomenological approach was used for this qualitative study. The audio-recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using the process of thematic analysis. SETTINGS: The study was conducted in two community settings in Karachi, Pakistan; the Bin Qasim and Gadap town. PARTICIPANTS: Women who were 18 years of age or older, had a live childbirth within the previous 12 months and had a score of 10 or higher on the Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7. RESULTS: In-depth, one-to-one interviews were conducted with 10 participants. The qualitative data comprised of three themes. Theme one: Factors perceived to be associated with postnatal anxiety, Theme two: The perceived impact of postnatal anxiety and Theme three: Support needs. The first theme was further subdivided into two subthemes, that is, Mothers' perception of navigating domestic responsibilities and sociocultural norms of motherhood and financial constraints. CONCLUSION: Despite the high prevalence of postnatal anxiety in LMICs there is not any published evidence on exploring this phenomenon through in-depth research in Pakistan. Understanding the lived experiences will help health professionals to identify women at risk of developing postnatal anxiety and to develop effective culturally appropriate interventions for women with anxiety during this postnatal period.

Social Support Postpartum: Bengali Women from India on Their Coping Experiences following Childbirth.

Undertaken in Kolkata, India, our study aimed to explore the experiences of Bengali middle-class women on perceived stressful events, social support, and coping experiences following childbirth. Becoming a mother following childbirth is a shared phenomenon irrespective of culture, social strata, or country, while stress during the postpartum period or depression is not. Discrete medical intervention does not sufficiently address the complexities of postpartum experiences since influencing factors also include economic, political, cultural, and social backgrounds. Adopting a feminist and phenomenological approach, individual in-person interviews were conducted with twenty women recruited via snowball sampling. Our findings revealed that events experienced as stressful may lead to poor postpartum well-being. Underpinned by gendered discourse and biases, stressful events included familial imperatives for a male child, poor social and emotional support from the family, mostly partners and fathers, and systemic workplace barriers. The women in our study commonly resided with their mothers postpartum. They expressed feeling sheltered from these experiences, cared for, and supported. We discuss the women's experiences from a feminist pragmatic worldview, which advocates for a flexible feminism recognizant of the unique and nurturing relationship experiences between Bengali middle-class women and their mothers. In conclusion, we advocate for culturally sensitive, women-centered postpartum care practices that may entail the inclusion of intergenerational care during this critical phase of maternal well-being. These insights underscore the necessity of tailoring postpartum support systems to align with the cultural and familial contexts of the individuals they serve.

The patient experience of a postpartum readmission for hypertension: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are the most common cause of postpartum readmission. Prior research led to clinical guidelines for postpartum management; however, the patient experience is often missing from this work. The objective of this study is to understand the perspective of patients readmitted for postpartum hypertension. METHODS: This was a qualitative study with data generated through semi-structured interviews. Patients readmitted with postpartum HDP at an urban academic medical center from February to December 2022 were approached and consented for an interview. The same researcher conducted all interviews and patient recruitment continued until thematic saturation was reached (n = 9). Two coders coded all interviews using Nvivo software with both deductive and inductive coding processes. Discrepancies were discussed and resolved with consensus among the two coders. Themes were identified through an initial a priori template of codes which were expanded upon using grounded theory, and researchers were reflexive in their thematic generation. RESULTS: Six themes were generated: every pregnancy is different, symptoms of preeclampsia are easily dismissed or minimized by both patient and providers, miscommunication regarding medical changes can increase the risk of readmissions, postpartum care coordination and readmission logistics at our hospital could be improved to facilitate caring for a newborn, postpartum care is often considered separately from the rest of pregnancy, and patient well-being improved when conversations acknowledged the struggles of readmission. CONCLUSIONS: This qualitative research study revealed patient-identified gaps in care that may have led to readmission for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. The specific recommendations that emerge from these themes include addressing barriers to blood pressure management prior to discharge, improving postpartum discharge follow-up, providing newborn care coordination, and improving counseling on the risk of postpartum preeclampsia during discharge. Incorporating these patient perspectives in hospital discharge policy can be helpful in creating patient-centered systems of care and may help reduce rates of readmission.

Associations between parenting burnout and maternal adverse childhood experiences among postnatal women.

This study aims at exploring the relationships between adverse childhood experience (ACEs) and parental burnout. A total of 583 postnatal Chinese mothers were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Maternal ACEs were measured by Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire-Revised and parental burnout was measured by Parental Burnout Assessment. Multiple linear and binary logistic regression, and latent class analysis were used to explore the association between each type and cumulative ACEs and parental burnout. We found ACEs were associated with a higher risk of parental burnout. However, the association differed in the type of ACEs. The higher levels of physical abuse (B = 0.971 ~ 0.459, all p < 0.05) and emotional neglect (B = 1.010 ~ 1.407, all p < 0.05) in childhood were correlated with more serious parental burnout. The higher levels of self-threatened (B = 0.429 ~ 0.559, all p < 0.05) and self-deprived experience (B = 0.384 ~ 0.462, all p < 0.05), higher number of ACEs type (B = 2.909 ~ 3.918, all p < 0.05) were associated with more serious parental burnout. Results were consistent after combining four dimensions of parental burnout as a whole in LCA. This study indicated that maternal ACEs were associated with parental burnout. Women with self-deprived, self-threatened and more types of ACEs should be paid special attention.

Birth in Brazil II: a postpartum maternal, paternal and child health research protocol. / Nascer no Brasil II: protocolo de investigação da saúde materna, paterna e da criança no pós-parto.

Pregnancy, parturition and birth bring major changes to the lives of mothers and fathers. This article presents a research protocol for estimating the prevalence of postpartum mental health outcomes in mothers and fathers, abuse and satisfaction in delivery/abortion care, and the correlations between them and socioeconomic, obstetric, and child health factors. As a 2-component research, it consists of a prospective cohort study with all postpartum women interviewed in the 465 maternity hospitals included at the Birth in Brazil II baseline survey conducted from 2021 to 2023, and a cross-sectional study with the newborns' fathers/partners. Interviews will be conducted via telephone or self-completion link sent by WhatsApp with the mother at 2 and 4 months after delivery/abortion. Partners will be approached three months after birth (excluding abortions, stillbirths and newborn death) using the telephone number informed by the mother at the maternity ward. Postpartum women will be inquired about symptoms of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, abuse during maternity care and quality of the mother-newborn bond. Maternal and neonatal morbidity, use of postnatal services, and satisfaction with maternity care are also investigated. Fathers will be asked to report on symptoms of depression and anxiety, and the quality of the relationship with the partner and the newborn. The information collected in this research stage may help to plan and improve care aimed at the postpartum health of the mother-father-child triad.

A gravidez, o parto e o nascimento são momentos de grandes mudanças na vida das mães e dos pais. Este artigo tem como objetivo apresentar o protocolo da pesquisa para estimar a prevalência dos desfechos em saúde mental nas mães e pais no pós-parto, dos maus tratos e satisfação na atenção ao parto/abortamento, e as inter-relações entre eles e fatores socioeconômicos, obstétricos e da saúde da criança. A pesquisa tem dois componentes: estudo de coorte prospectiva com todas as puérperas entrevistadas nas 465 maternidades incluídas na linha de base da pesquisa Nascer no Brasil II realizada entre 2021 e 2023, e estudo seccional com os companheiros/pais dos bebês. As entrevistas são realizadas por ligação telefônica ou link de autopreenchimento enviado por WhatsApp com as puérperas aos 2 e 4 meses após o parto/aborto. Os companheiros são abordados três meses após o nascimento (excluídos os abortos, natimortos e neomortos), a partir do telefone informado pela puérpera na maternidade. As entrevistas abordam, entre as puérperas, sintomas de depressão, ansiedade e transtorno de estresse pós-traumático, maus-tratos na atenção na maternidade e qualidade do vínculo mãe-bebê. São investigados também a presença de morbidade materna e neonatal, utilização de serviços pós-natais, e satisfação com o atendimento na maternidade. Entre os pais, é abordada a ocorrência de sintomas de depressão e ansiedade, e a qualidade do relacionamento com a esposa/companheira e o bebê. As informações coletadas nessa etapa da pesquisa poderão subsidiar o planejamento e melhoria do cuidado voltado para a saúde da tríade mãe-pai-filho após o nascimento.

El embarazo, el parto y el nacimiento son momentos de grandes cambios en la vida de madres y padres. Este artículo tiene como objetivo presentar el protocolo de investigación para estimar la prevalencia de los resultados de la salud mental en madres y padres en el posparto, maltratos y la satisfacción durante la atención del parto/aborto, y las interrelaciones entre ellos y los factores socioeconómicos, obstétricos y de salud infantil. La investigación tiene dos componentes: un estudio de cohorte prospectivo con todas las puérperas entrevistadas en las 465 maternidades incluidas en la línea de base de la encuesta Nacer en Brasil II realizada entre 2021 y 2023, y un estudio seccional con las parejas/padres de los bebés. Las entrevistas se efectúan mediante llamada telefónica o enlace de autocumplimentación enviado vía WhatsApp a las puérperas a los 2 y 4 meses después del parto/aborto. El contacto con la pareja se hace a los tres meses del nacimiento (excluyendo abortos, mortinatos y muertes de recién nacidos), a través del teléfono facilitado por la puérpera en la sala de maternidad. Las entrevistas abordan, entre las puérperas, los síntomas de depresión, ansiedad y trastorno de estrés postraumático, maltrato durante la atención en la maternidad y la calidad del vínculo madre-bebé. También se investiga la presencia de morbilidad materna y neonatal, uso de servicios posnatales y satisfacción con la atención en la maternidad. Entre los padres, se aborda la ocurrencia de síntomas de depresión y ansiedad, y la calidad de la relación con la esposa/pareja y el bebé. La información recopilada en esta etapa de la investigación puede apoyar la planificación y mejora de la atención dirigida a la salud de la tríada madre-padre-hijo después del nacimiento.

Social support as a coping resource for psychosocial conditions in postpartum period: a systematic review and logic framework.

PURPOSE: This review seeks to examine the current state of postpartum social support and psychosocial conditions among women around the world, as well as explore the relationship between these factors. Additionally, it aims to propose a logical framework for enhancing postpartum social support and psychosocial conditions in this population. METHODS: Following the development of a search strategy, two databases, PubMed and Science Direct, were searched for studies published between January 2019 and May 2023. The search was conducted throughout the entire month of May 2023. The risk of bias in the included cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale, which was adapted for this specific study design. To determine if the main objective of the cross-sectional studies was to investigate the relationship between social support and postpartum psychosocial conditions, a review was conducted based on the AMSTAR checklist, PRISMA checklist and PRISMA flow diagram. Data extraction was performed with the consensus of two authors, and a narrative synthesis approach was chosen for data synthesis, following the guidelines provided by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD). RESULTS: Eleven cross-sectional studies were included in the final analysis. Our findings revealed that all reviewed studies provided evidence of a positive association between social support and healthy psychosocial conditions in postpartum period. However, due to the absence of standardized measurement indicators to identify and compare the outcomes of various studies, there was a need to develop a conceptual framework that could enhance our understanding of the postpartum psychosocial condition including anxiety, depression, unfavorable quality of life and social support status up to 24 month after child birth. This framework aimed to incorporate childbirth and motherhood as "stressful events," while considering social support as a crucial "coping resource." Furthermore, it acknowledged empowerment, help-seeking behavior, and peer support as important "coping actions," alongside implementing client-centered interventions. Lastly, it recognized postpartum mental health and optimal quality of life as significant "effects" of these factors. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed conceptual framework could define postpartum women's health as "the ability to adapt and self-manage."

Overlooked by the obstetric gaze - how women with persistent health problems due to severe perineal trauma experience encounters with healthcare services: a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: During the first year postpartum, about 25 per cent of Swedish women with severe perineal trauma (SPT), i.e., a third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration at childbirth, are unsatisfied with their healthcare contacts. Further, there is a lack of research on the more long-term experiences of healthcare encounters among women with persistent SPT-related health problems. This study explores how women with self-reported persistent SPT-related health problems experience their contact with healthcare services 18 months to five years after childbirth when the SPT occurred. METHODS: In this descriptive qualitative study, a purposive sample of twelve women with self-reported persistent health problems after SPT were individually interviewed from November 2020 - February 2022. The data was analysed using inductive qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Our results showed a paradoxical situation for women with persistent health problems due to SPT. They struggled with their traumatised body, but healthcare professionals rejected their health problems as postpartum normalities. This paradox highlighted the women's difficulties in accessing postpartum healthcare, rehabilitation, and sick leave, which left them with neglected healthcare needs, diminished emotional well-being, and loss of financial and social status. Our results indicated that these health problems did not diminish over time. Consequently, the women had to search relentlessly for a 'key person' in healthcare who acknowledged their persistent problems as legitimate to access needed care, rehabilitation, and sick leave, thus feeling empowered. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed that women with persistent SPT-related health problems experienced complex health challenges. Additionally, their needs for medical care, rehabilitation, and sick leave were largely neglected. Thus, the study highlights an inequitable provision of SPT-related healthcare services in Sweden, including regional disparities in access to care. Hence, the authors suggest that Swedish national guidelines for SPT-related care need to be developed and implemented, applying a woman-centered approach, to ensure equitable, effective, and accessible healthcare.

Mental Health Treatment Rates During Pregnancy and Post Partum in US Military Service Members.

Importance: Although new parents' mental health is known to decline, less is known about changes in therapy attendance, especially among military service members. Objective: To investigate changes in therapy attendance among new parents and by parental leave length. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study of US Army and Navy service members from January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2019, compared parents' monthly therapy attendance with matched nonparents' across childbirth and compared mothers' weekly therapy attendance before vs after returning to work. Eligible monthly sample members included service members with first births from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2017, and 12 months of data before to 24 months after birth and nonparents with 36 months of data. Eligible weekly sample members included mothers with first births from January 1, 2013, to June 30, 2019, and data from 12 months before to 6 months after birth and nonparents with 18 months of data. Data analysis was performed from July 1, 2023, to January 15, 2024. Exposure: Those exposed to parenthood had no prior children, acquired a dependent younger than 1 year, and, for mothers, had an inpatient birth. Unexposed matches did not add a dependent younger than 1 year. Main Outcomes and Measures: Monthly counts of mental health therapy sessions and any therapy sessions (weekly). Results: The monthly sample included 15 554 193 person-month observations, representing 321 200 parents and matches, including 10 193 mothers (3.2%; mean [SD] age, 25.0 [4.9] years), 50 865 nonmother matches (15.8%; mean [SD] age, 25.0 [5.0] years), 43 365 fathers (13.5%; mean [SD] age, 26.4 [4.8] years), and 216 777 nonfather matches (67.5%; mean [SD] age, 26.4 [4.8] years). The weekly sample included 17 464 mothers. Mothers went to 0.0712 fewer sessions at 1 month post partum (95% CI, -0.0846 to -0.0579) compared with 10 months before birth. Fathers went to 0.0154 fewer sessions in the month of birth (95% CI, -0.0194 to -0.0114) compared with 10 months before. Parents with preexisting treatment needs had larger decreases in treatment. Weekly therapy attendance increased by 0.555 percentage points (95% CI, 0.257-0.852) when mothers returned to work from 6 weeks of leave and 0.953 percentage points (95% CI, 0.610-1.297) after 12 weeks of leave. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of new parents, therapy attendance decreased around childbirth, especially among parents with prior mental health needs and mothers with longer maternity leaves. These findings suggest that more accessible treatment, including home visits or telehealth appointments, is needed.

Association of childbirth experience with long-term psychological outcomes: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: There has been limited research on the lasting impact of giving birth on both mothers and infants. This study aimed to investigate women's memories of their childbirth experience 4 months and 4 years after giving birth. Additionally, it aimed to examine how the childbirth experience is linked to women's mental health, sexual satisfaction, exclusive breastfeeding, and the type of subsequent birth. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, a total of 580 women giving birth in Tabriz hospitals in 2018 were followed up for 4 years. The data were collected using a childbirth experience questionnaire, a mental health inventory, and a sexual satisfaction scale for women, and were analyzed by a Pearson correlation test, an independent samples t-test, and a general linear model. RESULTS: The total scores of the childbirth experience in two short-term (4 months) and long-term (4 years) time points following the birth had a significant and strong correlation with each other (r = .51; p < .001). After adjusting for the effects of socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, sexual satisfaction had significant relationships with childbirth experience (p < .001) and postpartum complications (p < .001). In addition, mental health had significant relationships with childbirth experience (p < .001), postpartum complications (p < .001), and low income (p = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Even 4 years after giving birth, women have a clear recall of their childbirth experience. This experience has a significant association with long-term outcomes such as sexual satisfaction, mental health, exclusive breastfeeding, and subsequent birth type.

Childbearing is a significant event in a mother's life. Women often remember the births of their babies distinctly, even after many years. However, some mothers do not perceive this life event as a positive one. Factors affecting this perception are multidimensional and may include demographic variables and obstetric events (e.g., immediate postpartum complications like hemorrhage), which contribute to negative childbirth experiences. It's important to note that women who feel unsupported or lack control during labour and childbirth are more likely to have negative birth experiences. Although a birth experience is influenced by various factors, this can have serious consequences, such as mental health problems, disrupted mother-infant bonding, and reluctance to have subsequent pregnancies or initiate or continue breastfeeding. Therefore, this study mainly aimed to investigate women's recollection of their childbirth experience at 4 months and 4 years after giving birth, as well as examine the correlation of childbirth experience with women's mental health, sexual satisfaction, exclusive breastfeeding, inclination to have children, and the type of next birth 4 years after the childbirth.

Pre- and postpartum fear of childbirth and its predictors among rural women in China.

BACKGROUND: Fear of childbirth (FOC) can influence both maternal and child health. Research on FOC in China is scarce, especially on rural women. This study aimed to assess pre- and postpartum FOC and its predictors among Chinese rural women. METHODS: This was a prospective correlation study. A total of 569 women completed the prenatal questionnaire in the third trimester, and 477 of them completed the postpartum questionnaire within three days after childbirth. Maternal socio-demographic information, clinical information, childbirth self-efficacy and prenatal and postpartum FOC were investigated. FOC was evaluated using the Wijma Childbirth Expectancy/ Experience Questionnaire (WDEQ). Descriptive, bivariate, multivariate linear regression analysis, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The mean pre- and postpartum FOC scores were 64.5 (standard deviation: 25.1) and 64.3 (standard deviation: 23.9), respectively, with 20.8% of women reporting severe fear before childbirth and 18.2% after childbirth. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed predictors for higher levels of prenatal FOC including higher education level, nullipara, higher monthly household income, lower family support, and lower childbirth self-efficacy (p < 0.05) and the predictors for higher levels of postpartum FOC included unemployed status, lower childbirth self-efficacy, and higher prenatal FOC (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression showed that higher childbirth self-efficacy reduced the likelihood of severe prenatal FOC (OR: 0.99, p < 0.001), while severe prenatal FOC increased the likelihood of severe postpartum FOC (OR: 3.57, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The rural women have high levels of FOC before and after childbirth, with approximately 20% experiencing severe FOC during both periods. Higher education level, nullipara, higher monthly household income, lower family support, and lower childbirth self-efficacy are predictors of heightened prenatal FOC. Unemployed status, lower childbirth self-efficacy, and higher prenatal FOC are predictors of heightened postpartum FOC. Notably, enhancing childbirth self-efficacy emerges as crucial in mitigating severe prenatal FOC, while severe prenatal FOC significantly increases the likelihood of severe postpartum FOC. The development of targeted intervention strategies for the above factors can help reduce women's FOC level and improve their overall pregnancy and childbirth experience.

Support for the Supporter: Paternal Postpartum Loneliness and Social Support During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the postpartum period, fathers may be at risk of increased stress and loneliness, which may be offset or buffered by the provision of social support. This study aimed to explore fathers' postpartum experiences of loneliness, perceived stress, and social support. A constructivist grounded theory approach was used to inform study design and analysis. Semistructured interviews were conducted to collect data from 12 fathers, living in the Republic of Ireland, who had an infant aged 6 months or younger. A grounded theory entitled "support for the supporter," describing fathers' experiences with social support, and loneliness during the postpartum period, was derived. Participants described experiencing increased financial pressure and having difficulty balancing the role of "breadwinner" with fatherhood. Participants described feeling excluded from maternity care and lacked avenues for information within the Irish health care system. Participants linked their experiences of loneliness to the lack of social support in the postpartum period. This study offers a novel insight into Irish fathers' experiences with maternity care during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is the first to qualitatively explore paternal postpartum loneliness and provides a good foundation for future research and intervention in this area. Findings suggest that it would be wise to promote social support from other experienced fathers, friends, family, and from partners to reduce paternal postpartum loneliness.

Psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale among postpartum women.

BACKGROUND: Maternal parenting self-efficacy plays a critical role in facilitating positive parenting practices and successful adaption to motherhood. The Perceived Maternal Parenting Self-Efficacy Scale (PMPS-E), as a task-specific measure, confirms its psychometric properties in cultural contexts. Compared with other tools, the advantages of the PMPS-E are as follows: (i) specific context or time period during the lifespan of a child, (ii) explicitly assess parenting self-efficacy across a diverse enough range of parenting tasks or activities during the perinatal/postnatal period and (iii) having robust psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to translate and determine the psychometric properties of the PMPS-E among Chinese postpartum women (C-PMPS-E). METHOD: The cross-cultural adaptation process followed Beaton et al.'s intercultural debugging guidelines. A total of 471 women were included to establish the psychometric properties of the C-PMPS-E. Mothers were asked to complete the C-PMPS-E, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and several demographic questions. The psychometric testing of the C-PMPS-E was established through item analysis, construct validity and internal consistency reliability. RESULTS: Item analysis showed that the critical ratios of all items were greater than 3 between the low-score group and high-score group, and all item-total correlation coefficients were greater than 0.4. The fit indices showed that the original correlated four-factor model of C-PMPS-E was observed to be an excellent fit to the data. The PMPS-E was negatively correlated with the EPDS and GAD-7 demonstrating its discriminant validity. As expected, no significant correlation was found between PMPS-E total or subscale scores and mothers' age. In addition, statistically significant differences for parity were detected for C-PMPS-E total and subscale scores with multipara having higher scores. This was taken as further evidence of the scale known-groups discriminant validity. In terms of internal consistency, the Cronbach's alpha of the C-PMPS-E total scale was 0.950, and subscales ranged from 0.76 to 0.89. Furthermore, a ROC curve analysis was conducted to establish the ability of the C-PMPS-E to distinguish between symptoms of depression and symptoms of anxiety. A cut-off value of 55 was identified that resulted in good specificity and fair sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The C-PMPS-E is a reliable and valid tool to assess maternal parenting self-efficacy in a Chinese context.

Mindfulness in Pregnancy and Postpartum: Protocol of a Pilot Randomized Trial of Virtually Delivered Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to Promote Well-Being during the Perinatal Period.

BACKGROUND: During the period from pregnancy through the first year postpartum, vulnerable individuals are at elevated risk for the onset or worsening of psychological distress, and accessible (e.g., virtually delivered) mental health interventions are needed. Research suggests that Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can effectively mitigate psychological distress, although few studies have evaluated MBCT in the perinatal period, and samples have been clinically homogenous. Thus, we have designed and are conducting a pilot trial of virtually delivered MBCT with pregnant individuals experiencing a range of psychological symptoms to assess its feasibility and preliminarily explore its effectiveness. Here, we present the study protocol. METHODS: Eligible participants (target N = 70) are ≥18 years with pregnancies between 12 and 30 weeks of gestation. Participants complete a diagnostic interview, self-report symptom ratings, and a computerized cognitive battery assessing self-regulation at the baseline. Participants are then randomized to either MBCT or care as usual. The MBCT intervention involves eight weekly group sessions delivered virtually, with each session focusing on a mindfulness practice followed by group discussion and skill development. Participants in the intervention group are also encouraged to practice mindfulness skills between sessions. Participants in the control condition are provided with information about mindfulness and treatment resources. Baseline measures are repeated following the eight-week intervention period and at three months postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study is designed to evaluate the feasibility of virtually delivered MBCT and explore group differences in psychological symptoms during the perinatal period, and will lay the foundation for a larger clinical trial focused on optimizing this intervention to improve psychological functioning among diverse pregnant individuals.

Mothers' experiences living with diastasis recti abdominis - an interview study.

BACKGROUND: Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a common postpartum condition. Knowledge is scarce on how mothers perceive living with DRA. The interaction between healthcare providers and patients plays a significant role in shaping the healthcare service experience. Women suffering from typical women's diseases tend to experience not being taken seriously or listened to when seeking healthcare. The aim of this study was to explore mothers' experiences living with DRA. METHODS: Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with six Norwegian mothers, age 32-41, presenting with a clinically significant DRA. Topics discussed were how the condition is experienced, how it affects different aspects of day-to-day life and experiences with healthcare services. The data was analyzed using systematic text condensation. RESULTS: DRA had an impact on everyday life among the mothers included in this study. Three major themes emerged: (I) The path to obtaining knowledge and understanding of DRA, (II) DRA - intertwined with health issues and physical limitations and (III) A changed belly - on self-image & social interactions. The mothers experienced uncertainties and frustration when trying to learn about DRA. The limited knowledge of the condition made it hard to differentiate if the experienced symptoms were caused by presence of DRA or from other health issues. Several mothers felt misunderstood. CONCLUSION: DRA is a multifaceted condition affecting many aspects of day-to-day life in various dimensions, like physical, emotional, and social. This study contributes to a wider understanding of living with DRA, which might guide healthcare professionals in providing support for mothers with this condition.

The relationship between maternal-infant bonding and postpartum depression/anxiety: moderating effect of childhood psychological abuse and validation of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding scale (MIBS-8) in Arabic.

BACKGROUND: The emotional bond that a mother senses to her infant is essential to their social, emotional, and cognitive development. Understanding the level of mother-infant bonding plays an imperative role in the excellence of care. However, in Lebanon, there is a paucity of information about mother-infant bonding in the postpartum period. Given that Lebanese pregnant women constitute an important part of the population to look at, the objectives of the study were to (1) validate the Arabic version of the mother-infant bonding scale and (2) the relation between mother-infant bond and postpartum depression/anxiety; (3) the moderating effect of child abuse in the association between mother-infant bond and postpartum depression/anxiety. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2022 until June 2023, enrolling 438 women 4-6 weeks after delivery (mean age: 31.23 ± 5.24 years). To examine the factor structure of the mother-infant bond scale, we used an Exploratory-Confirmatory (EFA-CFA) strategy. To check if the model was adequate, several fit indices were calculated: the normed model chi-square (χ2/df), the Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and the comparative fit index (CFI). RESULTS: EFA was conducted on the first subsample. Three items were removed. The five items remaining loaded on one factor, which explained 73.03% of the common variance (ω = .91 / α = .90). After adding a correlation between residuals for items 2-7 and 5-8, fit indices of the CFA results were acceptable: χ2/df = 6.97/3 = 2.32, RMSEA = .068 (90% CI .001, .135), SRMR = .017, CFI = .996, TLI = .988. The interaction maternal-infant bonding by child psychological abuse was significantly associated with depression and anxiety respectively. At low, moderate and high levels of child psychological abuse, higher maternal-infant bonding scores (greater difficulty in bonding) were significantly associated with higher depression and higher anxiety respectively. CONCLUSION: This study provides, for the first time, a specific Arabic scale to assess mother-infant bonding reliably and validly. Furthermore, our study has suggested the existence of factors that have additive effects in potentiating the risk for depression and anxiety among Lebanese postpartum women, namely a history of psychological child abuse. Therefore, laborious awareness programs and healthcare services need to be implemented in order to prevent maternal mental health disorders from being unrecognized and left untreated.