Pregnancy and postnatal mental health

فَٱلۡحَٰمِلَٰتِ وِقۡرࣰ ا

and those that are heavily laden

and those that bear the clouds that bear moisture as a burden wiqran is the direct object of al-hāmilat ‘those that bear’;

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. وَالذَّارِيَاتِ ذَرْوًا - فَالْحَامِلَاتِ وِقْرًا - فَالْجَارِيَاتِ يُسْرًا - فَالْمُقَسِّمَاتِ أَمْرًا - إِنَّمَا تُوعَدُونَ لَصَادِقٌ - وَإِنَّ الدِّينَ لَوَاقِعٌ - وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْحُبُكِ - إِنَّكُمْ لَفِي قَوْلٍ مُخْتَلِفٍ - يُؤْفَكُ عَنْهُ مَنْ أُفِكَ - قُتِلَ الْخَرَّاصُونَ - الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي غَمْرَةٍ سَاهُونَ - يَسْأَلُونَ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ الدِّينِ - يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ - ذُوقُوا فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَٰذَا الَّذِي كُنْتُمْ بِهِ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ (1. By the scattering Dhariyat;)(2. And the laden Hamilat;)(3. And the steady Jariyat;)(4. And the distributors of command,)(5. Verily, that which you are promised is surely true.)(6. And verily, Ad-Din is sure to occur.)(7. By the heaven full of Hubuk,)(8. Certainly, you have different ideas.)(9. Turned aside therefrom is

حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي بُرَيْدٌ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ وُلِدَ لِي غُلاَمٌ، فَأَتَيْتُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَسَمَّاهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، فَحَنَّكَهُ بِتَمْرَةٍ، وَدَعَا لَهُ بِالْبَرَكَةِ وَدَفَعَهُ إِلَىَّ، وَكَانَ أَكْبَرَ وَلَدِ أَبِي مُوسَى‏.‏

Narrated Abu Musa:A son was born to me and I took him to the Prophet (ﷺ) who named him Ibrahim, did Tahnik for him with a date, invoked Allah to bless him and returned him to me. (The narrator added: That was Abu Musa's eldest son)

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ هِشَامٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ قَالَتْ أُتِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِصَبِيٍّ يُحَنِّكُهُ، فَبَالَ عَلَيْهِ، فَأَتْبَعَهُ الْمَاءَ‏.‏

Narrated `Aisha:A boy was brought to the Prophet (ﷺ) to do Tahnik for him, but the boy urinated on him, whereupon the Prophet had water poured on the place of urine

أَخْبَرَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، قَالَ سُئِلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الْعَقِيقَةِ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ لاَ يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ الْعُقُوقَ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَكَأَنَّهُ كَرِهَ الاِسْمَ قَالَ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِنَّمَا نَسْأَلُكَ أَحَدُنَا يُولَدُ لَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَنْسُكَ عَنْ وَلَدِهِ فَلْيَنْسُكْ عَنْهُ عَنِ الْغُلاَمِ شَاتَانِ مُكَافَأَتَانِ وَعَنِ الْجَارِيَةِ شَاةٌ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ دَاوُدُ سَأَلْتُ زَيْدَ بْنَ أَسْلَمَ عَنِ الْمُكَافَأَتَانِ قَالَ الشَّاتَانِ الْمُشَبَّهَتَانِ تُذْبَحَانِ جَمِيعًا ‏.‏

It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shuaib, from his fahther, that his grandfather said:"The messenger of Allah was asked about the 'Aqiqah and he said: "Allah, the mighty and sublime, does not like Al-Uquq' as if he disliked the word (Al-Aqiqah). He said to the Messenger of Allah: 'But one of us may offer a sacrifice when a child is born to him.' He said: 'Whoever wants to offer a sacrifice for his child, let him do so, for a boy; two sheep, Mukafaatan, (of equal age), and for a girl, one.' (One of the narrators) Dawud said: 'I asked Ziad bin Aslam about the word Mukafaatan and he said: 'Two similar sheep that are slaughtered together

أَخْبَرَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ حُرَيْثٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْفَضْلُ، عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ وَاقِدٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَقَّ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ وَالْحُسَيْنِ ‏.‏

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin Buraidah, from his father, that:the Messenger of Allah offered the 'Aqiqah for Al-Hasan and Al-Husain

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعِ مَا حَرَّمَ مِنَ النَّسَبِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ وَأُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ عَلِيٍّ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Ali (bin Abi Talib) narrated that The Messenger of Allah said:“Indeed Allah has made unlawful through suckling whatever He made unlawful through lineage.”

حَدَّثَنَا بُنْدَارٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الْقَطَّانُ، حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ مُوسَى الأَنْصَارِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَعْنٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ اللَّهَ حَرَّمَ مِنَ الرَّضَاعَةِ مَا حَرَّمَ مِنَ الْوِلاَدَةِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَالْعَمَلُ عَلَى هَذَا عِنْدَ أَهْلِ الْعِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَغَيْرِهِمْ لاَ نَعْلَمُ بَيْنَهُمْ فِي ذَلِكَ اخْتِلاَفًا ‏.‏

Aishah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said:“Indeed Allah has made unlawful through suckling whatever He made unlawful through birth.”

الخامسة أن تمتنع المرأة لتعززها ومبالغتها في النظافة والتحرز من الطلق والنفاس والرضاع وكان ذلك عادة نساء الخوارج لمبالغتهن في استعمال المياه حتى كن يقضين صلوات أيام الحيض ولا يدخلن الخلاء إلا عراة فهذه بدعة تخالف السنة فهي نية فاسدة واستأذنت واحدة منهن على عائشة رضي الله عنها لما قدمت البصرة فلم تأذن لها فيكون القصد هو الفاسد دون منع الولادة

لها حمل ووضع فهي دائما في حمل وولادة فإذا اذن لها ربها في الحمل احتبست الحرارة الطبيعية في داخلها واختبأت فيها ليكون فيها حملها في الوقت المقدر لها فيكون ذلك الوقت بمنزلة وقت العلوق ومبدأ تكوين النطف فتعمل المادة في اجوافها عملها وتهيئها للعلوق حتى إذا آن وقت الحمل دب فيها الماء فلانت اعطافها وتحركت للحمل وسرى الماء في افنانها وانتشرت فيها الحرارة والرطوبة حتى إذا آن وقت الولادة كسيت من سائر الملابس الفاخرة من النور والورق ما تتبخر فيه وتميس به وتفخر على العقيم فإذا ظهرت اولادها وبان للناظر حملها علم حينئذ كرمها وطيبها من لؤمها وبخلها فتولى تغذية ذلك الحمل من تولى غذاء الاجنحة في بطون امهاتها وكساها الاوراق وصانها من الحر والبرد فإذا تكامل الحمل وآن وقت الفطام تدلت اليك أفنانها كأنما تناولك ثمرة درها فإذا قابلتها رايت الافنان كأنها تلقاك بأولادها وتحييك وتكرمك بهم وتقدمهم اليك حتى كأن منا ولا يناولك إياهم بيده ولا سيما قطوف جنات النعيم الدانية التي يتناولها المؤمن قائما وقاعدا ومضطجعا وك

سمعت شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية رحمه الله يذكر ذلك ويفسره بأن الولادة نوعان أحدهما هذه المعروفة والثانية ولادة القلب والروح وخروجهما من مشيمة النفس وظلمة الطبع

قال وهذه الولادة لما كانت بسبب الرسول كان كالأب للمؤمنين وقد قرأ أبي بن كعب رضي الله عنه @QB@ النبي أولى بالمؤمنين من أنفسهم @QE@ وهو أب لهم

وسمعت شيخ الإسلام ابن تيمية رحمه الله يقول هي ولادة الأرواح والقلوب من الأبدان وخروجها من عالم الطبيعة كما ولدت الأبدان من البدن وخرجت منه والولادة الأخرى هي الولادة المعروفة والله أعلم

الحادى عشر: فى آداب الولادة، وهى ستة:

Benefits of Physical Activity during Pregnancy and Postpartum: An Umbrella Review.: Purpose: This study aimed to summarize the evidence from the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report, including new evidence from an updated search of the effects of physical activity on maternal health during pregnancy and postpartum. Methods: An initial search was undertaken to identify systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between 2006 and 2016. An updated search then identified additional systematic reviews and meta-analyses published between January 2

Effectiveness of expressive writing therapy for postpartum women with psychological distress: Meta-analysis and narrative review.: Background: The increasing prevalence of psychological distress among mothers is outpacing the effectiveness of conventional coping methods like cognitive behavioral therapy. The efficacy of alternatives such as writing therapy for maternal psychological well-being remains uncertain due to a lack of extensive research and inconsistent findings. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of expressive writing therapy in comparison to standard postpartum care for alleviatin

A systematic review of telephone support for women during pregnancy and the early postpartum period.: Objective: To assess the effects of telephone-based support on smoking, preterm birth, low birthweight, breastfeeding, and postpartum depression. Data sources: Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register (March 2006), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (March 2006), Medline (1966-2006), EMBASE (1980-2006), and CINAHL (1982-2006). Secondary references were scanned and experts in the field were contacted. Study selection: All published, unpublished, and ongoing randomized c

Factors Influencing Paternal Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.: Background: Postpartum period is a critical time that requires adjustments not only for mothers but also for fathers and may pose risk for depression. Studies show that the prevalence of paternal postpartum depression (PPD) is between 1.2% and 25.5%. PPD is an under-recognized public health issue and its reported influencing factors are still inconclusive. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to extend the literature by examining influencing factors that affect paternal PPD and describe the s

Impact of postpartum physical activity on maternal depression and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.: Objective: To examine the influence of postpartum exercise on maternal depression and anxiety. Design: Systematic review with random effects meta-analysis and meta-regression. Data sources: Online databases up to 12 January 2024, reference lists, recommended studies and hand searches. Eligibility criteria: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomised interventions of any publication date or language were included if they contained information on the Population (postpartum people), Inte

Associations between maternal psychological distress and mother-infant bonding: a systematic review and meta-analysis.: Purpose: Maternal psychological distress and mother-infant bonding problems each predict poorer offspring outcomes. They are also related to each other, yet the extensive literature reporting their association has not been meta-analysed. Methods: We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Embase, ProQuest DTG, and OATD for English-language peer-reviewed and grey literature reporting an association between mother-infant bonding, and multiple indicators of maternal psychological distress. Results: We

Gestational stress leads to depressive-like behavioural and immunological changes in the rat.

Stress during pregnancy, gestational stress, can increase the chance of developing postpartum depression, which is estimated to occur in 10% of women. Since major depression is accompanied by an activation of the inflammatory response system, the aim of this study was to investigate if stress during pregnancy induces postpartum depressive-like behaviour, and if so, is it accompanied by activation of the inflammatory response system in female Fisher rats. We investigated the effect of gestational stress on the production of depressive-like behaviour in the rats. The pregnant dams underwent daily restraint stress (for 1 week, 3 times/day) or were left undisturbed (control). On postpartum day 22, the rats were introduced to the forced swim test (pre-test). On postpartum days 23 and 24 (test days), the immobility time was measured. Gestational stress significantly elevated immobility scores …

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), Pregnancy Complications (mesh), postpartum depression (text)

Supporting perinatal anxiety in the digital age; a qualitative exploration of stressors and support strategies.

Background: The period surrounding childbirth is one of profound change, which can often be experienced as stressful and overwhelming. Indeed, around 20% of women may experience significant levels of anxiety in the perinatal period. However, most women experiencing perinatal anxiety (PNA) go unrecognised and untreated. The Internet offers a potentially scalable solution to improve access to support, however a dearth of research in this area means that work is needed to better understand women's experience of PNA, so that potential targets for intervention can be identified and possible barriers to support overcome. This study aimed to qualitatively explore women's experience of anxiety triggers and support in the perinatal period; and gain insight into what online support is acceptable for women with PNA. Methods: Women who were either pregnant or within one-year postpartum were invited …

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh), Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Parturition (mesh), Perinatal Care (mesh)

Prevalence and determinants of antepartum depressive and anxiety symptoms in expectant mothers and fathers: results from a perinatal psychiatric morbidity cohort study in the east and west coasts of Malaysia.

Background: Research on antepartum psychiatric morbidities investigating depressive and anxiety symptoms in expectant mothers and fathers is lacking in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of antepartum depressive, anxiety and co-occurring significant symptoms and explore the associated factors in a cross-section of Malaysian expectant mothers and fathers. Methods: We used cross-sectional data from a prospective cohort study of 911 expectant mothers and 587 expectant fathers during their third trimester of pregnancy, from health clinics of two states in the east and west coasts of Malaysia. The validated Malay version of Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the anxiety sub-scale of Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale were used to measure the depressive and anxiety symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analyses identified the determinants of …

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Perinatal Care (mesh)

A simple model for prediction postpartum PTSD in high-risk pregnancies.

This study aimed to examine the prevalence and possible antepartum risk factors of complete and partial post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women with complicated pregnancies and to define a predictive model for postpartum PTSD in this population. Women attending the high-risk pregnancy outpatient clinics at Sheba Medical Center completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and a questionnaire regarding demographic variables, history of psychological and psychiatric treatment, previous trauma, previous childbirth, current pregnancy medical and emotional complications, fears from childbirth, and expected pain. One month after delivery, women were requested to repeat the EPDS and complete the Post-traumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale (PDS) via telephone interview. The prevalence rates of postpartum PTSD (9.9 %) and partial PTSD (11.9 %) were relatively high. PTSD and parti…

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Parturition (mesh)

Eating disorders and trauma history in women with perinatal depression.

Objective: Although the prevalence of perinatal depression (depression occurring during pregnancy and postpartum) is 10%, little is known about psychiatric comorbidity in these women. We examined the prevalence of comorbid eating disorders (ED) and trauma history in women with perinatal depression. Methods: A research questionnaire was administered to 158 consecutive patients seen in a perinatal psychiatry clinic during pregnancy (n=99) or postpartum (n=59). Measures included Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID) IV-based questions for lifetime eating psychopathology and assessments of comorbid psychiatric illness including the State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and Trauma Inventory. Results: In this cohort, 37.1% reported a putative lifetime ED history; 10.1% reported anorexia nervosa (AN), 10.1…

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Perinatal Care (mesh)

Depressive symptoms and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in women after childbirth.

This study examined the course of psychological problems in women from late pregnancy to six months postpartum, the rates of psychiatric, especially depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms and possible related antecedent variables. During late pregnancy, one to three days postpartum, six weeks and six months postpartum, 47 of the 60 participating women completed a battery of questionnaires including the General Health Questionnaire, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, and the PTSD Symptom Scale. In general, most women recovered from psychiatric and somatic problems over the period of investigation. However, depressive and post-traumatic stress symptoms in particular were not found to decline significantly. Six weeks postpartum, 22% of the women had depressive symptoms, with this figure remaining at 21.3% six months postpartum. In addition, 6…

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Parturition (mesh)

Longitudinal course of ante- and postpartum generalized anxiety symptoms and associated factors in West-African women from Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire.

Background: Little is known about the course of perinatal anxiety, particularly in low and middle income countries. This study aimed at examining trajectories of ante- and postpartum generalized anxiety symptoms in West-African women and their associations with mother and child characteristics. Methods: 778 women from Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana were investigated between 04/2010 and 03/2014. Anxiety symptoms were measured using the seven-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) at three months antepartum and three, 12 and 24 months postpartum. Growth mixture modeling was applied to identify latent trajectory classes of anxiety. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the associations of psychosocial, sociodemographic, obstetric and clinical characteristics with different trajectories. Results: Four distinct trajectories of anxiety were identified. The majority of women…

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), Postpartum Period (mesh), Maternal Health (keyword)

Profile of depressive symptoms in women in the perinatal and outside the perinatal period: similar or not?

Purposes: To analyze which Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Postpartum Depression Screening Scores (PDSS) total and dimensional scores, as well as symptomatic answers proportions significantly differ between women in the perinatal period (pregnant/postpartum) without major depression, with major depression and women outside the perinatal period. Methods: 572 pregnant women in the third trimester completed Beck Depression Inventory-II and Postpartum Depression Screening Scale and were assessed with the Diagnostic Interview for Genetic Studies. 417 of these were also assessed (with the same instruments) at three months postpartum. Ninety non-pregnant women or that did not have a child in the last year (mean age=29.42±7.159 years) also filled in the questionnaires. Results: Non-depressed pregnant women showed lower scores than depressed pregnant women and higher scores than women o…

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), Pregnancy Trimester, Third (mesh), postpartum depression (text)

A scoping review of non-pharmacological perinatal interventions impacting maternal sleep and maternal mental health.

Background: A woman's vulnerability to sleep disruption and mood disturbance is heightened during the perinatal period and there is a strong bidirectional relationship between them. Both sleep disruption and mood disturbance can result in significant adverse outcomes for women and their infant. Thus, supporting and improving sleep in the perinatal period is not only an important outcome in and of itself, but also a pathway through which future mental health outcomes may be altered. Methods: Using scoping review methodology, we investigated the nature, extent and characteristics of intervention studies conducted during the perinatal period (pregnancy to one-year post-birth) that reported on both maternal sleep and maternal mental health. Numerical and descriptive results are presented on the types of studies, settings, sample characteristics, intervention design (including timeframes, fac…

matched on maternal mental health (text), Maternal Health (mesh)

Perinatal Loss: The Impact on Maternal Mental Health.

Importance: Psychological reactions to perinatal loss, although often self-limited, may lead to significant psychological morbidities. Obstetrician-gynecologists and other maternal health providers play a key role in recognizing the range of psychological responses to perinatal loss and providing education, support, and treatment options to their patients. Objective: This review aims to define psychological reactions associated with perinatal loss, examine psychotherapy and psychopharmacologic treatments for psychiatric morbidities, discuss interpregnancy interval following perinatal loss, and highlight brief, psychological interventions that can be implemented by maternal health providers. Evidence acquisition: Search terms "perinatal loss psychology," "reproductive loss grief," "perinatal psychopharmacology," "psychopharmacology grief," and "interpregnancy interval" were utilized to se…

matched on maternal mental health (text), Postnatal Care (mesh)

Expanding the international conversation with fathers' mental health: toward an era of inclusion in perinatal research and practice.

Paternal mental health is beginning to be recognized as an essential part of perinatal health. Historically, fathers were not recognized as being at risk for perinatal mental illnesses or relevant to maternal and infant health outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of paternal perinatal mental health, leading tools to assess paternal depression and anxiety, the impact of paternal mental health on mother and child health, and future directions for the field. An international team of paternal perinatal mental health experts summarized the key findings of the field. Fathers have an elevated risk of depression and anxiety disorders during the perinatal period that is associated with maternal depression and can impact their ability to support mothers. Paternal mental health is uniquely associated with child mental health and developmental outcomes starting from infancy …

matched on perinatal mental health (text), Parturition (mesh)

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal and perinatal health: a scoping review.

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic affects maternal health both directly and indirectly, and direct and indirect effects are intertwined. To provide a comprehensive overview on this broad topic in a rapid format behooving an emergent pandemic we conducted a scoping review. Methods: A scoping review was conducted to compile evidence on direct and indirect impacts of the pandemic on maternal health and provide an overview of the most significant outcomes thus far. Working papers and news articles were considered appropriate evidence along with peer-reviewed publications in order to capture rapidly evolving updates. Literature in English published from January 1st to September 11 2020 was included if it pertained to the direct or indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the physical, mental, economic, or social health and wellbeing of pregnant people. Narrative descriptions were writte…

matched on maternal mental health (text), Maternal Health (mesh)

Perinatal depression, PTSD, and trauma: Impact on mother-infant attachment and interventions to mitigate the transmission of risk.

Early interactions between infants and their caregivers are fundamental to child development, and the parent-infant relationship is believed to provide the foundation for healthy and secure attachment relationships and for infant mental health. Over time, these secure attachment relationships become the backbone for positive child outcomes across development. Abundant research to date confirms that parental mental illness, including depression and PTSD following trauma exposure, may have a detrimental impact on parenting quality and subsequent early child relationship formations. This review paper summarizes the literature on the role of sensitive parenting and a healthy mother-infant relationship in establishing a secure mother-infant attachment bond, which in turn is critical for the child's healthy socioemotional and cognitive development. The review also highlights the roles of mater…

matched on perinatal mental health (text), Perinatal Care (mesh)

Focus on fathers: paternal depression in the perinatal period.

Aims: This report aims to present a concise overview and synthesis of current research findings regarding paternal depression in the perinatal period. Methods: A literature search was conducted, primarily via PubMed and PsychNET, for English-language research studies and meta-analyses using combinations of the terms 'perinatal', 'pregnancy', 'postpartum', 'depression' AND 'fathers' OR 'paternal'. Peer-reviewed articles were considered, and a representative sample of literature, with an emphasis on recent publications from a broad range of populations was summarized for each of the following sub-sections: prevalence, risk factors, impact on the infant/child, and healthcare costs. Results: Reported prevalence has ranged from 2.3% to 8.4%, with a significant degree of heterogeneity in rates, due to differences in multiple aspects of the methodology (timing, instruments, etc.). Nevertheless,…

matched on postpartum depression (text), Perinatal Care (mesh)

New Fathers' Perinatal Depression and Anxiety-Treatment Options: An Integrative Review.

More than 10% of fathers experience depression and anxiety during the perinatal period, but paternal perinatal depression (PPND) and anxiety have received less attention than maternal perinatal mental health problems. Few mainstream treatment options are available for men with PPND and anxiety. The aim of this literature review was to summarize the current understanding of PPND and the treatment programs specifically designed for fathers with perinatal depression. Eight electronic databases were searched using a predefined strategy, and reference lists were also hand searched. PPND and anxiety were identified to have a negative impact on family relationships, as well as the health of mothers and children. Evidence suggests a lack of support and tailored treatment options for men having trouble adjusting to the transition to fatherhood. Of the limited options available, cognitive behavior…

matched on perinatal mental health (text), Parturition (mesh)

A national approach to perinatal mental health in Australia: exercising caution in the roll-out of a public health initiative.

Perinatal depression is an important public health issue, with major consequences for the mother, child and family. Perinatal depression is often associated with anxiety and other mental health and psychosocial issues. The National Perinatal Depression Plan (NPDP) proposes routine screening during pregnancy and after birth, follow-up support for women assessed to be at risk of or experiencing depression, and training for health professionals. Identifying women at risk of or experiencing perinatal depression is difficult, and there is no standard tool used by all hospitals to assess women's emotional health and psychosocial comorbidities. The NPDP provides an opportunity to develop and evaluate new approaches to assessing perinatal depression and a range of psychosocial issues, and to test strategies for supporting women and their families before and after birth.

matched on perinatal mental health (text), Perinatal Care (mesh)

Postpartum psychosis: A proposed treatment algorithm.

Background: Postpartum psychosis (PPP) is a psychiatric emergency that generally warrants acute inpatient care. PPP is marked by the sudden onset of affective and psychotic symptoms with a rapid deterioration in mental state. Evidence suggests that PPP is a discrete disorder on the bipolar disorder spectrum with a distinct treatment profile and prognosis. Methods: We conducted a PubMed database search for various terms involving PPP and its treatment and included peer-reviewed articles published in English. Objective: To provide a treatment algorithm for the management of PPP based on available evidence. Results: Pharmacological therapy is the mainstay of PPP management in the acute phase. Evidence points to a combination of antipsychotics and lithium in the acute treatment of PPP. Electroconvulsive therapy can offer a rapid treatment response where required. Lithium appears to have the …

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Oxytocin interactions with central dopamine and serotonin systems regulate different components of motherhood.

The role of oxytocin in maternal caregiving and other postpartum behaviours has been studied for more than five decades. How oxytocin interacts with other neurochemical systems to enact these behavioural changes, however, is only slowly being elucidated. The best-studied oxytocin-neurotransmitter interaction is with the mesolimbic dopamine system, and this interaction is essential for maternal motivation and active caregiving behaviours such as retrieval of pups. Considerably less attention has been dedicated to investigating how oxytocin interacts with central serotonin to influence postpartum behaviour. Recently, it has become clear that while oxytocin-dopamine interactions regulate the motivational and pup-approach aspects of maternal caregiving behaviours, oxytocin-serotonin interactions appear to regulate nearly all other aspects including postpartum nursing, aggression, anxiety-lik…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

The Collision of Mental Health, Substance Use Disorder, and Suicide.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death, and, in women, nearly half of all suicide deaths occur during their reproductive years. Suicide is associated with psychiatric illness, especially mood and anxiety disorders. Childhood adversities, such as physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence increase the risk of suicide. Having more than one psychiatric disorder or comorbid substance use disorder also increases the risk of suicide. Substance use disorders can be the triggering factor for a suicide attempt among those who have a psychiatric condition and suicidal thoughts. Women attempt suicide three times more often than men, although they are less likely to complete suicide. Although the rate of suicide decreases in the perinatal period, pregnant women are more likely to use violent means. Women who complete suicide in the perinatal period are also more likely …

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Postpartum recovery: what does it take to get back to a baseline?

Purpose of review: Limited guidance exists regarding how to assess postpartum recovery. In this article, we discuss various aspects of inpatient and outpatient postpartum recovery. Recent findings: The postpartum period for many women includes sleep deprivation, maternal-neonatal bonding, breastfeeding, and integrating a new life into the family unit. Factors which impact inpatient quality of recovery include pain, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, shivering, comfort, mobilization, ability to hold and feed the baby, personal hygiene maintenance, and feeling in control. Outpatient recovery domains include psychosocial distress, surgical/medical factors, feeding and breast health, psychosocial support, pain, physical function, sleep, motherhood experience, infant health, fatigue, appearance / cosmetic factors, sexual function, and cognition. Postpartum recovery is likely to take longer than s…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Birth practices: Maternal-neonate separation as a source of toxic stress.

Maternal-neonate separation for human newborns has been the standard of care since the last century; low birth weight and preterm infants are still routinely separated from their mothers. With advanced technology, survival is good, but long-term developmental outcomes are very poor for these especially vulnerable newborns. The poor outcomes are similar to those described for adversity in childhood, ascribed to toxic stress. Toxic stress is defined as the absence of the buffering protection of adult support. Parental absence has been strictly enforced in neonatal care units for many reasons and could lead to toxic stress. The understanding of toxic stress comes from discoveries about our genome and epigenetics, the microbiome, developmental neuroscience and the brain connectome, and life history theory. The common factor is the early environment that gives (a) signals to epigenes, (b) sen…

matched on Perinatal Care (mesh), Postnatal Care (mesh)

The psychoneuroimmunology of pregnancy.

Pregnancy is associated with a number of significant changes in maternal physiology. Perhaps one of the more notable changes is the significant alteration in immune function that occurs during pregnancy. This change in immune function is necessary to support a successful pregnancy, but also creates a unique period of life during which a female is susceptible to disease and, as we'll speculate here, may also contribute to mental health disorders associated with pregnancy and the postpartum period. Here, we review the known changes in peripheral immune function that occur during pregnancy and the postpartum period, while highlighting the impact of hormones during these times on immune function, brain or neural function, as well as behavior. We also discuss the known and possible impact of pregnancy-induced immune changes on neural function during this time and briefly discuss how these cha…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Changes in the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in pregnancy and postpartum: influences on maternal and fetal outcomes.

Overexposure of the developing fetus to glucocorticoids is hypothesised to be one of the key mechanisms linking early life development with later life disease. The maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis undergoes dramatic changes during pregnancy and postpartum. Although cortisol levels rise threefold by the third trimester, the fetus is partially protected from high cortisol by activity of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD11B2). Maternal HPA axis activity and activity of HSD11B2 may be modified by maternal stress and disease allowing greater transfer of glucocorticoids from mother to fetus. Here we review emerging data from human studies linking dysregulation of the maternal HPA axis to outcomes in both the mother and her offspring. For the offspring, greater glucocorticoid exposure is associated with lower birth weight and shorter gestation at delivery…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Risk And Resilience Factors Influencing Postpartum Depression And Mother-Infant Bonding During COVID-19.

Acute stress during pregnancy can have adverse effects on maternal health and increase the risk for postpartum depression and impaired mother-infant bonding. The COVID-19 pandemic represents an acute environmental stressor during which it is possible to explore risk and resilience factors that contribute to postpartum outcomes. To investigate prenatal risk and resilience factors as predictors of postpartum depression and impaired mother-infant bonding, this study recruited a diverse cohort of 833 pregnant women from an urban medical center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and assessed them once during pregnancy in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-July 2020) and again at approximately twelve weeks postpartum. Adverse childhood experiences, prenatal depression and anxiety, and COVID-19-related distress predicted a greater likelihood of postpartum depression. Prenatal depressio…

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), perinatal mental health (text), postpartum depression (text)

Dread and solace: Talking about perinatal mental health.

Perinatal mental health issues are a global public health challenge. Worldwide, it is estimated that 10% of pregnant women, and 13% of women who have just given birth, experience a mental disorder. Yet, for many reasons - including stigma, limited access to services, patients' lack of awareness about symptoms, and inadequate professional intervention - actual rates of clinical and subclinical perinatal mental health issues are likely higher. Studies have explored experiences such as postpartum depression, but few involve a wider-ranging exploration of a variety of self-reported perinatal mental health issues through personal narrative. We conducted 21 narrative interviews with women, in two Canadian provinces, about their experiences of perinatal mental health issues. Our aim was to deepen understanding of how individual and cultural narratives of motherhood and perinatal mental health c…

matched on Depression, Postpartum (mesh), perinatal mental health (text), postpartum depression (text)