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

Antenatal depression in coastal South India: Prevalence and risk factors in the community.

Background: Antenatal depression is a highly prevalent disorder with serious implications on maternal and child outcomes. There are few studies examining this in low-middle-income community settings. Aims: To determine the prevalence of antenatal depression in women from a coastal rural background in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and to determine its associated factors. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional community-based study, in 202 antenatal women, standard interview and diagnostic criteria (Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R)) were employed for identifying depression and examining a wide range of putative clinical and sociocultural risk factors including domestic violence. Results: There was a 16.3% prevalence of depression among the 202 women sampled. The possible risk factors after stepwise backward regression were pressure to have a male child, 11.48 (2.36-55.78); finan…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), antenatal depression (text)

Acculturative stress negatively impacts maternal depressive symptoms in Mexican-American women during pregnancy.

Background: Mexican-American women exhibit high rates of prenatal maternal depressive symptoms relative to the general population. Though pregnant acculturated Mexican-American women experience cultural stressors such as acculturation, acculturative stress and discrimination that may contribute to elevated depressive symptoms, the contribution of these socio-cultural correlates to depressive symptomology is unknown. Method: Ninety-eight pregnant women of Mexican descent were recruited from a community hospital clinic during their first trimester. Women completed surveys about acculturation, acculturative stress, perceived discrimination, general perceived stress, and maternal depressive symptoms as well as the potential protective factor of Mexican cultural values. Results: Women who experienced greater acculturative and perceived stress, but not perceived discrimination or acculturation…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), maternal mental health (text)

Intergenerational transmission of maltreatment and psychopathology: the role of antenatal depression.

Background: Maternal experience of childhood maltreatment and maternal antenatal depression are both associated with offspring childhood maltreatment and offspring adjustment problems. We have investigated the relative impact of maternal childhood maltreatment and exposure to depression in utero on offspring maltreatment and psychopathology. Method: The sample included 125 families from the South London Child Development Study. A prospective longitudinal design was used. Data on maternal childhood maltreatment, maternal antenatal depression (36 weeks of pregnancy), offspring childhood maltreatment (age 11 years) and offspring adolescent antisocial behaviour and depression (ages 11 and 16 years) were obtained from parents and offspring through clinical interview. Results: Mothers who experienced childhood maltreatment were significantly more likely to be depressed during pregnancy [odds r…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), antenatal depression (text)

Effects of depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and health behaviour on neonatal outcomes in a population-based Hungarian sample.

Objective: To investigate possible associations of maternal antenatal depression, anxiety and self-esteem with negative neonatal outcomes controlling for the effects of demographic covariates and health behaviour in a Hungarian sample. Study design: A population-based monitoring system was established in 10 districts of health visitors in Szombathely, Hungary, covering every woman registered as pregnant between February 1, 2008 and February 1 2009. Three hundred and seven expectant women in the early stage of their pregnancy were surveyed using the Short Form of Beck Depression Inventory for the measurement of depression and the Spielberger Trait-Anxiety Inventory for the measurement of anxiety. Self-esteem was evaluated by the Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. At the end of the follow-up period, data on 261 mothers and their singleton neonates were available. The relationship between the e…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), antenatal depression (text)

Factors associated with antenatal mental disorder in West Africa: a cross-sectional survey.

Background: Maternal mental illness is likely to have a profound impact in less developed parts of the world. A mother experiencing mental illness in a low income setting is at risk of providing sub-optimal care for her offspring which can have grave consequences in an environment where poverty, overcrowding, poor sanitation, malnutrition, tropical diseases and a lack of appropriate medical services may be pronounced. Given the profound consequences of antenatal and postnatal mental illness on maternal mental health, foetal wellbeing and childhood growth and development the factors associated with mental illness in a Sub-Saharan setting merit clarification and investigation. Methods: A prospective survey design was conducted in Lagos. Self reporting questionnaire 20 items - SRQ20 - assessed the presence of mental illness. The WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violenc…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), maternal mental health (text)

Depressive disorders during pregnancy: prevalence and risk factors in a large urban sample.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of major and minor depression, panic disorder, and suicidal ideation during pregnancy while also identifying factors independently associated with antenatal depressive disorders. Methods: In this prospective study, participants were 1,888 women receiving ongoing prenatal care at a university obstetric clinic from January 2004 through January 2009. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders was measured using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria based on the Patient Health Questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression identified factors associated with probable major depressive disorder and any depressive disorder. Results: Antenatal depressive disorders were present in 9.9% with 5.1% (97) meeting criteria for probable major depression and 4.8% (90) meeting criteria for probable minor depression. Panic dis…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), antenatal depression (text)

Sex differences in effects of maternal risk and protective factors in childhood and pregnancy on newborn telomere length.

Little research has examined determinants of newborn telomere length, a potential biomarker of lifetime disease risk impacted by prenatal exposures. No study has examined whether maternal exposures in childhood influence newborn telomere length or whether there are sex differences in the maternal factors that influence newborn telomere length. We tested whether a range of maternal risk and protective factors in childhood and pregnancy were associated with newborn telomere length among 151 sociodemographically diverse mother-infant dyads. We further examined whether the pattern of associations differed by infant sex. Newborn telomere length was assessed from cord blood collected at birth. Risk/protective factors included maternal health (smoking, body mass index), socioeconomic status (education, income), stress exposures, and mental health (depressive and posttraumatic stress disorder sy…

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

Herbal medicines use during pregnancy in Sierra Leone: An exploratory cross-sectional study.

Background: The influence of complementary therapies on maternal health has attracted the attention of policy makers, health professionals and researchers globally especially in developing countries. However, there is lack of evidence on whether Sierra Leonean women use herbal medicine during pregnancy which limit the chance of providing better maternity care. Aim: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and pattern of herbal medicines use among pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at a tertiary maternal hospital in Sierra Leone. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among pregnant women (n=134) who were at least 18 years of age and who have had at least one previous pregnancy, using face to face interview. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: The response rate was 82.7%. Nearl…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Maternal Health (mesh)

Domestic violence in pregnancy: prevalence and characteristics of the pregnant woman.

Aims and objectives: To determine the prevalence of domestic violence (physical, psychological or sexual) during pregnancy and to characterise these women. Background: Pregnant women are not immune to domestic violence and therefore may be subject to any form of physical, psychological or sexual violence by partners. Health professionals' knowledge and awareness are important in the identification and intervention of pregnant women who experience domestic violence. Methods: Quantitative, descriptive, correlational study, using a nonprobabilistic convenience sample consisting of a total of 852 postpartum women, of whom 370 were experiencing domestic violence according to the criteria adopted through the modified scale of prevalence, applied between February-June 2012 in two Portuguese public health institutions. Authorisation was given by the Ethics Committees/Administration Councils of b…

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

Risk factors for maternal death and trends in maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries: a prospective longitudinal cohort analysis.

Background: Because large, prospective, population-based data sets describing maternal outcomes are typically not available in low- and middle-income countries, it is difficult to monitor maternal mortality rates over time and to identify factors associated with maternal mortality. Early identification of risk factors is essential to develop comprehensive intervention strategies preventing pregnancy-related complications. Our objective was to describe maternal mortality rates in a large, multi-country dataset and to determine maternal, pregnancy-related, delivery and postpartum characteristics that are associated with maternal mortality. Methods: We collected data describing all pregnancies from 2010 to 2013 among women enrolled in the multi-national Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research Maternal and Neonatal Health Registry (MNHR). We reported the proportion of mothe…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Parity (mesh)

The EPDS-Lifetime: assessment of lifetime prevalence and risk factors for perinatal depression in a large cohort of depressed women.

Perinatal depression (PND) is a common complication of pregnancy and postpartum associated with significant morbidity. We had three goals: (1) to explore the performance of a new lifetime version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS-Lifetime) to assess lifetime prevalence of PND; (2) to assess prevalence of lifetime PND in women with prior histories of major depressive episode (MDE); and (3) to evaluate risk factors for PND. Subjects were from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). The EPDS was modified by adding lifetime PND screening questions, assessing worst episode, and symptom timing of onset. Of 682 women with lifetime MDD and a live birth, 276 (40.4 %) had a positive EPDS score of ≥12 consistent with PND. Women with PND more often sought professional help (p < 0.001) and received treatment (p = 0.001). Independent risk indicators for PND included yo…

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

Integrated approaches to improve birth outcomes: perinatal periods of risk, infant mortality review, and the Los Angeles Mommy and Baby Project.

This article provides an example of how Perinatal Periods of Risk (PPOR) can provide a framework and offer analytic methods that move communities to productive action to address infant mortality. Between 1999 and 2002, the infant mortality rate in the Antelope Valley region of Los Angeles County increased from 5.0 to 10.6 per 1,000 live births. Of particular concern, infant mortality among African Americans in the Antelope Valley rose from 11.0 per 1,000 live births (7 cases) in 1999 to 32.7 per 1,000 live births (27 cases) in 2002. In response, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Programs partnered with a community task force to develop an action plan to address the issue. Three stages of the PPOR approach were used: (1) Assuring Readiness; (2) Data and Assessment, which included: (a) Using 2002 vital records to identify areas with …

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

Barriers to Psychological Help-Seeking in Postpartum Women With Depression, Anxiety, or Comorbid Conditions: A Qualitative Exploration.

Introduction: Postpartum mental health research has traditionally focused on depression, though anxiety is gaining attention. Alarmingly, nearly half of the affected women do not seek help, leaving conditions frequently unrecognised and untreated. Aim: This study explores barriers to professional psychological help-seeking among postpartum women in Latvia with postpartum depression (PPD), generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), or both. Method: Using the qualitative comparison groups design and thematic analysis, seventeen semi-structured interviews were conducted, with four participants diagnosed with PPD, six with GAD, and seven with both PPD and GAD. Results: Overarching domains of help-seeking barriers were: (1) Individual barriers (hesitation and internal rationalisations, lack of awareness and information about symptoms, stigmatisation and emotional barriers); (2) Family barriers (diff…

matched on maternal mental health (text), postpartum depression (text)

The sacred strain: Religion as both resource and burden in the psychological well-being of Pakistani women navigating postpartum depression.

This mixed-methods study examines religion's dual role in postpartum depression (PPD) among 350 Pakistani women. Quantitative findings indicate that positive religious coping strategies, such as Tawakkul and Sabr, were associated with reduced PPD severity, whereas negative religious coping predicted higher symptom severity, mediated by internalized stigma. Qualitative interviews with 45 participants revealed recurring themes of spiritual guilt, the paradox of the "Ideal Muslim Mother," and tensions between faith-based meanings of suffering and biomedical mental health care. While religious beliefs provided comfort, meaning, and resilience for many women, they also contributed to moral pressure and self-blame that pathologized psychological distress. The study proposes the Sacred Strain Model, highlighting religion as both a protective resource and a potential burden. Findings underscore …

matched on maternal mental health (text), postpartum depression (text)

Syrian Refugee Women's Maternal Mental Health Perceptions, Coping Strategies, and Help-Seeking Practices in Lebanon.

Introduction: Globally, 27 million female refugees of reproductive age are subjected to numerous socio-ecological factors that increase their risks of mental health issues, especially during the postpartum period. This study seeks to explore Syrian refugee mothers' experiences and perceptions of postpartum depression. Methods: We used a qualitative phenomenological approach to interview purposively sampled typical postpartum Syrian mothers living in informal camps in Lebanon to evaluate their maternal mental health perceptions, coping strategies, and help-seeking practices. Results: Results revealed three major themes: conceptualizing maternal depression as extraordinary and ordinary, cultural perceptions of mental health help-seeking, and coping with negative emotions. Discussions: Findings are critical to Lebanon and other Muslim refugee-hosting countries as they can inform future heal…

matched on maternal mental health (text), postpartum depression (text)

Stress, coping and silver linings: How depressed perinatal women experienced the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Research on perinatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic has largely focused on data from community samples. This study sought to understand the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women with histories of clinically elevated symptoms of depression. Methods: Participants included 60 perinatal women who participated in wellness intervention trials for women with antenatal depression. We used a mixed methods approach, assessing depression, anxiety, stressors and coping behaviors, along with narrative responses to questions regarding COVID-specific effects on mental health. Results: Over three-fourths of the sample indicated a worsening of mental health during the pandemic, with 31.7% of women endorsing clinically elevated depression symptoms and 36.7% screening positive for anxiety. Women reported negative impacts on their emotional wellbeing, especially a resurgence …

matched on antenatal depression (text), perinatal mental health (text)

Psychoneuroimmunology in the context of perinatal depression - Tools for improved clinical practice.

Maternal mental health spans in a temporary manner from pre-conception through the phases of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (i.e., perinatal). The psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) field has made important contributions to the knowledge of the pathophysiology of poor perinatal mental health, but the PNI lens could be used more broadly to inform clinical practice. This review argues that PNI holds the key to several important aspects of variations in mental health for pregnant and postpartum women. This review describes existing knowledge from studies on immune activation in maternal depression during pregnancy and postpartum, and other important features such as stress reactivity, the microbiome, and its metabolites. The importance of objective measures for screening and prediction is discussed as well as the need for novel therapeutics to treat poor mental health in the peri…

matched on maternal mental health (text), perinatal mental health (text)

The development of an ultra-short, maternal mental health screening tool in South Africa.

Purpose: The burden of common perinatal mental disorders (CPMD) in low-and-middle-income countries is substantially higher than high-income countries, with low levels of detection, service provision and treatment in resource-constrained settings. We describe the development of an ultra-short screening tool to detect antenatal depression, anxiety disorders and maternal suicidal ideation. Methods: A sample of 376 women was recruited at a primary-level obstetric clinic. Five depression and anxiety symptom-screening questionnaires, demographics and psychosocial risk questionnaires were administered. All participants were assessed with the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), a structured, diagnostic interview. Screening tool items were analysed against diagnostic data using multiple logistic regression and receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis. Results: The prevalence of M…

matched on antenatal depression (text), maternal mental health (text)

Online prevention of postpartum depression for Spanish- and English-speaking pregnant women: A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a maternal mental health problem that affects women from all regions of the world. Unfortunately, even in developed countries, half of the cases go undetected and, consequently, untreated. Individuals from low and middle income countries trend toward underutilization of mental health services, partly due to the limited number of available psychological resources. The primary aims of this pilot randomized controlled trial were to adapt to the Internet the Mothers and Babies Course/Curso Mamás y Bebés, a prevention of PPD intervention, to describe the characteristics of the pregnant women who engaged in the intervention site, and to obtain preliminary data on the efficacy of the Internet intervention to reduce the risk of PPD. Methods: Pregnant women, 18 years or older who were interested in using the site for themselves were recruited and randoml…

matched on maternal mental health (text), postpartum depression (text)

A new paradigm for depression in new mothers: the central role of inflammation and how breastfeeding and anti-inflammatory treatments protect maternal mental health.

Background: Research in the field of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) has revealed that depression is associated with inflammation manifested by increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines. Discussion: The old paradigm described inflammation as simply one of many risk factors for depression. The new paradigm is based on more recent research that has indicated that physical and psychological stressors increase inflammation. These recent studies constitute an important shift in the depression paradigm: inflammation is not simply a risk factor; it is the risk factor that underlies all the others. Moreover, inflammation explains why psychosocial, behavioral and physical risk factors increase the risk of depression. This is true for depression in general and for postpartum depression in particular. Puerperal women are especially vulnerable to these effects because their levels of proinflammatory…

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Maternal depression and child development

Maternal depression is considered a risk factor for the socioemotional and cognitive development of children [1]. The current prevalence of depression in Canada averages at 6%, which is similar to the rates in other western countries [2] (the female-to-male ratio average is 2:1 [3]). However, the prevalence of postpartum depression is approximately 13% [4]. Women of childbearing age are particularly at risk for depression, and many of them experience high levels of social morbidity and depressive symptoms that are often unrecognized and untreated. Mothers already at risk for depression are particularly fragile during the first months postpartum. Maternal depression has consequences on the child’s development. Because physicians who care for infants and children encounter mothers repeatedly, it is important that they have the knowledge and skills for the detection of symptoms of maternal …

matched on maternal mental health (text), postpartum depression (text)

Enablers and barriers to physical activity in overweight and obese pregnant women: an analysis informed by the theoretical domains framework and COM-B model.

Background: Obesity during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and other complications. Physical activity is a modifiable lifestyle factor that may help to prevent these complications but many women reduce their physical activity levels during pregnancy. Interventions targeting physical activity in pregnancy are on-going but few identify the underlying behaviour change mechanisms by which the intervention is expected to work. To enhance intervention effectiveness, recent tools in behavioural science such as the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and COM-B model (capability, opportunity, motivation and behaviour) have been employed to understand behaviours for intervention development. Using these behaviour change methods, this study aimed to identify the enablers and barriers to physical activity in overweight and obese pregnant women. Meth…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Maternal Health (keyword)

Maternal alcohol use disorder and subsequent child protection contact: A record-linkage population cohort study.

We examined the relationship between a maternal alcohol-use diagnosis, and the timing of diagnosis, and child protection outcomes in a Western Australian population cohort. This analysis made use of routinely collected linked administrative health and child protection data. Those in scope for the study were women who had a birth recorded on the Western Australian Midwives Notification System (1983-2007). Women with an alcohol related diagnosis (ICD 9/10) on relevant datasets formed the exposed group. The comparison cohort were frequency matched to the exposed cohort. Generalized linear mixed models and a proportional hazards model were used to examine the relationship between a maternal alcohol-use diagnosis and subsequent child protection contact. Children of women with an alcohol-use diagnosis were at significantly increased risk of a substantiated child protection allegation (OR=2.92,…

matched on Pregnancy Complications (mesh), Maternal Health (keyword)

Economic hardships during COVID-19 and maternal mental health: Combining samples with low incomes across three cities.

The COVID-19 pandemic increased maternal depression and anxiety, imperiling both mothers' own wellbeing and that of their children. To date, however, little is known about the extent to which these increases are attributable to economic hardships commonly experienced during the pandemic: income loss, job loss, and loss of health insurance. Few studies have examined the individual impacts of these hardships, and none have lasted beyond the first year of the pandemic. This study harmonizes data from six evaluations of pediatric-based parenting programs for women with young children and low incomes across three U.S. cities (N = 1,254). Low-income mothers are of special interest because their families have been disproportionately affected by economic shocks due to COVID-19, and mothers of young children have been more distressed than other mothers by COVID-19. The studies' combined window of…

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

Screening for Perinatal Anxiety Using the Childbirth Fear Questionnaire: A New Measure of Fear of Childbirth.

Fear of childbirth affects as many as 20% of pregnant people, and has been associated with pregnancy termination, prolonged labour, increased risk of emergency and elective caesarean delivery, poor maternal mental health, and poor maternal-infant bonding. Currently available measures of fear of childbirth fail to fully capture pregnant people's childbirth-related fears. The purpose of this research was to develop a new measure of fear of childbirth (the Childbirth Fear Questionnaire; CFQ) that would address the limitations of existing measures. The CFQ's psychometric properties were evaluated through two studies. Participants for Study 1 were 643 pregnant people residing in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, with a mean age of 29.0 (SD = 5.1) years, and 881 pregnant people residing in Canada, with a mean age of 32.9 (SD = 4.3) years for Study 2. In both studies, participa…

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