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

A qualitative study of minority ethnic women's experiences of access to and engagement with perinatal mental health care.

Background: Approximately one in five women will experience mental health difficulties in the perinatal period. However, for a large group of women, symptoms of adverse perinatal mental health remain undetected and untreated. This is even more so for women of ethnic minority background, who face a variety of barriers which prevents them from accessing appropriate perinatal mental health care. Aims: To explore minority ethnic women's experiences of access to and engagement with perinatal mental health care. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 women who had been diagnosed with perinatal mental health difficulties and who were supported in the community by a specialist perinatal mental health service in South London, United Kingdom. Women who self-identified as being from a minority ethnic group were purposefully selected. Data were transcribed verbatim, uploaded into…

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

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, access to care, and health disparities in the perinatal period.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected mental health and created barriers to healthcare. In this study, we sought to elucidate the pandemic's effects on mental health and access to care for perinatal individuals. Methods: This cross-sectional study of individuals in Massachusetts who were pregnant or up to three months postpartum with a history of depressive symptoms examined associations between demographics and psychiatric symptoms (via validated mental health screening instruments) and the COVID-19 pandemic's effects on mental health and access to care. Chi-square associations and multivariate regression models were used. Results: Of 163 participants, 80.8% perceived increased symptoms of depression and 88.8% of anxiety due to the pandemic. Positive screens for depression, anxiety, and/or PTSD at time of interview, higher education, and income were associated with increased sy…

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

Perinatal Anxiety and Depression in Minority Women.

Depression and anxiety are common during pregnancy and are experienced at higher rates among women who are racial and ethnic minorities. Because depression and anxiety influence maternal and infant outcomes, intervening to improve perinatal mental health should be a priority for all healthcare providers. However, in the United States, a number of barriers including lack of mental health providers, lack of perinatal behavioral health systems, and stigma, limit access to care. Universal screening has been recommended and here we examine how universal screening can help nurses improve the mental health of childbearing women. Interventions that are currently in use to improve perinatal anxiety and depression are reviewed and include: psychopharmacology, cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal psychotherapy, and mindfulness. Recommendations for future research and healthcare system change…

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

Intergenerational transmission of emotion dysregulation: Part I. Psychopathology, self-injury, and parasympathetic responsivity among pregnant women.

The World Health Organization recently reported that maternal mental health is a major public health concern. As many as one in four women suffer from psychiatric disorders at some point during pregnancy or the first postpartum year. Furthermore, self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) represent one of the leading causes of death among women during this time. Thus, efforts to identify women at risk for serious forms of psychopathology and especially for SITBs are of utmost importance. Despite this urgency, current single-diagnostic approaches fail to recognize a significant subset of women who are vulnerable to perinatal stress and distress. The current study was among the first to investigate emotion dysregulation-a multilevel, transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology-and its associations with stress, distress, and SITBs in a sample of pregnant women (26-40 weeks gestation)…

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

Intergenerational transmission of adverse childhood experiences via maternal depression and anxiety and moderation by child sex.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of parents are associated with a variety of negative health outcomes in offspring. Little is known about the mechanisms by which ACEs are transmitted to the next generation. Given that maternal depression and anxiety are related to ACEs and negatively affect children's behaviour, these exposures may be pathways between maternal ACEs and child psychopathology. Child sex may modify these associations. Our objectives were to determine: (1) the association between ACEs and children's behaviour, (2) whether maternal symptoms of prenatal and postnatal depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between maternal ACEs and children's behaviour, and (3) whether these relationships are moderated by child sex. Pearson correlations and latent path analyses were undertaken using data from 907 children and their mothers enrolled the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes an…

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

Women's views and experiences of having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period.

Objective: To explore women's views and experiences of having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period in an Irish maternity hospital setting. Design: A qualitative design using semi-structured interviews was used to explore women's views and experiences. Data were analysed using Thematic Analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006). Setting: A voluntary maternity hospital in Dublin, Ireland which had access to a perinatal mental health team. Participants: In total 8 women who met the inclusion criteria were recruited and participated in this study. The women were interviewed in the early postpartum period. Findings: The study offers important insights into how women feel about having their mental health needs considered in the perinatal period. Women reported pregnancy was an emotional time, feeling expected to be happy, and women with significant mental health histories prefer…

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

Knowledge, confidence, skills and practices among midwives in the republic of Ireland in relation to perinatal mental health care: The mind mothers study.

Objective: The study aimed to identify midwives' competency in perinatal mental health care in terms of their knowledge, confidence, skill and educational priorities, and to explore their clinical practices in relation to the assessment and management of perinatal mental health problems. Research design: An exploratory descriptive study design was used on a sample of 438 midwives in the Republic of Ireland. Data were collected over a two-month period in 2016 using an anonymous, self-completed survey designed by the research team. Findings: The majority of midwives cared for women with perinatal mental health problems in their clinical practice; however, beyond depression and anxiety, their knowledge of perinatal mental health problems was quite limited. Similarly, midwives reported a lack of skill in opening a discussion with women on sensitive issues, such as sexual abuse, intimate part…

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

Depression, anxiety, PTSD and comorbidity in perinatal women in Turkey: A longitudinal population-based study.

Objective: (a) to assess prevalence of depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their comorbidity among women during the perinatal period (b) to examine course of those disorders from pregnancy to 6 months postpartum (c) to determine the rates of new-onset cases at 4-6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Design: A longitudinal population-based study in which participants completed psychosocial measures of depression, anxiety and PTSD in pregnancy (n = 950), 4-6 weeks (n = 858) and 6 months (n = 829) after birth. Setting: A consecutive sample of pregnant women were recruited from three maternity hospitals in three cities of Turkey: Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir. Measures: Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) were used to assess depression, anxiety and PTSD, respectively. Finding…

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

Determinants of unintended pregnancies in rural Ghana.

Background: Unintended pregnancies may carry serious consequences for women and their families, including the possibility of unsafe abortion, delayed prenatal care, poor maternal mental health and poor child health outcomes. Although between 1993 and 2008, unintended births decreased from 42% to 37% in Ghana, the rate of decline is low, whilst levels are still very high. This raises the need to understand factors associated with unintended pregnancies, especially among women in rural settings where the rates and risks are highest to help improve maternal health. Method: We collected data from 1,914 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic between January 2012 and April 2012 in four health facilities in the Mfantseman Municipal of the Central Region of Ghana. We used bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to explore how socio-demographic characteristics, past reproductiv…

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

Mapping remembering, recovering, and relating: At-risk mothers' needs across pregnancy and postpartum within a multimodal digital peer-support intervention.

Problem: Perinatal research on mobile health interventions has shown limited attention to how at-risk mothers express their needs within structured, moderated, and clinically embedded digital platforms. Little is known about how these needs evolve longitudinally across the perinatal period. Background: The perinatal period is marked by increased vulnerability to psychological distress and psychosocial stressors, especially among at-risk mothers. Mobile health interventions have therefore gained prominence as accessible strategies to support maternal wellbeing. Aim: This study examined the nature and timing of support needs expressed by at-risk mothers within a moderated, multimodal digital peer-support intervention from pregnancy to six-months postpartum. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study using inductive qualitative content analysis was conducted on the Supporting At-risk Mothers …

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Telomere-mitochondrial dynamics differ depending on childhood maltreatment history, catabolic postpartum state, and developmental period.

Telomere attrition, a hallmark of aging, is linked to high-energy demand states like early development and biological or psychological stress. Metabolic regulation of telomere length (TL) may occur in these states as part of an energetic trade-off, prioritizing immediate needs over long-term requirements such as telomere maintenance, though this has not been observed in healthy humans. We examined associations between TL and mitochondrial bioenergetics, density, and DNA markers in immune cells of women at 1-week (n = 175) and 1-year postpartum (n = 106), depending on their history of childhood maltreatment (CM), and in their newborns (n = 132). At 1-week postpartum, a catabolic state of high energy demand, women with lower mitochondrial energy production efficiency exhibited shorter TL. One year later, these dynamics appeared only in women with a history of CM. In newborns, TL was shorte…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Traditional care practices known and/or used by different ethnic groups for newborns during the postpartum period.

Background: Traditional care practices play a significant role in shaping care provided to newborns across different ethnic groups. Understanding traditional care practices is crucial for integrating culturally sensitive approaches into modern healthcare systems. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature regarding the different traditional care practices across ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to determine the traditional beliefs and practices of women from different ethnic groups living in Mardin regarding newborn care. Methods: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of women from four ethnic groups who volunteered to participate in the study with at least one child living in Mardin, Turkey. Snowball and convenience sampling methods were used to recruit participants. The study was completed with 188 Assyrian, 197 Turkish, 181 Arab, and 17…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Awe and Trepidation: The Role of Perinatal Care Providers in Black Fathers' Experiences of Childbirth in the U.S.

Care provider communication with Black birthing families is impactful. This cross-sectional study asked 216 Black fathers to recall treatment by birthing care providers and tested variables contributing to birth satisfaction and fathering identity salience. Most fathers reported that care providers were respectful resulting in a positive birthing experience; however, 15% reported negative experiences with care providers. Perceived social support was shown to be a mediator between disrespect, mistreatment, inclusive communication, trust, and positive emotion with birth satisfaction and fathering identity salience. Care provider disrespect served as a "spoiler" of the birthing experience and subsequently diminished positive fathering identity salience. Analysis of open-ended comments showed that contrary to stereotypes about absent, disengaged Black fathers, fathers in this study were cari…

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

Adapting group care to the postpartum period using a human-centered design approach in Malawi.

Background: Responsive and resilient strategies to reduce high rates of maternal and infant mortality and clinician shortages are needed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Malawi has some of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates globally. Group healthcare is a service delivery model that integrates these strategies. Although primarily implemented during the prenatal period, its potential for improving both maternal and infant health outcomes during the postpartum period has not been realized. The purpose of this study was to adapt and co-design the prototype for an evidence-based group care model for the postpartum period using a human-centered design approach with key stakeholders in Malawi. Methods: We completed steps of a framework guiding the use of human-centered design: 1) define the problem and assemble a team; 2) gather information through evidence and inspira…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Using the COM-B model and Behaviour Change Wheel to develop a theory and evidence-based intervention for women with gestational diabetes (IINDIAGO).

Background: In South Africa, the prevalence of gestational diabetes (GDM) is growing, concomitant with the dramatically increasing prevalence of overweight/obesity among women. There is an urgent need to develop tailored interventions to support women with GDM to mitigate pregnancy risks and to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes post-partum. The IINDIAGO study aims to develop and evaluate an intervention for disadvantaged GDM women attending three large, public-sector hospitals for antenatal care in Cape Town and Soweto, SA. This paper offers a detailed description of the development of a theory-based behaviour change intervention, prior to its preliminary testing for feasibility and efficacy in the health system. Methods: The Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and the COM-B model of behaviour change were used to guide the development of the IINDIAGO intervention. This framework provides a…

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Voluntary physical activity increases maternal care and reduces anxiety- and depression-related behaviours during the postpartum period in mice.

A growing body of evidence suggests voluntary physical activity is associated with decreased stress-related disorders such as anxiety- and depression-like behaviours in both humans and rodents. The postpartum period is also a vulnerable transition time for the development of these neurobehavioural disorders in women. This study aimed to determine whether voluntary physical activity during pregnancy and postpartum period can increase maternal care and decrease anxiety- and depression-related behaviours in postpartum dams. To this end, pregnant mice were exposed to running wheel during their gestational and postpartum periods, and then nest building, active nursing, and licking/grooming behaviours were recorded as maternal care. To assess depression and anxiety-related symptoms, several behavioural tests such as the novelty-suppressed feeding test, tail suspension test, sucrose preference …

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Validation of the generalized anxiety disorder screener (GAD-7) in Cypriot pregnant and postpartum women.

Background: Anxiety is increasingly acknowledged as a common mental health issue during the perinatal period. Its prevalence as well as the associated adverse effects constitute screening imperative. This study evaluates the psychometric properties and underlying factor structures of a Greek version of GAD-7 among pregnant and postpartum women (up to 6 months) in Cyprus. Methods: This study was conducted from June to December 2020. A total of 457 Cypriot women in the perinatal period (222 pregnant and 235 postpartum) were surveyed. The assessment included anxiety (GAD-7) and depression (EPDS), and psychosocial factors related with anxiety. The internal consistency and factor structure of GAD-7 were evaluated using reliability coefficients, Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega, and factor analysis, both Exploratory as well as Confirmatory. Results: GAD-7 demonstrated good internal consis…

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Perception of Person-Centred Maternity Care and Its Associated Factors Among Post-Partum Women: Evidence From a Cross-Sectional Study in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Objectives: This study validated a person-centred maternity care (PCMC) scale and assessed perception of PCMC and its associated factors among post-partum women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 450 post-partum women in two districts in Enugu State, Nigeria, using a 30-item PCMC scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, descriptive, bivariate and Generalized Linear Models analyses were conducted. Results: Twenty-two items were retained in the PCMC scale with high internal reliability and goodness-of-fit indices. About 25% of women received high PCMC. Marrying at 20-29 years (β = 3.46, ρ = 0.017) and 30-49 years (β = -5.56, ρ = 0.020); self-employment (β = -7.50, ρ = 0.005); marrying government worker (β = 7.12, ρ = 0.020); starting antenatal care in the third trimester (β = -6.78, ρ = 0.003); high participation in decision-making (β = -10.41, ρ < 0.001); do…

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Postnatal care service utilization and its determinants in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A mixed-method study.

Background: The days and weeks after childbirth are crucial for both the mother and her newborn child leading for the majority of maternal and perinatal mortalities. The World Health Organization recommends at least three postnatal visits within 42 days after birth. However, postnatal care utilization remains low worldwide. Quantitative findings revealed low utilization of postnatal care in Ethiopia, however, no study explored the barriers for postnatal care. This study aimed to assess the barriers to postnatal care service utilization in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: A community-based, mixed type cross-sectional study was conducted from December 15, 2018, to February 15, 2019. The quantitative data was gathered using the interviewer-administered interviewing technique from 751 women who gave birth within one year prior to the study selected by multistage sampling. The q…

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

The perinatal bereavement project: development and evaluation of supportive guidelines for families experiencing stillbirth and neonatal death in Southeast Brazil-a quasi-experimental before-and-after study.

Background: For most parents, getting pregnant means having a child. Generally, the couple outlines plans and has expectations regarding the baby. When these plans are interrupted because of a perinatal loss, it turns out to be a traumatic experience for the family. Validating the grief of these losses has been a challenge to Brazilian society, which is evident considering the childbirth care offered to bereaved families in maternity wards. Positively assessed care that brings physical and emotional memories about the baby has a positive impact on the bereavement process that family undergoes. Therefore, this study aims to assess the effects supportive guidelines have on mental health. They were designed to assist grieving parents and their families while undergoing perinatal loss in public maternities in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo state, Brazil. Method: A mixed-methods (qualitative/quant…

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

Patient perceptions, opinions and satisfaction of telehealth with remote blood pressure monitoring postpartum.

Background: Our aim was to conduct a post participation survey of respondent experiences with in-home remote patient monitoring via telehealth for blood pressure monitoring of women with postpartum hypertension. We hypothesized that the in-home remote patient monitoring application will be implemented with strong fidelity and have positive patient acceptability. Methods: This analysis was a planned secondary analysis of a non-randomized controlled trial of telehealth with remote blood pressure patient monitoring for postpartum hypertension compared to standard outpatient monitoring in women with a hypertension-related diagnosis during pregnancy. In collaboration with survey experts, we developed a 41-item web-based survey to assess 1) perception of quality of care received, 2) ease of use/ease to learn the telehealth program, 3) effective orientation of equipment, 4) level of perceived s…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

The unique social sense of puerperium: Increased empathy and Schadenfreude in parents of newborns.

Pregnancy and puerperium are typified by marked biobehavioral changes. These changes, which are traceable in both mothers and fathers, play an important role in parenthood and may modulate social cognition abilities. However, the latter effects remain notably unexplored in parents of newborns (PNs). To bridge this gap, we assessed empathy and social emotions (envy and Schadenfreude) in 55 PNs and 60 controls (childless healthy participants without a romantic relationship or sexual intercourse in the previous 48 hours). We used facial electromyography to detect physiological signatures of social emotion processing. Results revealed higher levels of affective empathy and Schadenfreude in PNs, the latter pattern being accompanied by increased activity of the corrugator suppercilii region. These effects were not explained by potential confounding variables (educational level, executive funct…

matched on Postpartum Period (mesh)

Prenatal IL-6 levels and activation of the tryptophan to kynurenine pathway are associated with depressive but not anxiety symptoms across the perinatal and the post-partum period in a low-risk sample.

Depression and anxiety symptoms are highly prevalent among women during pregnancy and post-partum. Previous studies suggest that one of the pathophysiological underpinnings could be an enhanced metabolism of tryptophan (Trp) into kynurenine (Kyn) due to increased inflammation. However, the longitudinal changes in the Kyn pathway and the complex interplay with inflammation and stress in women with perinatal depressive or anxiety symptoms are incompletely understood. We examined a cohort of healthy women at 34-36 gestational weeks. One hundred and ten women were assessed for salivary cortisol and 97 participants were also assessed for serum levels of Trp, Kyn and Interleukin 6 (IL-6). Women filled in two screening questionnaires for depressive (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)) and anxiety (State Trait Anxiety Inventory subscale (STAI-S)) symptoms at 34-36 gestational weeks, del…

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Ratios and determinants of maternal mortality: a comparison of geographic differences in the northern and southern regions of Cameroon.

Background: While maternal mortality has declined worldwide in the past 25 years, this is not the case for Cameroon. Since there is a predominantly young population in this country, high maternal mortality ratios may persist. Maternal mortality ratios vary within countries, yet it is unknown if the North and South, the most distinct parts of Cameroon, differ in terms of ratios and determinants of maternal mortality. Methods: This study explored ratios and determinants of maternal mortality in women of childbearing age (15-49 years) and assessed differences between the North and South. We used the Cameroon Demographic and Health Surveys (2004 and 2011) to extract a sample of 18,665 living or deceased women who had given birth. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore the relationship between maternal mortality and sociocultural, economic and healthcare factors. Results: Mater…

matched on Maternal Health (mesh), Parity (mesh)

A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study of Perinatal Risk and Resilience During COVID-19.

Introduction/Objectives: National guidelines underscore the need for improvement in the detection and treatment of mood disorders in the perinatal period. Exposure to disasters can amplify perinatal mood disorders and even have intergenerational impacts. The primary aim of this pilot study was to use mixed-methods to better understand the mental health and well-being effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, as well as sources of resilience, among women during the perinatal period. Methods: The study team used a simultaneous exploratory mixed-methods design to investigate the primary objective. Thirty-one pregnant and postpartum women participated in phone interviews and were invited to complete an online survey which included validated mental health and well-being measures. Results: Approximately 12% of the sample reported high depressive symptomatology and 60% report…

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