Maternal Mental Health

Perinatal mental health refers to mothers‘ psychological well-being from the 20th to the 28th week of pregnancy and through the postpartum period. Statistical evidence indicates that between 8% and 15% of expectant mothers suffer from a disrupted mental state during this period (Higgins et al., 2018). The mental disorders that are common during this period include elevated anxiety levels, psychosis, and depression. Studies indicate that over 20% of women in the United States suffer from depression while pregnant and during the first few months after delivery (Howard & Khalifeh, 2020). The prevalence of perinatal mental health disorders before and after postpartum necessitates comprehensive research to determine the factors that affect the mothers‘ mental well-being and their impact on the mothers and their newborn babies (Improving Maternal Mental Health Care, 2020).

Motherhood can be a time of joy and fulfillment. While preparing for the birthing process, expectant mothers should be at their optimal mental health because of the excitement and expectation from the prospect of receiving the new member of their families (Higgins et al., 2018). However, many times, women experience difficulties during the period that precedes and follows the birthing process. The disrupted mental state’s primary causes include anxiety over the birthing process, lack of support, and financial difficulties. Additionally, traumatic birth experiences are also a significant cause of poor perinatal health. Traumatic birth experiences refer to horrific events during the birthing process that instills fear in those involved. Statistics indicate that in every three women, one would report having had negative experiences during the process that are etched into their memories for life (Cena et al., 2020). The affected individuals often have flashbacks about the experiences that affect their physical and mental well-being.

Some of the factors contributing to negative birthing experiences include poor conduct from the caregiver, medical interventions to save the mother’s or the baby’s life, or the type of delivery performed. Some medical professionals’ manifest poor attitudes toward mothers during the birthing process (Reed et al., 2017). The postpartum period is a complicated time that may be overwhelming if not managed adequately. Therefore, poor attitudes and treatments from primary caregivers may aggravate the situation extensively. Subsequently, mothers may have negative experiences if the healthcare providers fail to listen to their complaints or perspectives during the birthing process or incorporate procedures that they are not comfortable with or have not consented to. Activities that cause them to lose control of their dignity are also traumatizing. Additionally, prolonged labor and birth complications are also traumatizing (Lasater et al., 2017).

Perinatal maternal health is a significant issue because it affects the bond between the mother and the newborn baby. Subsequently, it determines the perceptions that a mother has toward the reproduction process (Higgins et al., 2018). The way that primary caregivers treat mothers during the postpartum period determines their perception of the process and their perspective of the birthing experience. Further, it contributes to whether or not the mother will develop psychological conditions that may impact her life quality. The knowledge of perinatal mental health and its impact on the well-being of the mother and child is significant to nursing practice because it helps nurses conceptualize how their attitudes and mannerisms can be detrimental to these patients’ mental health. Subsequently, it highlights how the procedures and techniques used during the birthing process affect mothers’ and babies’ well-being (Higgins et al., 2018). Perinatal health and the implications of negative birthing experiences necessitate the instigation of evidence-based practices to safeguard the mother’s mental health before the birthing process, during the procedure, and in the aftercare period. Higgens et al. (2018) suggest that effective techniques prevent the mother from encountering traumatic experiences which can cause mental conditions such as depression and anxiety. Subsequently, it may cause the mother to develop resentment toward the newborn baby that may explicitly affect the level of care that they give to their child.

The issue also reveals a significant gap in primary care that can cause psychological disorders during the perinatal period. Investigation indicates that many healthcare professionals do not include screen mothers to deduce whether they have signs of perinatal mental disorders or are at risk of developing it (Howard & Khalifeh, 2020). Early screening and detection of ill mental health symptoms are significant because they ensure that the condition can be treated promptly. As a result, its negative impact on the mother’s health and the newborn baby can be reduced significantly (Wiesner et al., 2019).

 The purpose of the project is to cover the gap in maternal care by advocating for the screening of mothers before, during, and after childbirth to detect their vulnerability to mental disorders. There is a need for healthcare professionals to provide holistic care during the birthing process by screening mothers during the perinatal period. Several tools can be used during the screening process (Howard & Khalifeh, 2020), including patient health questionnaires. This tool comprises significant questions about the birthing process and how it impacts the mother’s mental well-being. Examples of questions that the tool explores include asking which procedures were carried out effectively and to their satisfaction and which disappointed them. Subsequently, it consists of aspects such as rating their experiences and indicating the areas that should be changed in the future. Other strategies used include the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which rate the mothers’ cognitive abilities during the perinatal period and their vulnerability to mental disorders (Cena et al., 2020).

Screening helps to highlight the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to the negative birthing experience. The intrinsic factors include the sudden development of medical problems. In some cases, the expectant mother may develop medical emergencies such as sudden elevation of the blood pressure or prolapse of the cord that may necessitate medical procedures for which they were not prepared (Higgins et al., 2018). Another intrinsic factor that causes negative experiences during the postpartum period, which screening can bring to light, is the lack of social support from loved ones. Pregnancy and childbirth are complex processes; hence, those involved require constant encouragement and assurance. Failure to get adequate supportive care causes insecurities in the mothers that affect their mental health.

Extrinsic factors that screening can reveal include the contributions of healthcare providers to negative birthing experiences. Some of the primary caregivers’ actions may make the birthing process traumatic ((Higgins et al., 2018). For instance, the professionals can fail to manage the patients' pain, giving them a negative impression about the birthing process. Subsequently, failure to prepare the mother psychologically for the process by explaining the procedures they will undergo and their significance also affects perceptions of the birthing process (Cena et al., 2020). Inadequate support structures during labor further influence the birthing process. Therefore, screening can help nurses identify the multiple factors that lead to negative birthing experiences.

Screening should be carried out at three different stages to enhance its effectiveness in detecting poor mental health during the perinatal period. Firstly, it should be performed during routine antenatal visits to deduce whether expectant mothers have intrinsic factors that increase their susceptibility to developing mental disorders. Subsequently, it should be conducted before and after the postpartum process to determine the mothers’ mental status. Screening is crucial because it helps primary caregivers detect the possibility of a mother developing illness early and putting in place the strategies needed to take the necessary action (Cena et al., 2020).