The present study attempts to reveal the effects on children of being with their mothers during the birth of a sibling. The literature shows overall positive effects for fathers attending birth, however very little research has been done about how children are affected by witnessing birth. With the growing trend for entire families to take part in the birth experience, the authors believe it necessary to assess possible impacts on children from such practice before arbitrarily encouraging families to include children in the labor and birth experience.Because young children often express themselves more freely through imagery than through language, drawings were used to assess the effects that witnessing birth had on children. Drawings were collected before, during, and after a sibling's birth from 24 children between the ages of two and twelve. The artwork was then examined from two different perspectives: an overview and a case study. I An overall look at the artwork indicated no signs of trauma or shock. There seemed to be three patterns or tendencies for children as they drew in their sketchbooks during a two-month period; rendering drawings with more detail, about the same, or less organized. Half the children in this study drew pictures that became more detailed following the birth of their sibling. Eight others produced drawings with no significant changes. Drawings which tended to change towards regression-that is becoming more chaotic or less developed-after the birth were evident in four of the children. II An in-depth look was given to the artwork of one boy who seemed to be negatively impacted by witnessing his mother's very difficult labor. In this case study, one can see how initial anxiety, surprise and fear gradually transform into his search for a new path, or way, to co-exist with the new baby in his home.The results of this research show that family support seems to be a larger factor impacting siblings than actually witnessing birth itself. In addition, a tendency for very young children and boys in particular to be distressed by hearing and seeing their mother in pain was noted. In response to this, certain precautions are recommended in order to prepare children for the reality of childbirth and ensure a positive experience for everyone involved.
Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is correlated with morbidity and mortality rates, in addition to people of a lower social status. Many of such people have health-related problems and do not undergo a regular health checkup or consult a medical practitioner. We investigated whether a correlation exists between SES, psychological state and the number of weeks of gestation at the time of the first examination. We clarified the influence of SES on the subjects' life events (e.g. pregnancy and childbirth), in order to understand appropriate support measures.Methods: A total of 151 female study subjects were selected from among women hospitalized for postpartum care, who underwent prenatal checkups, and delivered their children in the study center. Questionnaire surveys, one of which involved an interview, were conducted in a cross-sectional manner for the subjects' during their pregnancy and in the postpartum period. Results:The results show that women who perceived financial constraints showed a significantly stronger tendency to develop depression. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that women whose partners had an educational background of junior high school level underwent their first gestational examination at week 12 or later of pregnancy (odds ratio of 10.99, P = 0.001; 95% confidence interval, 3.15-86.79). Conclusion:The present study suggests the importance of observing the correlation between SES and health among pregnant women, such that strategic interventional services can be provided to such persons. General Medicine 2014, vol. 15, no. 1, p. 34-42. Original Article -34 - INTRODUCTIONOne's ascribed status (e.g., sex, race, parental educational background and income) influences his/her educational background, through which the person's future adult status (e.g., occupation, employment position, and income) is determined. Therefore, the socioeconomic status (SES), such as educational background, occupation, employment situation (e.g. unemployed and lack of job security), income, homeownership, and financial satisfaction, is regarded as of major importance in the social sciences. 1 SES is also correlated with health indices, such as morbidity and mortality, in people of a lower social status. Many of such people have health-related problems and do not undergo a regular health checkup or consult a medical practitioner. 2,3 SES has been identified as a factor related to the absence of regular prenatal checkups, hospitalizations and child deliveries without appointments, and unpaid fees for newborn deliveries. [4][5][6][7][8] Prenatal checkups, one of the medical and welfare policies for women in the maternity period, are provided to aid in reducing the mortality rate among women and their fetuses/newborns, preventing abortions and premature births, and preventing and facilitating early detection of diseases and developmental disorders. Many women become aware that they are pregnant at approximately week 5 of pregnancy, based on subjective symptoms such as delayed menses, morning sickness,...
As postpartum depression has become a major problem, it is necessary to identify mothers who need intensive support to cope with this disorder. Therefore, by summarizing literature from the past five years, this study aimed to clarify the current progress of research on the usefulness of oxytocin as a biomarker for postpartum depression; it also aimed to discuss the prospects for future research based on these findings. Literature published from 2016 to 2020 that examined the relationship among postpartum psychological state, postpartum depression, and oxytocin using the Medical Journal Web and PubMed for local and international literature were reviewed respectively. The search was conducted using the following keywords: "oxytocin," "postpartum," "depression," "anxiety," "mentality," "sensation" and "psychology." Furthermore, research articles (original papers and research reports) were the main focus of the search. Seven articles were extracted from the search. All of them reported an association between oxytocin and maternal psychological state. However, the views among them differed, and studies on the usefulness of oxytocin as a biomarker of postpartum depression were limited. Although various methods have been utilized to measure oxytocin, this study highlights the need for more consistent research methods, accounting for individual differences and factors that may influence oxytocin levels, to ensure accurate oxytocin measurement. This will enable the development of preventative interventions in addressing postpartum depression.
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