Background This retrospective study aimed to identify possible intensification of mental health difficulties among women seeking support in the postpartum period during the epidemic state in Poland. We assumed that the epidemic crisis, social isolation, and restrictions in hospitals which affect pregnant and postpartum women - lack of family labors, lack of the possibility to be with the newborn when he/she is hospitalized, may increase fear and reduce psychosocial resources of women, hinder their normal process of transition to motherhood and thus contribute to the intensified severity of depressive symptoms. Methods The study participants were women seeking support at the on-line platform of the project ‘Next Stop: Mum’, which is a part of the postpartum depression prevention’s program implemented by the Ministry of Health in Poland, and enables remote self-screening for the severity of the postpartum depression symptoms with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale developed by Cox and collaborators. The analyzed data in this study were obtained from 139 women: 61 filled forms from October 1 - November 10, 2019 (non-epidemic period), and 78 filled forms from February 20–March 30 (beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic), 2020. Results A statistically significant difference in the severity of postpartum depression symptoms were observed among women making a self-assessment with EPDS scale at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic in Poland (M = 15.71; SD = 6.23), compared to the pre-epidemic neutral period (M = 13.56; SD = 6.46). Conclusions The results of this study indicate that the epidemic crisis may be associated with an increased need for additional caution and support of women’s mental health in the postpartum period. We believe that recommendations for medical staff, policy, and families of women struggling with postpartum depression symptoms during crisis should be widespread as the second wave of COVID-19 disease may develop in the autumn-winter 2020 and spring 2021.

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Background: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between one’s maternal attachment style and one’s self-image as a mother, image of one’s mother as a mother, and bond with the child over a period of several months. Methods: A total of 86 women took part in the study The Adjective Check List (ACL), Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ), Maternal–Fetal Attachment Scale (MFAS), and a modified version of the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) were used. Two measurements were used: during pregnancy and about six months after the birth of the child. Results: In terms of their self-image as mothers, the women had higher results the first time they took the questionnaire, regardless of their attachment style. An interaction effect was found between attachment style and the ‘need for changes’ scale. The image of one’s mother as a mother depended on the level of avoidance in attachment, regardless of the measurement. An interaction effect was found between attachment style and the scale of ‘personal adaptation’. There was a correlation between the bond with the child during pregnancy, the bond following birth, and the style of maternal attachment; the main predictor of the bond with the child after birth is the bond with the child during the pregnancy. Conclusion: Those who provide care for pregnant women and new mothers should be aware of the complex psychological processes in the transition to motherhood, have knowledge about perinatal mental health, and when necessary, refer women to specialists such as support groups for new mothers, trained midwives, psychologists, psychotherapists, or psychiatrists.

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Attachment style exerts influence upon a mother's self-image, the image of one's own mother as a mother and the bond with the unborn child.

Since February 24 th , 2022, the beginning of Russia's aggression against Ukraine, over 5 million refugees from Ukraine have crossed the European Union border, mainly women and children. In addition, over 35,000 people crossed the Polish border, over 972,000 the Romanian border, 654,000 the Hungarian border, 473,000 the Moldavian border, and 446,000 the Slovakian border (Verner, n.d.). Most arrivals are women and children from all parts of Ukraine. However, the exact number of pregnant and postpartum women war refugees is unknown. According to the United Nations Population Fund, an estimated 265,000 Ukrainian women were pregnant when Clínica y Salud (2022) 33(3) 127-135

Background: This study aimed to identify possible intensification of mental health difficulties among women seeking support in the postpartum period during the epidemic state in Poland. We assumed that the epidemic crisis, social isolation and restrictions in hospitals which affect pregnant and postpartum women - lack of family labours, lack of the possibility to be with the newborn when he/she is hospitalized, may increase fear and reduce psychosocial resources of women, hinder their normal process of transition to motherhood and thus contribute to the intensified severity of depressive symptoms.Methods: The study participants were women seeking support at the on-line platform of the project ‘Next Stop: MUM’, which is a part of the postpartum depression prevention’s program implemented by the Ministry of Health in Poland, and enables remote self-screening for the severity of the postpartum depression symptoms with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale developed by Cox and collaborators. The analyzed data in this study were obtained from 139 women: 61 filled forms from October 1 - November 10, 2019 (non-epidemic period), and 78 filled forms from February 20 - March 30 (beginning of the epidemic), 2020.Results: A statistically significant difference in the severity of postpartum depression symptoms was observed among women making a self-assessment with EPDS scale at the beginning of the covid-19 epidemic in Poland (M = 15.71; SD = 6.23), compared to the pre-epidemic neutral period (M = 13.56; SD = 6.46).Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the epidemic crisis may be associated with an increased need for additional caution and support of women's mental health in the postpartum period. We believe that recommendations for medical staff, policy and families of women struggling with postpartum depression symptoms during crisis should be widespread as the second wave of covid-19 disease may develop in autumn 2020.

Cel pracyDepresja poporodowa dotyka około 13 – 20% kobiet, depresja w okresie ciąży – 19% kobiet ciężarnych. W Polsce brakuje oferty pomocy dla tej grupy osób. W artykule zaprezentowano elementy pilotażowego programu „Macierzyństwo krok po kroku”, finansowanego przez gminę Miasto Gdańsk. Celem programu było zapewnienia gdańszczanom specjalistycznej opieki laktacyjnej i psychologicznej w okresie ciąży i w pierwszym roku życia dziecka.MetodaBadaniem objęto trzy grupy kobiet: 36 matek biorących udział w konsultacjach psychologicznych i terapii krótkoterminowej, 123 kobiet korzystających z porad laktacyjnych oraz 104 osoby z grupy kontrolnej. Do ewaluacji wykorzystano m.in. autorskie ankiety, Kwestionariusz Oceny Zdrowia Psychicznego GHQ – 28 Goldberga (Makowska & Merecz, 2011) oraz Parental Stress Index - 3rd version (Abidin, 1995).WynikiWyniki. Przeprowadzona ewaluacja wykazała istotne obniżenie symptomów zaburzeń zdrowia psychicznego zarówno w grupie kobiet korzystających z interwencji psychologicznej jak i z porad laktacyjnych. W grupie kobiet korzystających z interwencji psychologicznej zaobserwowano istotne obniżenie stresu rodzicielskiego.WnioskiPrzeprowadzone analizy pokazują, że wdrożony program charakteryzuje się wysoką skutecznością. Program może być odpowiedzią na planowane zmiany w standardach opieki okołoporodowej i kontynuowany w kolejnych latach.