Maternal Stressors and Coping Strategies During the Extended Postpartum Period: A Retrospective Analysis with Contemporary Implications

Abstract

Background: Despite recent emphasis on the “fourth trimester” and beyond, most knowledge of stressors affecting women is focused on the first 6 postpartum weeks. Our aim was to identify postpartum-specific stressors and coping over the extended postpartum period. Methods: We analyzed data from two surveys for a combined sample of 346 postpartum women. Principal components analysis of survey items on sources of stress was used to identify categories of postpartum-specific stressors. Content analysis was used to categorize text data on coping strategies. Results: Seven stressors were identified: Overload, Working mother concerns, Isolated motherhood, Limited supportive resources, Exhaustion, Parenting demands, and Changes in body and sexuality. Overload was the most frequent stressor ( F = 49.32, p < 0.001) and was significantly higher at 9–12 months than at 5–8 months or at 13 months or more ( F = 6.42, p = 0.002). Fulltime employment and having more than one child were associated with elevated scores on several stressors. Content analysis yielded seven coping strategies, such as Take time alone or with others, Manage emotions and thoughts, and Maintain a manageable workload. Five of the seven stressors were associated with at least one of the top five coping strategies; none was associated with Overload or Limited supportive resources. Conclusions: Women's predominant source of stress was from overload and was highest at 9 to 12 months postpartum. Community resources and public health policy and programming are needed to prepare and support women during the challenging first postpartum year.

Mothers’ Experiences During the 2022 Infant Formula Shortage in Washington D.C.

“…Both conditions have unfavorable short and long-term impacts on maternal and infant health (Grace et al, 2003 ) and also interfere with mother-child bonding (Dubber et al, 2015 ) and infant feeding outcomes (Fallon et al, 2016 ). Even in the absence of postpartum anxiety and/or depression, the months following childbirth involve sleep exhaustion, feelings of isolation, new demands of parenting, and changes in physique and sexuality, all of which detract from mothers’ mental and physical health (Walker & Murry, 2022 ). The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated mental health challenges during the postpartum period and posed a barrier to accessing postpartum medical care and social support (Goldstein et al, 2022 ).…”

Social support as a coping resource for psychosocial conditions in postpartum period: a systematic review and logic framework

“…Postpartum stress and anxiety are crucial to address as they have been linked to negative health behaviors in women, such as unhealthy diet, smoking relapse, and postpartum weight retention. Additionally, they are key factors associated with PPD, which can develop into self- reported major depression and pose significant risks to morbidity and mortality if left underdiagnosed [ 56 ]. It is important to recognize and address these issues in order to support the overall well-being of new mothers [ 52 ].…”

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