The Need for Additional Mental Health Support for Women in the Postpartum Period in the Times of Epidemic Crisis

Abstract

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.

The experience of women with recent gestational diabetes during the COVID-19 lockdown: a qualitative study from Denmark

“…However, our results indicate that these worries seem to have been intensified during the lockdown. Furthermore, we found that feelings of loneliness were described as more pronounced during the lockdown; this has been confirmed by other studies investigating mental health among women during times with COVID-19 [15,20,34]. Taken together, these findings warrant attention to mental health in women, including those with recent GDM, during COVID-19, and to support a focus on motherhood adaptation and the infant's social progression as common worries in the infant period.…”

Postpartum depression, social support and maternal self‐efficacy between adolescent and adult mothers during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A comparative cross‐sectional study

“…Our findings indicate that the COVID‐19 pandemic and the implementation of the restrictive measures had impact on the daily lives and economic statuses of postpartum mothers, which might have led to decreased social interactions and social activities, as well as income instability, all of which might have caused the postpartum mothers to receive less social support and experience more mental health problems. Similarly, Chrzan‐Dętkoś et al (2021) revealed that the situation of the COVID‐19 pandemic and restrictive measures might be an additional risk factor for increasing the prevalence and severity of PPD (Chrzan‐Dętkoś et al, 2021).…”

“…Postpartum women have identified four types of desired social support after delivery such as informational support, emotional support, shared experiences with assistance and instrumental support (Slomian et al, 2019). During the COVID‐19 pandemic, postpartum women have had increasing need for additional social support after childbirth (Chrzan‐Dętkoś et al, 2021). However, the pandemic of COVID‐19 has impact on received social support.…”

A importância da abordagem do enfermeiro no pré-natal para a prevenção de agravos à saúde mental de mulheres no puerpério

“…Diversos estudos destacam que as puérperas passam por importantes mudanças nas dinâmicas familiares, trabalho, vida social, percepção da autoimagem, admiração do trabalho doméstico, na percepção de felicidade e na adaptação com a rotina de amamentação, e em outras variáveis que podem impactar na qualidade de vida geral (Castiglioni et al, 2020;Cetisli, Arkan, & Top, 2018;Chrzan-Dętkoś, Walczak-Kozłowska, & Lipowska, 2021;Meireles et al, 2020).…”