engleski

Symposium: Parental mental health during pregnancy and after childbirth

Mental health in the perinatal period has been extensively studied in the last few decades. However, research has been mostly focused on postpartum depression and maternal experiences only. With the change of the DSM-5 definition for the depression onset from the postpartum to the peripartum onset, the focus broadens to the pregnancy, as well. Also, different aspects of the anxiety and distress are also considered and fathers’ experiences are getting more attention, thus providing an opportunity to have a larger picture of parental perinatal experiences. The symposium will focus on different aspects of mental health and experiences during pregnancy and after childbirth in both mothers and fathers. The first three presentations examine maternal experiences during pregnancy, dealing with prediction of depressiveness during pregnancy (Žutić & Nakić Radoš), disordered eating attitudes and their predictors during pregnancy (Primorac & Nakić Radoš), and the role of personality traits for fear of childbirth in primiparous and multiparous pregnant women (Kuljanac et al.). The following presentation is about the paternal experience of the delivery (Gall et al.) and the last one is dealing with stress in parents of infants who need intensive neonatal care (Kostović et al.). These presentations provide theoretical knowledge and practical implications for designing prenatal courses and peripartum practice to protect both mothers and fathers in this sensitive period, especially if additional stressors are present. We believe this symposium will raise awareness about a great need for the improvement of the psychosocial aspects of peripartum care and give useful guidelines in order to preserve the well-being of children and families.

mental health ; parents ; pregnancy ; childbirth ; postpartum

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