Postnatal Depression and Maternal Mental Health: A handbook for frontline caregivers working with women with perinatal mental health difficulties is an accessible handbook that is intended to support midwives, health visitors, community workers and frontline healthcare providers in their detection and assessment of postnatal depression and maternal mental health. Midwives, health visitors, community workers and frontline healthcare providers for pregnant women, and mothers and babies in the first postnatal year, require better information on the kinds of help that women need, and resources they can use to support discussions about difficult and complex feelings. It will provide readers with a good understanding of postnatal depression and the range of perinatal mental health difficulties they may come across in universal services for mental illness in pregnant and postnatal women. The handbook will support them in their detection and assessment of these difficulties in the women on their caseload. Postnatal Depression and Maternal Mental Health will enable you to: Identify and assess postnatal depression in mothers Facilitate sensitive conversations about mental health with more confidence Provide early support to both mother and baby to reduce the need for future professional intervention Progress your CPD accreditation.

In "Unveiling Shadows: Nurturing Maternal Mental Health," embark on a transformative journey through the complexities of motherhood, exploring the profound impact of mental health on women during the transformative stage of becoming a mother. This book draws from personal narratives, scientific research, and expert insights. This poignant book unveils the shadows that often accompany the joyous journey of motherhood. From the moment of conception to the early years of parenting, it candidly explores the spectrum of emotions experienced by mothers and exposes the silent struggles they face. Through sensitive exploration, "Unveiling Shadows" challenges the societal expectations placed upon women, dismantles the stigma surrounding maternal mental health, and illuminates the path toward healing and self-discovery. It delves into the multifaceted nature of perinatal mental health conditions, such as postpartum depression and anxiety, while shedding light on lesser-known conditions that can emerge during vulnerable times. "Unveiling Shadows" serves as a clarion call to healthcare providers, policymakers, and society, emphasizing the urgent need for improved awareness, education, and support surrounding maternal mental health. It inspires a collective effort to foster a nurturing environment where every mother can thrive mentally, emotionally, and physically.

Postpartum depression affects 10-15 percent of women any time from a month to a year after childbirth. Women with postpartum depression may feel restless, anxious, sad or depressed. They may have feelings of guilt, decreased energy and motivation, and a sense of worthlessness. They may also have sleep difficulties and undergo unexplained weight loss or gain. Some mothers may worry about hurting themselves or their baby. In extremely rare cases - less than 1 percent of new mothers - women may develop something called postpartum psychosis. It usually occurs within the first few weeks after delivery. Symptoms may include refusing to eat, frantic energy, sleep disturbance, paranoia and irrational thoughts. Women with postpartum psychosis usually need to be hospitalised.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a questionnaire and was designed as a simple means of screening for postnatal depression in health care settings. The scale is now in use around the world and this book is a practical guide to using the scale in clinical practice, its origins and development background. This second edition has been revised and contains much advice based on years of experience. All chapters and references have been updated and the chapters on screening and counselling have been considerably revised, the evidence base on interventions for perinatal depression is provided, plus details of innovative methods such as internet-based therapy. The book includes the EPDS questionnaire itself in 58 other languages, plus a discussion of the questionnaire’s cultural validity. The scale can also be used by researchers seeking information on factors which influence the emotional well-being of new mothers and their families and guidance is also given on use of the scale in research settings. The book will be useful for psychologists, psychiatrists, health visitors, midwives, family doctors, obstetricians and community psychiatric nurses, plus researchers in perinatal health.

This guide has been developed jointly by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and is designed for use by all personnel involved in the care of pregnant women, their foetuses, and their neonates.

This text examines the great variey of mental health disorders that can affect women during pregnancy and after giving birth. Issues such as infertility and child abuse are covered and case descriptions and personal accounts are also provided.