Perinatal Psychology and Infant Mental Health

Overview of Perinatal Psychology

Perinatal psychology focuses on the psychological wellbeing of individuals, parents and babies, during the perinatal period, which includes: planning (conception and preconception), pregnancy, birth, postpartum and early parenting (up to 24 months).  

This branch of psychology focuses on how mental health, emotional well-being, and social relationships impact both the expecting parents and the newborn, with a particular emphasis on maternal mental health and the parent-infant relationship.

The perinatal period is a time of immense physical and emotional change. As a result, it can be both exciting and challenging, and it is not uncommon for parents to experience a wide range of psychological issues that can affect their well-being and their baby.  

Perinatal psychologists provide essential support, helping individuals navigate the emotional complexities of this stage and promoting positive outcomes for both parents and infants.

Perinatal psychologist will help you towards parenthood, managing your difficulties and concerns in parenting and supporting family, parents, baby and the couple during this journey.  

We use evidence-based approaches to promote psychological health for parents, babies, family and couples.We may incorporate cognitive-behavioural therapy, mindfulness techniques, and opportunities for self-exploration and self-reflection to foster deeper insight. We integrate evidence-based frameworks such as attachment theory, psychodynamic theory, and research on infant development to better understand the challenges parents face.

A key focus is on enhancing parents' reflective capacity, as research indicates this ability is crucial for effective and responsive parenting.

Parents are welcome to bring their baby to sessions if they want or need to.  

Presenting issues affecting parenthood:

Some common reasons to seek support include:

• Fertility issues and assisted conception,  

• Perinatal loss  

• Unwanted pregnancy  

• Birth trauma

• Adjustment following a premature or multiple birth

• Antenatal and postnatal depression

• Antenatal and postnatal anxiety

• Gender disappointment

• Struggles with breastfeeding

• Difficulties feeling attached or bonded with your baby

• Unsettled or sickly infants

• Changes in the couple relationship

• Lack of enjoyment in parenting

• Feeling irritable or guilty

• Feeling overwhelmed

• Single parenthood

• Same sex parenting

• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

• Challenging behaviour from your infant or toddler

• Parenting strategies and approaches

Challeges, changes and fluctuations of emotions are typical during this journey, the ambivalence of emotions are real, it may feel loving and joyful moments and also stressful and challenging.  

It is important to recognise that sometimes we may need help and support to be able to manage and find coping mechanisms to help us regulate those emotions. When the emotions and the difficulties are impacting our daily life and wellbeing, it’s time to reach out for help.

In Australia, perinatal mental health difficulties are a significant concern, affecting a notable proportion of people during the perinatal period.  

The prevalence rates for various perinatal mental health conditions are as follows:

• Time of highest risk for a woman to develop, or have a reoccurrence of, a mental health condition.

• It’s estimated that 1 in 5 women (20%) experience perinatal anxiety or depression during pregnancy or in the year following childbirth  

• While much of the focus tends to be on mothers, mental health issues in fathers during the perinatal period are also significant. Studies suggest that 10-15% of fathers may experience symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety. This is often linked to the stress of the transition to parenthood and concerns about supporting their partner and child.

• Birth trauma affects an estimated 2-3% of women in Australia, and many of these women may develop symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following a traumatic birth experience.

• Overall, it is estimated that around 20-25% of women in Australia will experience some form of perinatal mental health issue (such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD) during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth.

We can help you with:

1. Planning:

Conception, for some people can be a joyful, planned and wanted journey, however for some other people the conception can be unplanned and untimely, leaving ambivalent feelings of doubts, resentment, fear, among others.  

For others, the conception requires medical intervention, which sometimes is difficult to achieve and a very long-term journey. A rollercoaster of emotions takes off, creating moments of excitement, fear, stress, anxiety…

Common reasons for seeking help are:

• Infertility

• Unplanned pregnancy  

• Conceiving after loss  

• The emotional process of the fertility treatment

• Same sex conception

• Single mother conception  

• Depression, anxiety and stress the may impact successful conception

2. Psychological Changes During Pregnancy:  

Pregnancy is a very emotional period where the mother can experience a range of emotions. There are time where many mothers can find difficulties connecting with the joy of pregnancy. At other times, some past mental health issues re-emerge in pregnancy.  

Pregnancy is often a time of both joy and anxiety. Hormonal changes, physical transformations, and anticipation of parenthood can lead to emotional highs and lows. Many expectant parents experience feelings of excitement, but some may also face anxiety or depression. Common concerns include:

• Depression and anxiety  

• Bonding with baby

• Unplanned pregnancy  

• Preparing for parenthood

• Perinatal loss  

• OCD

• Fear of birth

2. Attachment During Pregnancy:
   Expectant parents begin to form emotional bonds with their unborn child, a process called anticipatory attachment. This bond is vital for the development of a positive relationship post-birth. However, not all parents feel immediate attachment to their unborn child, and this can be influenced by prior mental health conditions, stressors, or personal experiences.

3. Psychological Effects of Birth and Postpartum Period: The experience of childbirth can be both physically and emotionally intense, sometimes leading to trauma when our wellbeing and psychological needs are not met. The immediate postpartum period is marked by significant physical recovery, as well as psychological shifts.  

With all the changes during this time, it’s hard to know whether your feelings are ‘normal’.  It takes time to adjust and transition to your new role; you need time to feel comfortable and find your way.

During birth it can be a collision between expectations and reality - how you thought (or hoped) it might be and how the reality is or was for you and your baby.  

It is natural to hold fantasies about what birth, parenthood is, and the reality can be different.  

For some people, there are things from their upbringing that you want to bring forward, and others that you want to leave firmly in the past, so the perinatal period can be unresolved past issues, past family dynamics, patterns, among others.

Challenges to seek help in the first year postpartum:

• Postpartum Depression

• Postpartum Anxiety

• Postpartum Rage

• Postpartum Psychosis

• Birth Trauma

• Adjustment to parenthood  

• Difficulties bonding with baby

• Unsettled or sickly infants

• Lack of enjoyment in parenting  

• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby  

• Maintaining couple intimacy in the transition to parenthood  

• Consulting about parenting skills  

• Desire to understand emotional needs of your baby  

4. Bonding and Attachment:
   The first few months after birth are crucial for developing a secure bond between parent and infant. Attachment theory, a major framework in perinatal psychology, highlights the importance of early emotional connections for a child’s development. A strong bond supports the child’s emotional security, while difficulties in bonding can affect the child’s social and emotional growth.

5. Impact of Mental Health on the Baby:
   Research shows that maternal mental health issues during pregnancy and the postpartum period can influence fetal development and infant outcomes. Stress, anxiety, and depression can affect the developing brain and lead to complications such as preterm birth or low birth weight. Additionally, emotional distress in parents can influence the early parent-child attachment and may affect the child’s emotional regulation, behavior, and social skills later in life.

REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. WE ALL NEED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT DURING THIS CHALLENGING TIMES  

The Role of Support Systems and Community

1. Family and Partner Support: Emotional support from family members, particularly partners, plays a key role in improving mental health outcomes during the perinatal period. Couples counseling and family therapy can be valuable tools in fostering communication, understanding, and mutual support.

2. Support Groups: Joining support groups with other parents facing similar challenges can provide emotional relief and reduce feelings of isolation. Many new parents benefit from peer support where they can share experiences and coping strategies.

3. Community Resources: Many communities offer parenting classes, home visits from healthcare providers, and community-based therapy programs specifically designed for perinatal mental health. These resources can make a significant difference in the mental well-being of parents.

Perinatal psychology emphasises the importance of mental health during the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. With the right therapeutic interventions and support, many parents can navigate this challenging and transformative time with greater resilience and well-being. Seeking help for emotional distress is a crucial step in ensuring that both parents and infants thrive during this critical stage of life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health concerns during the perinatal period, it is essential to seek professional support from a perinatal psychologist or healthcare provider to ensure both physical and emotional health are addressed.

Contact us - Find a psychologist at Drop of Life that can help with your planning journey, pregnancy, birth, or parenting experience.  

Call us on 0755207705 or contact us to make an appointment or enquiry.

Resources:

• Support organizations:

• PANDA

• Australian Research Alliance for Children & Youth (ARACY)

• International Association of Infant Massage, Australia

• Books:

• Perinatal loss:  

• Grief unseen (Laura seftel, Jessica Kingsley)

• Pregnancy after loss (Jane Warland)

• Pregnancy:

• Towards parenthood (Jeannette Milgrom)  

• Nourish Baby - antenatal classes online, childbirth education, breastfeeding

• Birth:

• Birth with confidence (Rhea Dempsey)  

• Better birth (Lareen newman and Heather Handcock)

• Early parenthood and infants:

• Towards parenthood (Jeannette Milgrom)  

• Understanding your baby (Sophie Boswell, Jessica Kingsley)

• You and your baby: baby’s emotional life (Frances Thomson-Salo Karnac)

• Diary of a baby: what your baby sees, feels and experiences (Daniel Stern, Harper Collins)  

• The birth of the modern mum (Heather Irvine, Jane Curry)  

• Infant sleep:

• Safe sleep space

• The happy sleeper (Heahter Turgeon and Julie Wright)  

• Sleeping like a baby (Pinky McKay)  

• Fatherhood:

• The dad factor (Richards Fletcher)

If you need immediate help, please call 000 for an Emergency response, or one of the following contacts.

Lifeline
Lifeline 24 hour crisis support – 13 11 14

Hold On To Life @ the Australian Suicide Prevention Foundation (24/7) – 1800 HOLDON (1800 465 366)

Suicide Helpline – 1300 651 251

Suicide Callback – 1300 659 467 (available 24/7)

PANDA National Helpline – 1300 726 306
Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm AEST

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