Mental health articles

Effect of ante-natal mental health problems Stressful life events in the ante-natal period affect parental physical and mental well-being. This can impact on foetal and therefore infant development and mental health in a number of ways. There are the possible effects of maternal mental health on obstetric outcomes, and potentially on the neurobiological development of the foetus. Stressful life events during pregnancy increase the risk of post-partum psychiatric disorders (O’Hara, 1997), and during this period of enormous transition can affect the quality of subsequent infant–parent interaction, and, as a consequence, infant development. Foetal development There is no such thing as a baby—meaning that if you set out to describe a baby, you will find you are describing a baby and someone (Winnicott, 1964, p. 88). It is conceptually and methodologically difficult to study the psychological interconnectedness of mother and baby during the ante-natal period. How the maternal state of mind might affect, through mediating mechanisms, foetal development, and conversely how foetal mental functioning might affect the maternal state of mind, is a relatively recent area of study. There is growing empirical evidence to suggest that the foetus has sensory and cognitive abilities, including the capacity to learn in utero . Current research suggests that the infant at birth is already primed in emotional and behavioural ways that shape responses to interpersonal and environmental interactions. Some research suggests that maternal psychosocial distress may affect foetal development and neonatal outcome. For example, Glover (1997) proposes that ante-natal maternal anxiety could possibly alter the foetus’s neurophysiological responses in lifelong ways. Though the evidence is inconclusive and at times speculative it is worth consideration. Maternal distress in pregnancy traditionally has been viewed as subjectively unpleasant, but unless psychiatrically severe, as transient and benign for most women (Hrasky & Morice, 1986). These assumptions may require reassessment if emerging evidence about the effect of maternal stress on the developing foetus is confirmed. Research in this area is complex and runs the risk, if not thoughtfully undertaken and reported, of contributing to another area where women are made to feel guilty and responsible for many things beyond their control. Infant–parent interaction Characteristics of the infant–parent relationship demonstrated to affect infant development include parental sensitivity and responsiveness to infant cues and what is known as the ‘fit’ between parental resources and abilities and infant needs. The security of the attachment relationship that develops between infant and parent shows a correlation with the infant’s capacity for self-regulation and his subsequent social and emotional development. The implications of this are far-reaching in terms of both individual and social wellbeing.

Tags: Health, Mental health