The perinatal period, from pregnancy to the second year of the baby’s life, is full of upheavals, physically, psychologically and socially.
For both mothers and fathers, becoming parents is an intense emotional experience, where joy rubs shoulders with feelings of stress, worry and fatigue in the face of the new demands of parenthood. This is a period of great adaptation and vulnerability for all parents. However, too little importance is still given to the psychological aspect of the transition to parenthood. On Bell Let’s Talk Day, January 25, it seems more necessary than ever to continue the discussion on perinatal mental health.
The arrival of a newborn is accompanied by significant changes. For the pregnant woman, the transformations are primarily physical and hormonal. In the days following childbirth, 70% to 80% of women experience irritability, anxiety and mood swings. This is the famous “baby blues”, a normal temporary reaction due in particular to a significant hormonal drop, increased stress and lack of sleep.
One in five women who have severe “baby blues” will develop depression. Depression also affects nearly 10% of fathers during the perinatal period.
Ease the transition to parenthood
Learning a new family role, that of parent, represents a particular adaptation. Parents integrate new habits and responsibilities and see their priorities change. The arrival of a baby can also be synonymous with certain bereavements: the bereavement of the life before, the bereavement of the perfect child or that of the idealized role of parent. Like a roller coaster, parenthood is made up of ups and downs that need to be named, normalized and facilitated.
Some community organizations, including Perinatal Resource Centers (PRCs), offer mothers and fathers a space to be heard, supported and valued in their role. Numerous services such as café-rencontres, relief services (home support), breastfeeding drop-in centers and support groups help ease the transition to parenthood.
Recognize the importance of perinatal mental health
Much importance is given, quite legitimately, to the physical health of the pregnant woman and the baby. Prenatal classes often focus on childbirth preparation and newborn care. Parents benefit from being better informed and aware of mental health during the perinatal period.
Beyond the necessary prevention and information work, it is important to ensure and facilitate access to appropriate psychosocial and medical support, at the right time, for mothers and fathers who are suffering.
The health of those affected is at stake, but also the well-being of the whole family. Effective treatments exist to get better, but these remain difficult to access. Moreover, health professionals would benefit from being better equipped to detect early perinatal mental health disorders, which can sometimes be detected during pregnancy. Finally, it is important to recognize the work and expertise of community organizations in the field that support parents and future parents in learning, normalizing and promoting their new role. They act in prevention and in complementarity with the health network.
It is imperative to raise awareness on the issue of perinatal mental health and to guarantee better access to support resources for future and new parents throughout Quebec.