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Title: | "Nobody Listened". Mothers' Experiences and Needs Regarding Professional Support Prior to Their Admission to an Infant Mental Health Day Clinic | Authors: | NUYTS, Tinne Van Haeken, Sarah Crombag, Neeltje Singh, Binu Ayers, Susan Garthus-Niegel, Susan BRAEKEN, Marijke Bogaerts, Annick |
Issue Date: | 2021 | Publisher: | MDPI | Source: | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (20) , (Art N° 10917) | Abstract: | Challenges during the perinatal period can lead to maternal distress, negatively affecting mother-infant interaction. This study aims to retrospectively explore the experiences and needs regarding professional support of mothers with difficulties in mother-infant interaction prior to their admission to an infant mental health day clinic. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 mothers who had accessed an infant mental health day clinic because of persistent severe infant regulatory problems impairing the wellbeing of the infant and the family. Data were transcribed and analyzed using the Qualitative Analysis Guide of Leuven (QUAGOL). Three themes were identified: 'experience of pregnancy, birth, and parenthood'; 'difficult care paths'; and 'needs and their fulfillment'. The first theme consisted of three subthemes: (1) 'reality does not meet expectations', (2) 'resilience under pressure', and (3) 'despair'. Mothers experienced negative feelings that were in contradiction to the expected positive emotions associated with childbirth and motherhood. Resilience-related problems affected the mother-child relationship, and infants' regulatory capacities. Determined to find solutions, different healthcare providers were consulted. Mothers' search for help was complex and communication between healthcare providers was limited because of a fragmented care provision. This hindered the continuity of care and appropriate referrals. Another pitfall was the lack of a broader approach, with the emphasis on the medical aspects without attention to the mother-child dyad. An integrated care pathway focusing on the early detection of resilience-related problems and sufficient social support can be crucial in the prevention and early detection of perinatal and infant mental health problems.</p> | Notes: | Bogaerts, A (corresponding author), Katholieke Univ Leuven, Dept Dev & Regenerat, Fac Med Woman & Child, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.; Bogaerts, A (corresponding author), Univ Antwerp, CRIC Ctr Res & Innovat Care, Dept Nursing & Midwifery, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium.; Bogaerts, A (corresponding author), Univ Plymouth, Fac Hlth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, Devon, England. tinne.nuyts@kuleuven.be; sarah.vanhaeken@ucll.be; neeltje.crombag@kuleuven.be; binu.singh@uzleuven.be; Susan.Ayers.1@city.ac.uk; Susan.Garthus-Niegel@uniklinikum-dresden.de; marijke.braeken@ucll.be; annick.bogaerts@kuleuven.be |
Keywords: | infant mental health;perinatal mental health;resilience;infant-parent interaction;healthcare organization;regulatory dysfunction;holistic health;delivery of health care integrated | Document URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/1942/35915 | ISSN: | 1661-7827 | e-ISSN: | 1660-4601 | DOI: | 10.3390/ijerph182010917 | ISI #: | WOS:000716349500001 | Rights: | 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/). | Category: | A1 | Type: | Journal Contribution | Validations: | ecoom 2022 |
Appears in Collections: | Research publications |
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“Nobody Listened”. Mothers’ Experiences and Needs Regarding Professional Support Prior to Their Admission to an Infant Mental Health Day Clinic _ Enhanced Reader.pdf | Published version | 12.55 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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