Search

While researches focusing on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms following childbirth tend to develop, few studies have been conducted on French samples. The aim of the current study was to explore the prevalence rate of women developing postpartum PTSD following preterm birth and highlighting associated features.In the 4weeks following the preterm infant's hospital discharge, a sample of 110 French women (mean age [SD]=29.5 [4.3]years) who delivered prematurely completed questionnaires assessing PTSD symptoms (Impact of Event Scale-Revised) postpartum depressive symptomatology (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), quality of marital relationship (Dyadic Adjustment Scale) and partner support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support). Sociodemographic and gynecologic data were also gathered.Thirty percent of our sample reported a score on the IES-R highlighting a probable posttraumatic stress disorder. Increased postpartum depressive symptoms (β=0.47, P0.05), having undergone a caesarian section (β=0.24, P0.05), and prior traumatic event (β=0.20, P0.05), were independently associated with the intensity of PTSD symptoms.Given the traumatic impact of preterm birth on mothers, further studies focusing on the trauma of premature delivery are warranted.

The aim of this study was to explore the role of the paternity leave in the appearance of the maternal postpartum depression.Fifty-one couples took part in the whole study. Between the second and the fifth day after the childbirth, the mother completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), which measures the symptoms of depression and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) which measures the social support the mother has become. The father completed the EPDS. Two months and then the second time four months after the childbirth, the mother received the EPDS, the MSPSS, and questionnaires measuring the temperament of the baby, the maternal skills, the feeling of being a mother and the quality of life postpartum. In order to evaluate the paternal involvement, the father completed the EPDS and questions about paternal skills and involvement.The paternity leave seemed not to have any consequences on the results at the EPDS or other questionnaires. However, lack of paternal involvement was a significant predictor of the intensity of the depressive symptoms of the mothers.It is not the presence of the father wich seems important to take into account for detection and the traitement of postpatum depression but his participation in the care of the baby.

This qualitative study focuses on feelings of women who receive an anonymous oocyte donation.A heterogeneous group of 12 women who were mothers or pregnant following a oocyte donation or who were waiting for a donation took part in the study. All women participated in a face to face or a telephone semi-directive interview. Questions dealt with desire for children, feelings about difficulties to have a child, place of the oocyte donor and position about revelation of origins.Several key ideas about the experience of oocyte donation can be brought out from the analysis of those interviews, particularly the psychological process implied in losing one's hope for a biological child, ambivalence towards donors, and questionings about this specific mode of conception.Women's satisfaction when the project for having a child is brought to its completion, hides neither complexity nor psychological questionings entailed by the donation process which includes a third during the conception. This study underlines the need for psychological accompaniment.

The aim of this research was to study childbirth experience for the primiparae couple.Thirty-three couples were interviewed two days after the birth in maternities.For mothers, the presence of their husbands is a support whereas men mentioned a feeling of helplessness.These results point out the need to accompany mothers and fathers during birth preparation to make this experience to be the most satisfying for both members of couple.

The aim of this research was to study childbirth experience for the primiparae couple and their emotional state in early post-partum.Thirty-three couples were interviewed 2 days after the birth. A questionnaire on childbirth experience and the EPDS were carried out.According to the results, mothers feel less satisfied, less calm, more useful and suffer more than fathers. Moreover, they consider father's participation more active and more supportive than themselves assess it. Experience of childbirth is linked with parent's emotional state in early postpartum.These results stress the importance to take into account the woman, the men and the couple as three separate and singular units and to create space for dialogue before and after childbirth.

When the antenatal diagnosis reveals a serious anomaly of the fetus, the couple can envisage a therapeutic abortion. This qualitative study aims to bring a better understanding of emotional impact and perinatal grief after a therapeutic abortion.Seven women who have had a therapeutic abortion participated in a semidirective interview.The analysis of the collected data reveals the psychological trauma caused by a therapeutic abortion, the significant distress of the mothers accentuated by omnipresent guilt feelings, persistent symptoms of depression and anxiety. Different reactions within the couple are perceived and can lead to marital conflict.Results show a need for a psychological follow-up of the individual as well as the couple.

This prospective, longitudinal study investigated the contributive role of childbirth pain, perinatal distress and perinatal dissociation to the development of PTSD symptoms following childbirth.One hundred and seventeen women participated at the study. The first day after delivery they completed a questionnaire to evaluate pain, the peritraumatic distress inventory (PDI) and the peritraumatic dissociative experience questionnaire (PDEQ). Six weeks after birth, they completed the impact of event scale-revised (IES-R) to measure posttraumatic stress symptoms and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to assess maternal depression.A multiple regression analysis revealed that only both components of perinatal distress, life-threat perception and dysphoric emotions were significant predictors of posttraumatic stress symptoms. In another multiple regression analysis predicting dysphoric emotions, affective dimension of pain was the only significant predictor.Perinatal distress was the best predictor of posttraumatic stress symptoms. Dysphoric emotions were associated with affective dimension of pain, suggesting that women distressed by the childbirth pain would have higher risk to develop posttraumatic stress symptoms.

Medical interventions during the perinatal period are psychologically difficult for women and research has shown this is true as well for in-vitro fertilization procedures (IVF). This study examined the impact of IVF and different medical interventions, common to both non-pathological pregnancies and IVF, through the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data.Twelve women undergoing IVF evaluated their experience of pregnancy and birth using measures of post-partum depression, maternal self-esteem, and semi-directive interviews.The results showed that the number of medical interventions is correlated with higher scores of post-partum depression as well as lowered scores in maternal self-esteem. Qualitative analyses of interviews showed that IVF has a complex and unique psychological impact.The results of this study underline the need for specific psychological support for women undergoing IVF treatment.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is long and difficult. Psychopathologic consequences of IVF have been the object of a great deal of research but few have dealt with women experiences. This study examined women experiences through the analysis of qualitative data.Six women undergoing IVF took part in a semi-directive interview.Qualitative analyses of interviews showed the variety of emotions that women experience during IVF. They experience despair, fear, solitude, unfairness, anxiety, anger, guilt but also hope and determination.The results of this study underline the need for specific support to help women with this emotional alternation.