Abstract

Purpose

The present study assessed the effects of several prenatal maternal expectations on postpartum depression (PPD), while considering two relevant factors – incongruence between planned and actual birth and the rigidity of the birth plan – that can affect whether maternal expectations act as protective factors or risk factors for PPD.

Methods

Primiparous women (N = 527) were recruited to a longitudinal study about women’s birth choices and experiences. At time 1, during pregnancy, women completed a questionnaire assessing prenatal depression, preferred birth plan, birth plan flexibility–rigidity and maternal expectations (i.e. Natural-Fulfillment, Infant-Reflects-Mothering, Sacrifice). At time 2, two-months post-partum, they reported their actual birth mode and answered a questionnaire assessing their PPD symptoms.

Results

Natural-fulfillment maternal expectations were negatively related to PPD symptoms. Yet, the interaction of high natural-fulfillment expectations with an unfulfilled birth plan and the rigidity of the birth plan, served as a risk factor for PPD symptomatology.

Conclusions

Understanding the conditions under which specific prenatal maternal expectations serve as a risk factor for PPD, can help healthcare providers identify women who are at high risk for developing PPD symptoms and plan preemptive interventions.

中文翻译：

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产妇期望对产后抑郁症状的复杂影响：保护因素何时成为危险因素？

摘要

目的

本研究评估了几种产前母亲期望对产后抑郁症 (PPD) 的影响，同时考虑了两个相关因素——计划生育与实际分娩之间的不一致以及分娩计划的僵化——这可能会影响母亲期望是作为保护因素还是风险PPD的因素。

方法

初产女性 ( N  = 527) 被招募到一项关于女性生育选择和经历的纵向研究。在第 1 时间，在怀孕期间，女性完成了一份问卷调查，评估产前抑郁、首选生育计划、生育计划灵活性-刚性和母亲期望（即自然满足、婴儿-反映-母亲、牺牲）。在产后两个月的第 2 时间，他们报告了他们的实际分娩方式并回答了一份评估其 PPD 症状的问卷。

结果

自然满足的母亲期望与 PPD 症状呈负相关。然而，高自然实现期望与未实现的生育计划以及生育计划的僵化之间的相互作用是 PPD 症状的一个风险因素。

结论

了解特定的产前产妇期望在何种条件下成为 PPD 的风险因素，可以帮助医疗保健提供者识别具有发生 PPD 症状高风险的女性并计划先发制人的干预措施。