Project Description

Perinatal health issues affect many women and their families during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth (NHS, 2021). More than ever, there is an identified need for greater understanding of the challenges faced by new parents in society today, especially mothers’ experiences of perinatal and mental health care provision (National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit,2014). While many families may have a good experience of perinatal care, transition to parenthood is perceived to be less positive for a growing number of new mothers (currently27%, NHS, 2021) who frequently encounter mental health difficulties and challenges with becoming a parent. This is especially the case for mothers who, during the perinatal period, experience physical and / or mental ill-health problems, including depression, anxiety, including suicidal thoughts, or who may even attempt suicide: a leading cause of death for mothers during this period (Reid et al., 2022). Additionally, some mothers report suffering post-traumatic stress (PTSS) symptoms following childbirth (Molloy et al., 2020); mothers from Black and migrant populations also frequently report less positive experiences of perinatal care (MBRRACE, 2022). For health services provision to provide suitable support and care it is essential that we understand such experiences if we are to offer more appropriate maternal services tailored to the needs of new parents and their babies (Malterud, 2001; Ockendon, 2022).

Transition to parenthood is a time of tremendous change which frequently goes unrecognised. Such experiences are often unacknowledged by busy professionals so that new parents feel their needs are unmet by the very health professionals involved in their care. This experience is complex and unique for every parent since the early environment of a baby’s life can affect both the future health and wellbeing of the family and child. This proposal calls for interested candidates to explore these perinatal mental health experiences of all parents (whether mothers, partners, LGBT+ families) to examine and research into how best we can develop new ways of working to enhance the provision of suitable care that is more acceptable to families, in order to optimise health services delivery during the perinatal period and beyond.