This chapter presents the second stage of the analysis and findings from an online survey investigating the experiences of 999 mothers during childbirth and their babies’ physiological wellbeing, behaviour and developing temperament. It discusses the implications of these findings for maternity and neonatal care. While Chap. 7 explored the relationships between childbirth, perinatal experiences and baby behaviour, here we will focus on uncovering which perinatal factors most predict positive or negative infant outcomes. Maternal confidence and postnatal mental health are also explored in relation to the birth experience and baby behaviour. While multiple physical and psychological childbirth and perinatal variables were associated with the baby’s wellbeing and behaviour from 0 to 6 months, the more subjective, psychological variables took precedence as the main predictors of most mother-and-baby outcomes. The study highlights the vital importance of protecting mothers’ psychological wellbeing during childbirth and the perinatal period. This includes ensuring that mothers and babies are nurtured by health professionals, who need to be given the time and space to provide adequate emotional as well as physical care to all mothers and babies both during and after childbirth.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Physical and Psychological Experiences of Childbirth and Baby Behaviour

  • Carmen Power

摘要

This chapter presents the second stage of the analysis and findings from an online survey investigating the experiences of 999 mothers during childbirth and their babies’ physiological wellbeing, behaviour and developing temperament. It discusses the implications of these findings for maternity and neonatal care. While Chap. 7 explored the relationships between childbirth, perinatal experiences and baby behaviour, here we will focus on uncovering which perinatal factors most predict positive or negative infant outcomes. Maternal confidence and postnatal mental health are also explored in relation to the birth experience and baby behaviour. While multiple physical and psychological childbirth and perinatal variables were associated with the baby’s wellbeing and behaviour from 0 to 6 months, the more subjective, psychological variables took precedence as the main predictors of most mother-and-baby outcomes. The study highlights the vital importance of protecting mothers’ psychological wellbeing during childbirth and the perinatal period. This includes ensuring that mothers and babies are nurtured by health professionals, who need to be given the time and space to provide adequate emotional as well as physical care to all mothers and babies both during and after childbirth.