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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Psychiatry
Sec. Perinatal Psychiatry
Volume 15 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1385120

Perinatal continuity of care for mothers with subclinical depressive symptoms: Perspectives of mothers and clinicians

Provisionally accepted
Karlen R. Barr Karlen R. Barr 1,2Trisha A. Nguyen Trisha A. Nguyen 2Wendy Pickup Wendy Pickup 1,3Sara Cibralic Sara Cibralic 2Antonio Mendoza Diaz Antonio Mendoza Diaz 4Bryanne Barnett Bryanne Barnett 2Valsamma Eapen Valsamma Eapen 1,2*
  • 1 Infant Child Adolescent Mental Health Services, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia
  • 2 University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
  • 3 Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • 4 Tasmanian Health Service (THS), Hobart, Australia

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Mothers with mild to moderate depression in pregnancy are at risk of developing postpartum depression. Midwife-led continuity of care may support maternal mental health throughout the perinatal period. Research is needed to better understand how continuity of care may support mothers experiencing depression in pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate the perspectives of mothers with mild to moderate depression and clinicians regarding continuity of care in the perinatal period.Method: Fourteen mothers and clinicians participated in individual interviews or a focus group.Analysis was conducted using inductive reflexive thematic analysis with a constructivist orientation.Results: From the perspectives of mothers and clinicians, continuity of care during the antenatal period benefitted mothers' mental health by providing connection and rapport, information about pregnancy and referral options, and reassurance about whether pregnancy symptoms were normal. The experience of seeing multiple clinicians was noted by mothers to increase distress while participants discussed the value of extending continuity of care into the postpartum period, including having someone familiar checking in on them. The importance of having a second opinion and not always relying on a single provider during pregnancy was highlighted by some mothers and clinicians. Mothers also described how multiple modes of communication with a midwife can be helpful, including the ease and accessibility of text or email.Mothers and clinicians perceived benefits of continuity of care for maternal mental health. Offering midwife-led continuity of care to mothers with mild to moderate depression during the perinatal period is recommended.

    Keywords: continuity of care, perinatal, antenatal, Midwife, Pregnancy, Depression

    Received: 12 Feb 2024; Accepted: 26 Aug 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Barr, Nguyen, Pickup, Cibralic, Mendoza Diaz, Barnett and Eapen. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Valsamma Eapen, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, New South Wales, Australia

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.