THUNAI"A child is a blessing; every mother should enjoy the pregnancy and caring for the infant".
But this is not the reality for at least 1 out of 5 mothers (and possibly 1 out of 10 fathers). Pregnancy and child birth are challenging both physically and mentally. Some parents may not have the resources (financial or mental) to deal with the challenges and may become overwhelmed.
Fathers too may be impacted - they may worry about financial aspects or about their spouse's welfare.
Some have arrived at this point after many attempts and may be under the care of an IVF clinic. These are stressful times.
A recent systematic review among women from low and middle-income countries estimated that about one in six pregnant women and one in five new mothers experience symptoms. In a study in rural Tamil Nadu, the incidence of postpartum depression (PPD) alone was 11%. Depression, anxiety and stress commonly occur during pregnancy.
Chart Prevalence of Perinatal Depression
Instead of burying our heads in the sand, we can help the mothers and fathers to be better equipped and better prepared for their baby steps in their parental journey!
By caring for the mother’s overall well-being, we can have a positive impact on the mother’s ability to care for her infant and the development of her child. When timely intervention is provided to the mothers the risk of mental/ emotional issues can be minimised. This also lays the foundation for the well-being of the child (both mental and physical) into its adulthood.