The Psychological Processes of Childbearing

Description

Childbearing seems eternal, primordial and universal. Yet human reproduction in the 21st century is in a state of flux. This accessible book highlights dramatic changes that have occurred over the last decades, focusing on both individual and cross-cultural diversity across the now elongated childbearing cycle and the uniqueness of desire and emotional experience. It does so by locating the transition to parenthood in its psycho-sexual and socio-economic context, emphasising interweaving internal/external realities and our inherent interconnectedness with others. Included are conscious and unconscious factors determining beliefs, expectations and parenting practices, and ways in which these are affected by rapid urbanisation, shrinking families, societal instability, HIV, governmental maternity and child care policies, and attitudes of professionals. Drawing widely on empirical and clinical research from disparate disciplines psychoanalytic, neuro-scientific, neonatal, sociological, obstetric, anthropological and midwifery this resource book synthesises these to illustrate a spectrum of processes affecting each person's mental health. Cover Title Copyright Contents Update Section 2005 Introduction Psychosocial Process of Childbearing Revisited Sociocultural Backdrop Maternity Care Perinatal Emotional Disturbance Infant Mental Health Facilitator/Reciprocator/Regulator Model Author index Subject index Preface Acknowledgements Foreword Part One Pregnancy Expectation 1 The wish for a baby: psychosocial and cultural factors 2 Considering parenthood: cultural, sexual and ethnic variations 3 Prolonged infertility: psychodynamics and Psychological impact of diagnosis and treatment Part Two Pregnancy 4 Womb and world: the mother-to-be - common experience and cultural variations 5 Maturational phases 6 Facilitators, Regulators and Reciprocators: different approaches to pregnancy 7 Psychotherapy during pregnancy 8 The fetus: socio-cultural beliefs, maternal fantasies and fetal abilities 9 The professional as mediator between mother and fetus: antenatal care and assessment Part Three The Expectant Partner 10 The father-to-be: maturational phases 11 Participators and Renouncers and expectant fathers at risk 12 Lesbian partners Part Four Pregnancy as Transition to Parenthood 13 Anticipating parenthood: in the West and in other cultures 14 Readjusting family relationships 15 Re-evaluation of unconscious contracts and therapeutic opportunities 16 Health-care professionals as guides in the transition to motherhood Part Five Experiences of Labour and Birth 17 Anticipating childbirth: fears and fantasies; emotional, physical and practical preparation 18 The birthplace and birth process; across cultures in hospital and home 19 Uncomplicated spontaneous labour 20 Managed childbirth Part Six Coping with the Outcome 21 The newborn: parental responses and neonatal sensory and cognitive abilities 22 Early days: getting acquainted — unconscious identifications and gender differences 23 Postpartum professional care 24 First six weeks: differing patterns of maternal and paternal adjustment 25 First six weeks: dynamics between the parents 26 Siblings 27 Adolescent parents 28 Adoption Part Seven Complications 29 Interrupted pregnancies: abortions 30 Prebirth loss and pregnancy complications 31 Disruptions around birth: prematurity and illness, still-birth and perinatal loss 32 Postnatal complications: congenital abnormalities and critical conditions in infancy 33 Postnatal psychological complications References and notes Appendix A - 2004 Factors influencing breastfeeding Author index Subject index Appendix B- 2004 FRQ postnatal questionnaire Appendix C - 2004 PPQ Placental Paradigm questionnaire Appendix D - 2004 AMOM questionnaire