Clues obtained at a 2-week postpartum checkup for a midwife to determine the need for mental and emotional health support for a first-time parenting mother

Abstract

Objective : The aim of this study was to clarify clues obtained at a 2-week postpartum checkup for a midwife to determine the need for mental and emotional health support for a first-time parenting mother.

Methods : Qualitative descriptive research with semi-structured one-to-one interviews was conducted for 13 midwives who conducted 2-week postpartum checkups in Japan.

Results : The main clues reported by the midwives for determining the need for mental support were （1） different clothes than usual worn by the mother, （2） state of packing and preparation by the mother for the checkup, （3） mother’s facial expressions and speech tendencies, （4） relationship of support recipients and support givers and （5） feelings shown by the mother for the baby.

Conclusions : At the 2-week postpartum checkup, midwives assessed the mother’s mental and emotional health using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Questionnaire （EPDS）. The midwives also took note of the mother’s attire and the behavior of the mother when entering the checkup room and they assessed the need for mental support through conversation with the mother and observations of the mother’s responses to her baby. The clues revealed in this study should lead to accurate judgment of the need for mental health support through having an understanding of the mother by providing continuous support from the time of pregnancy until delivery and through the postpartum period. The results of this study indicate the importance of continuous care provided by midwives.