We examined psychological status, such as stressor, anxiety, and depression after receiving the genetic counseling for NIPT in the view point of ART. We subjected 529 pregnant women who wished NIPT and answered to the questionnaire after receiving the genetic counseling between June 2014 and February 2015. The subjects were sub-classified into two groups : one is spontaneous pregnancy (Ngroup) and another is artificial pregnancy through ART (ARTgroup). The questionnaire included a psychosocial factor evaluation tag named HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) and stressVAS. This study was approved by institutional Ethics Committee. Answers of 529 pregnant women were collected, and classified into ARTgroup (n=121) and Ngroup (n=288). The average age, in ARTgroup were significantly higher than that in Ngroup.

The gestational weeks of testing in ARTgroup was significantly earlier than in Ngroup. We could not observe any significant difference in the psychosocial factors, in both HADS-A, and HADS-D. Levels of stressVAS in ARTgroup was slightly higher than Ngroup. These findings indicated that genetic counseling, including psychological supports should be provided to pregnant women who get pregnant through ART.

It is said that many postpartum mothers are suffered from postpartum depression or maternity blues or child rearing stress. It means that effective intervention for mental and physical health of mothers and children is desired. It is clear that mental health during pregnancy is one of the reasons which leads postpartum depression. It is important for pregnant women as well as pregnant women, to clarify mental health during pregnancy, and to relieve depressive symptoms and reduce stress. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship among depression, stress coping and help-seeking with 49 pregnant women (average age 31.82 years old). From the results of EPDS, 18% of participants had the possibility of depression. In addition, participants with high scores of EPDS were significantly low in “seeking support for husband” and “seeking support for acquaintance”, and significantly high in “avoidance and giving up” and “concerning for being supported”. As a result of stratified multiple regression analysis, it became clear that “seeking for support of husband” was a factor which influence on depression tendency. As depression symptoms were recognized in about 20% of pregnant women, it was important to relieve the depression of pregnant women. It was suggested that the intervention to increase support-seeking behavior was associated with reduce depressive symptom. It is considered that depression reduction during pregnancy is effective not only for pregnant women but also for postpartum depression prevention.

【Objective】Postpartum psychological problems are serious conditions which show the importance of public health. This study uses the “Houmon Kanngo Rennraku Hyou (home visit nursing care form)”: through which public health nurses may be able to identify the high-risk families. The purpose of this study is to recognize the presence or absence of a mother’s psychological problems from using this form.

【Method】From 01/04/2015 to 31/03/2016, 634 pregnant women underwent labor management at our hospital. Of which 99 postpartum mothers with babies with high risk had the form submitted, which were used for this analysis. The form has been divided into 4 groups of reasoning : baby’s problems, mother’s illness, psychological problems and social problems.

【Result】There were 43 cases due to psychological problems, of which 33 had anxiety to take care of the baby for the first time. There were also 41 cases due to the baby’s problems, 55 cases due to the mother’s health issues and 33 cases due to social problems. This shows that most of them had overlapping reasons.

【Discussion】There were no isolated cases with only postpartum psychological problems. For that reason, we would suggest that the “Houmon Kanngo Rennraku Hyou” needs a separate blank space for noting the mother’s care-related psychological problems. Most of the cases overlapped with each other. In our center, taking care of the families is not only the OB-GYN’s duty, but also other doctors, nurses and medical social workers are working together as a team for taking care of the families.

【Conclusion】We meet face-to-face and hold regular monthly meetings and we provide care to mothers and their families who need help working with the local governments and public nurses. Nowadays, local governments have one-stop-centers which continuously provide help to prenatal families up to families with elementary school children to deal with child-related issues.

Aims : To investigate the changes in the depression status of mothers and fathers from birth until 1 month postpartum, and examine influencing factors.

Methods : A questionnaire survey was conducted involving 376 couples in the early postpartum period and at 1 month postpartum. Questionnaire items included : basic attributes, feelings during pregnancy, satisfaction with birth, the presence or absence of parenting anxiety, and depression status (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) ). Subjects who scored lower and higher than 9 on the EPDS were divided into “normal” and “suspected postpartum depression” groups, respectively.

Results : Responses were obtained from 307 mothers and 218 fathers. Subjects who were suspected of having postpartum depression in the early postpartum period and at 1 month postpartum accounted for 12.4 and 16.8% of mothers and 3.7 and 6.9% of fathers, respectively. In both mothers and fathers, a moderate positive correlation was observed between the EPDS score measured in the early postpartum period and that measured at 1 month postpartum (mother : r=.524 ; father : r=.480). In the early postpartum period, the higher percentage of mothers with suspected postpartum depression responded that they had “experienced emotional instability” with regard to “feelings during pregnancy”, and a significantly lower percentage of them were “satisfied” with “birth”, compared with mothers in the normal group. At 1 month postpartum, a significantly higher percentage of mothers with suspected postpartum depression had “parenting anxiety” and “financial anxiety” and provided “a combination of breastfeeding and formula”, compared with mothers in the normal group. The percentage of fathers who had “parenting anxiety” at 1 month postpartum was also significantly higher in those with suspected postpartum depression than those in the normal group.

Conclusions : A correlation was observed between depression in the early postpartum period and that at 1 month postpartum in both fathers and mothers, suggesting the need to provide emotional support not only to mothers, but also to fathers who provide important support for mothers, from the early postpartum period.