Development and validation of the maternal blues scale through bonding attachments in predicting postpartum blues

The effect of music played to new birth mothers on postpartum blues: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Postpartum blues/postpartum maternal blues is a psychological disorder experienced by mothers with symptoms of postpartum sadness, easy crying, easy anxiety, sensitivity, indecisiveness. The study aimed to examine the effect of music played on newly delivered mothers on postpartum blues.

METHODS

A prospective, two-arm, randomized controlled study was conducted on n = 82 (41 = control, 41 = music group) mothers who gave birth at term in Trakya University Health Research and Application Center Maternity Service between May and December 2023. The research data were collected through the Personal Information Form, Stein Blues Scale (SBS), and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). The scales used in the study were evaluated four times: postoperative 0-3 h, 12th, 24th, and 36th hours.

RESULTS

The postoperative 0-3 h SBS test median of the new mothers in the music group was 19.00, and the 36th hours test median was 2.00, while the postoperative 0-3 h SBS test median of the control group was 21.00, and the 36th hour test median was 13.00. The postoperative 0-3 h EPDS test median of the new mothers in the music group was 22.00, and the 36th hours test median was 0.00, while the postoperative 0-3 h EPDS test median of the control group was 26.00, and the 36th hours test median was 10.00. A significant difference was found in the 12th, 24th, and 36th hours (p < .001). A statistically significant high positive correlation was found between EPDS and SBS in the 12th, 24th, and 36th hours (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In the study, it was found that music played to newly delivered mothers reduced postpartum blues and depression levels.

REGISTRATION

The submission date for a clinical trial protocol is prior to completing participant recruitment and for a systematic review, prior to completing full paper screening. NCT06252155.

Maternity Blues: A Narrative Review

Puerperium is a period of great vulnerability for the woman, associated with intense physical and emotional changes. Maternity blues (MB), also known as baby blues, postnatal blues, or post-partum blues, include low mood and mild, transient, self-limited depressive symptoms, which can be developed in the first days after delivery. However, the correct identification of this condition is difficult because a shared definition and well-established diagnostic tools are not still available. A great heterogenicity has been reported worldwide regarding MB prevalence. Studies described an overall prevalence of 39%, ranging from 13.7% to 76%, according to the cultural and geographical contexts. MB is a well-established risk factor for shifting to more severe post-partum mood disorders, such as post-partum depression and postpartum psychosis. Several risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms which could provide the foundation of MB have been the object of investigations, but only poor evidence and speculations are available until now. Taking into account its non-negligible prevalence after childbirth, making an early diagnosis of MB is important to provide adequate and prompt support to the mother, which may contribute to avoiding evolutions toward more serious post-partum disorders. In this paper, we aimed to offer an overview of the knowledge available of MB in terms of definitions, diagnosis tools, pathophysiological mechanisms, and all major clinical aspects. Clinicians should know MB and be aware of its potential evolutions in order to offer the most timely and effective evidence-based care.

The Impact of Perceived Social Support During Pregnancy on Postpartum Infant-Focused Anxieties: A Prospective Cohort Study of Mothers in Northern Jordan

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the association between perceived social support during pregnancy and levels of anxiety among postpartum women using an anxiety-specific screening instrument.

Methods

Using a prospective cohort design, a two-stage methodology was conducted to collect data from women seeking maternal care at the King Abdullah University Hospital in northern Jordan. In the first stage, perceived social support was assessed among pregnant women using the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey. During the first six months after childbirth, postpartum women were contacted to complete the second stage, wherein their perceptions of infant-focused anxieties were assessed using the Postpartum Specific Anxiety Scale. In our study, two types of infant-focused anxieties were investigated among a final sample of 419 mothers: infant safety and welfare anxieties and practical infant care anxieties.

Results

The results of multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that providing pregnant women with high levels of emotional support from close social networks (β= −0.08, p= 0.01) and perceiving informational support from health care providers (β= −0.71, p< 0.01) were protective factors for reducing the levels of postpartum anxiety concerning infant safety and welfare. Our findings also demonstrated that pregnant mothers who perceived high informational support from health care providers had a lower level of postpartum anxiety about practical infant care (β= −0.20, p< 0.01). In contrast, mothers who reported receiving high tangible support from close social networks during pregnancy had a significantly higher level of perceived anxiety concerning practical infant care after delivery (β= 0.13, p= 0.02).

Conclusion

Our study suggests that postpartum anxiety would be reduced if effective informational support were readily available for pregnant women. There is a clear need for building bridges between women, their families, and providers to distinguish the specific type and amount of support that should be provided to mothers during pregnancy.