Fundamentals of Midwifery: A Textbook for Students (124 page)

PMI can occur at any point across the childbearing spectrum.

Healthcare practitioners need to accurately identify and effectively assess women’s mental
health status using the NICE guidelines, underpinned by an awareness of risk factors, sensitive questioning, effective listening and communication skills.

It is the ability to define normal and abnormal adjustment that is important.

Whilst it is critical to accurately assess women’s mental health status and needs, it is equally
important to avoid over-pathologising women’s emotional status in the perinatal period.

If these vulnerable women are identified, healthcare practitioners are ethically bound to ensure that adequate pathways for care are available.
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Conclusion
PMH has been thrust into the social spotlight since its lucid relationship with maternal mortalitywas identified. The impact of PMI is significant for the mother, baby and family as well as having wider public health consequences, yet detection and management are often sporadic and inequitable. The intensification of national policies and guidelines signal a drive and commit- ment from government to ensure that healthcare professionals address the issue of PMI. Accru- ing evidence highlights the support women and their families living with PMI require and deserve. The overarching aim of policy, national guidelines and research endeavour in this area is to better equip healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills to underpin accurate iden- tification of PMHP across the maternity spectrum, undertake appropriate assessment and effec- tively promote adequate, appropriate and available care pathways for women.
Further reading activityMartin, C.R. (2012)
Perinatal Mental Health: A Clinical Guide
. Keswick: M&K Publishing.Henshaw, C., Cox J., Barton, J. (2009)
Modern Management of Perinatal Psychiatric Disorders
.London: RCoP Press.
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Mental or emotional strain

A feeling of unease