Psychological Care for Families (eBook)

Front Cover 1
Psychological Care for Families: Before, During and After Birth 4
Copyright Page 5
Table of Contents 8
Dedication 6
Foreword 10
Preface 12
Acknowledgements 15
Introduction: In the beginning is the family 16
The family 16
Psychological care 18
Psychological care for the carers 19
Reference 20
Chapter 1. Pregnancy 22
The mother's adjustment to pregnancy 22
The father's adjustment to pregnancy 29
Relationship changes during pregnancy 30
The fetus 32
The effects of psychological distress during pregnancy 34
Social support during pregnancy 35
Alleviation of psychological distress during pregnancy 37
Overview and summary 47
Further reading 49
References 50
Chapter 2. Birth 55
Stress and anxiety in childbirth 55
Pain in childbirth 59
Preparation for childbirth 70
Coping with childbirth 82
Social support in childbirth 88
The father's experience of childbirth 96
Overview and summary 101
Further reading 105
References 105
Chapter 3. Immediate postnatal period 110
The mother's experience 110
The baby's abilities 120
Mother-infant interaction 123
The father 129
Overview and summary 135
Further reading 138
References 138
Chapter 4. When things go wrong 143
Caesarian birth 143
Childbirth as a traumatic experience 147
Miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death 150
The birth of a handicapped* child 165
Premature birth, neonatal care and the separation of mother and baby 170
Overview and summary 182
Further reading 184
References 185
Chapter 5. The early months 190
The mother 190
The father 196
Relationship changes in the postnatal period 203
Adjustment in siblings 207
Difficulties in adjustment 209
Adult-infant interaction 210
Overview and summary 218
Further reading 219
References 219
Chapter 6. Problems 223
The mother 223
The father 237
Siblings 238
Consequences of serious psychological distress in mothers, fathers and siblings during the postnatal period 239
The baby 245
Problems in mother-infant interaction 248
Consequences of disrupted mother-infant interaction 252
Overview and summary 256
Further reading 258
References 258
Epilogue: Caring for and caring about 262
Appendix: Sources of support and advice 266
Index 268