Abstract
Women who are admitted to a mother–baby psychiatric unit during the postnatal period often experience ongoing difficulties after discharge and require support in the community. This study explored the experiences of women following discharge from a mother–baby unit and their use of services and supports in the community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight women who had been discharged from a mother–baby unit. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the lived experiences of these women, Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to examine the transcripts. The themes identified focused on the transition home from the mother–baby unit as a significant event, the experience of life in the community, and the complex decision-making process involved in community service use. This study provides greater insight into women’s experiences of managing life, motherhood, and mental health in the community and their use of recommended services. Results can inform future post-discharge and transition planning within mother–baby units and inpatient psychiatric facilities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abrams, L. S., Dornig, K., & Curran, L. (2009). Barriers to service use for postpartum depression symptoms among low-income ethnic minority mothers in the United States. Qualitative Health Research, 19, 535–551. doi:10.1177/1049732309332794.
Brunette, M. F., & Dean, W. (2002). Community mental health care for women with severe mental illness who are parents. Community Mental Health Journal, 38(2), 153–165.
Bybee, D., Mowbray, C. T., Oyserman, D., & Lewandowski, L. (2003). Variability in community functioning of mothers with serious mental illness. Journal of Behavioural Health Services and Research, 30(3), 269–289. doi:10.1007/BF02287317.
Dolman, C., Jones, I., & Howard, L. M. (2013). Pre-conception to parenting: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of the qualitative literature on motherhood for women with severe mental illness. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 16, 173–196. doi:10.1007/s00737-013-0336-0.
Gerson, L. D., & Rose, L. E. (2012). Needs of persons with serious mental illness following discharge from inpatient treatment: Patient and family views. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 26(4), 261–271. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2012.02.002.
Goodman, J. H., & Tyer-Viola, L. (2010). Detection, treatment, and referral of perinatal depression and anxiety by obstetrical providers. Journal of Women’s Health, 19(3), 477–490. doi:10.1089/jwh2008.1352.
Huff, E. D. (2000). Outpatient utilization patterns and quality outcomes after first acute episode of mental health hospitalisation: Is some better than none, and is more services associated with better outcome. Evaluation and the Health Professions, 23, 441–456. doi:10.1177/01632780022034714.
Loh, C. C., & Vostanis, P. (2004). Perceived mother–infant relationship difficulties in postnatal depression. Infant and Child Development, 13, 159–171. doi:10.1002/icd.347.
Manning, C., & Gregoire, A. (2008). Effects of parental mental illness on children. Psychiatry, 8(1), 7–9. doi:10.1016/j.mppsy.2008.10.012.
Nair, R., Bilszta, J., Salam, N., Shafira, N., & Buist, A. (2010). Client evaluation of a specialist inpatient parent–infant psychiatric service. Australasian Psychiatry, 18(6), 573–578. doi:10.3109/10398562.2010.499946.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. (2007). Antenatal and postnatal mental Heath: Clinical management and service guidance. NICE clinical guideline 45. Retrieved from http://www.depressionepreepostpartum.it/Documenti/Antenatal%20and%20postnatal%20mental%20health.pdf.
O’Connor, A. M. (1995). Validation of a decisional conflict scale. Medical Decision Making, 15(1), 25–30. doi:10.1177/0272989X9501500105.
Oates, M. (2003). Perinatal psychiatric syndromes: Clinical features. Psychiatry, 5(1), 5–9. doi:10.1383/psyt.2006.5.1.5.
Oyserman, D., Mowbray, C. T., Meares, P. A., & Firminger, K. B. (2000). Parenting among mothers with a serious mental illness. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70(3), 296–315. doi:10.1037/h0087733.
Oyserman, D., Mowbray, C. T., & Zemencuk, J. K. (1994). Resources and supports for mothers with severe mental illness. Health and Social Work, 19(2), 132–142.
Patient Decision Aids Research Group. (2014). Ottawa decision support framework. Retrieved from https://decisionaid.ohri.ca/odsf.html.
Price, S. K. (2010). Women’s use of multisector mental health services in a community-based perinatal depression program. Social Work Research, 34(3), 145–155. doi:10.1093/swr/34.3.145.
Sharma, V., & Mazmanian, D. (2003). Sleep loss and postpartum psychosis. Bipolar Disorders, 5, 98–105. doi:10.1034/j.1399-5618.2003.0015.x.
Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretive phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research. London: Sage.
Sved Williams, A., Ellershaw, S., Mader, L., & Sayfang, M. (2008). Working with severely mentally ill mothers and their infants in a mother–baby inpatient unit. In A. Sved Williams & V. Cowling (Eds.), Infants of parents with mental illness: Developmental, clinical, cultural and personal perspectives (pp. 25–44). Bowen Hills: Australian Academic Press.
Walton, G. D., Ross, L. E., Stewart, D. E., Grigoriadis, S., Dennis, C.-L., & Vigod, S. (2014). Decisional conflict among women considering antidepressant medication use in pregnancy. Archives of Women’s Mental Health, 17, 493–501. doi:10.1007/s00737-014-0448-1.
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank all the women who took time out of their busy lives to share their experience and participate in this study. Thank you also to the staff of Helen Mayo House, particularly Chris Yelland and Teresa Girke, for your support and assistance with the long process of recruitment.
Conflict of interest
There are no known conflicts of interest present in this research and the authors certify their responsibility for the conduct of the study and development of this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Connerty, T.J., Roberts, R. & Sved Williams, A. Managing Life, Motherhood and Mental Health After Discharge from a Mother–Baby Unit: An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Community Ment Health J 52, 954–963 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9867-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9867-3