Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Postnatal care: a cross-cultural and historical perspective

  • Review Article
  • Published:
Archives of Women's Mental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Childbirth and the immediate postpartum period represent a major transition in a woman’s life. This period is considered a vulnerable time for the mother and child in most societies, and rituals for this transition are common. In this study, we present some examples of postpartum customs in a cross-cultural and historical perspective. Also, we present the current knowledge on the possible impact of postnatal care on mental health. Systematic literature searches were performed in Medline, PsycINFO, and the Science Citation Index Expanded (ISI) for the time period 1966 through May 2010. Reference lists in books on pregnancy and childbirth from the University Library in Oslo were used to obtain additional information. We found that the postnatal period seems to be universally defined as 40 days. Most cultures have special postnatal customs, including special diet, isolation, rest, and assistance for the mother. The uniformity of customs across different cultures is striking. However, many postnatal customs that were common before 1950 are no longer existent. The focus on rest and assistance for the mother after delivery has gradually decreased. Studies of associations of postnatal care and mental health in the mother are limited and show inconsistent results. More knowledge is needed on postnatal care and mental health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Appleby L (1991) Suicide during pregnancy and in the first postnatal year. Br Med J 302:137–140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Babin E (1933) Der Selbstmord der Frau in Beziehung zur menstruation und Gravidität, thesis. Breslau

  • Barne- og likestillingsdepartementet (2009) Farskap og annen morskap. Fastsettelse og endring av foreldreskap. Oslo; 2009. Report No.: 2009:5

  • Beck CT (2001) Predictors of postpartum depression - —An an update. Nurs Res 50:275–285

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Becker AE (1998) Postpartum illness in Fiji: a sociosomatic perspective. Psychosom Med 60:431–438

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beitzke H (1938) Pathologisch-anatomische Untersuchungen an Selbstmördern. Wien Klin Wochenschr 51:625–628

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergsjø P (1993) African intermezzo: home birth, Masai style. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 72:597–598

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bina R (2008) The impact of cultural factors upon postpartum depression: a literature review. [Review] [43 refs]. Health Care Women Int 29:568–592

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blom I (1988) "“Den haarde dyst"” fødsler og fødselshjelp gjennom 150 år.J.W. Cappelens Forlag AS, Bergen

    Google Scholar 

  • Brand SR, Brennan PA (2009) Impact of antenatal and postpartum maternal mental illness: how are the children? Clin Obstet Gynecol 52:441–455

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cooper PJ, Murray L, Stein A (1993) Psychosocial factors associated with early termination of breast-feeding. J Psychosom Res 37:171–176

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cox J (1986) Postnatal depression- —a guide for health professionals. Churchill Livingston, Edinburgh

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox JL (1988) The life event of childbirth: sociocultural aspects of postnatal depression. In: Kumar R, Brockington I (eds) Motherhood and mental illness 2: Causes and Consequencesconsequences. John Wright, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Cox JL, Connor Y, Kendell RE (1982) Prospective study of the psychiatric disorders of childbirth. Br J Psychiatry 140:111–117

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di MV, Kent A, Fiander M, Lawrence J (2008) Recovery from postnatal depression: a consumer's perspective. Arch Womens Ment Health 11:253–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas M (2003) Purity and danger: an analysis of concepts of pollution and taboo, vol 2 ed. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Dowswell T, Piercy J, Hirst J, Hewison J, Lilford R (1997) Short postnatal hospital stay: implications for women and service providers. J Public Health Med 19:132–136

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eberhard-Gran M, Eskild A, Opjordsmoen S, Schei B (2000) Barselomsorg: søvn, hvile og tilfredshet. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen 12:1405–1408

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberhard-Gran M, Eskild A, Tambs K, Samuelsen S, Opjordsmoen S (2002) Depression in postpartum and non-postpartum women: prevalence and risk factors. Acta Psychiatr Scand 105:426–433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eggerud I, Eriksson T (1991) Barnmorskor. Landsarkivet, Nyköping

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisenbruch M (2000) Cambodian concepts of perinatal mental disorder. In: Skultans V, Cox JL (eds) Anthropological approaches to psychological medicine: crossing bridges. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Elo O (1931) Über Selbstmorde und Selbstmörder in Finnland. Deutsche Zeitschrift für geamte gerichtliche Medizin 17:348–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forman M, Hundt G, Towne D, Graubard B, Sullivan B, Berendes H, Sarov B, Naggan L (1990) The forty-day rest period and infant feeding practices among Negev Bedouin Arab women in Israel. Med Anthropol 12:207–216

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gaviria M, Stern G, Schensul S (1982) Sociocultural factors and perinatal health in a Mexican-American community. J Natl Med Assoc 74:983–989

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • George J, Annas J (1995) Women and children first. N Engl J Med 24:1647–1651

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghubash R, Abou-Saleh MT, Daradkeh TK (1997) The validity of the Arabic Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 32:474–476

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gottlieb A (1989) Rethinking female pollution: The beng of Côte d'ivoire. Dialect Anthropol 14:65–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haram K, Gjengstø A, Brunstad A (1998) Barseltiden. In: Bergsjø P, Maltau J, Molne K, Nesheim B-I (eds) Obstetrikk: 259. Universitetsforlaget AS, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Hauger TT (1984) Krestiane Kristiania. Gyldendal Norsk Forlag A/S, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Heller A (1900) Zur Lehre vom Selbstmorde nach 300 Sectionen. Münch Med Wochenschr 47:1653–1658

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickey AR, Boyce PM, Ellwood D, Morris-Yates AD (1997) Early discharge and risk for postnatal depression [see comments]. Med J Aust 167:244–247

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hoddinott P, Pill R, Hood K (2000) Identifying which women will stop breastfeeding before three months in primary care: a pragmatic study. Br J Gen Pract 50:888–891

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Högberg U (1999) Förlossningsgudinnans återkomst "“tillbaka till naturen med lite hjelp". Lakartidningen 96:61–67

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Holck P (1995) Livets høytider: skikker og overtro fra vugge til grav. Cappelens Forlag, AS

    Google Scholar 

  • Jimenez M, Newton N (1979) Activity and work serving pregnancy and the postpartum period: a cross-cultural study of 202 societies. Am J Obstet Gynecol 135:171–176

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly J (1967) The influence of native costums on obstetrics in Nigeria. Obstet Gynecol 30:608–612

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kjærheim K (1980) Mellom kloke koner og hvitkledde menn. Det norske jordmorvesenet på 1800-tallet

  • Kneuper E (2004) Mutterwerden in Deutschland. Eine ethnologische Studie. Münster. LIT Verlag, Münster

    Google Scholar 

  • Kumar R, Robson KM (1984) A prospective study of emotional disorders in child-bearing women. Br J Psychiatry 144:35–47

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kvideland R, Sehmsdorf HK (1991) Scandinavian folk belief and legend. Norwegian University Press, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer A, Campero L, Garcia C, Reynoso S (1998) Effects of psychosocial support during labour and childbirth on breastfeeding, medical interventions, and mothers' wellbeing in a Mexican public hospital: a randomised clinical trial. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 105:1056–1063

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lee DTS, Yip ASK, Leung TYS, Chung TKH (2004) Ethnoepidemiology of postnatal depression: Prospective multivariate study of sociocultural risk factors in a Chinese population in Hong Kong. Br J Psychiatry 184:34–40

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liestøl K, Rosenberg M, Walloe L (1988) Breast-feeding practice in Norway 1860-1984. J Biosoc Sci 20:45–58

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • MacArthur C, Winter H, Bick D, Knowles H, Lilford R, Henderson C, Lancashire R, Braunholtz D, Gee H (2002) Effects of redesigned community postnatal care on womens' health 4 months after birth: a cluster randomised controlled trial. Lancet 359:378–385

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mead M, Newton N (1967) Cultural patterning of perinatal behaviour. In: Richardson S, Guttmacher A (eds) Childbearing: its social and psychological aspects. Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Medisinsk fødselsregister (2008) Liggetid. 2008

  • Medisinsk fødselsregister (2009) Fødested. http://mfr-nesstar.uib.no/mfr/

  • Nock MK, Borges G, Bromet EJ, Cha CB, Kessler RC, Lee S (2008) Suicide and suicidal behavior. Epidemiol Rev 30:133–154

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara M (1986) Social support, life events, and depression during pregnancy and the puerperium. Arch Gen Psychiatry 43:569–573

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara MW (1997) The nature of postpartum depressive disorders. In: Murray L, Cooper PJ (eds) Postpartum depression and child development. The Guildford Press, New York, pp 3–31

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Hara MW, Swain AM (1996) Rates and risk of postpartum depression-a meta-analysis. Int Rev Psychiatry: 37-54

  • O'Hara MW, Schlechte J, Lewis D, Varner M (1991) Controlled prospective study of postpartum mood disorders: psychological, environmental, and hormonal variables. J Abnorm Psychol 99:3–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okano T, Nomura J, Kumar R, Kaneko E, Tamaki R, Hanafusa I, Hayashi M, Matsuyama A (1998) An epidemiological and clinical investigation of postpartum psychiatric illness in Japanese mothers. J Affect Disord 48:233–240

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oretti RG, Harris B, Lazarus JH, Parkes AB, Crownshaw T (2003) Is there an association between life events, postnatal depression and thyroid dysfunction in thyroid antibody positive women? Int J Soc Psychiatry 49:70–76

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Øverby NC, Kristiansen AL, Andersen LF (2008) Lande B (2008) Spedkost 6 måneder. Helsedirektoratet, Mattilsynet og Universitetet i Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Palladius P (1911) Visitatsbog, gengiven med Nutidens Skrivemaade, samt med Inledning og Oplysninger ved G. Rosenberg, København

    Google Scholar 

  • Paykel E, Emms E, Fletcher J, Rassaby E (1980) Life events and social support in puerperal depression. Br J Psychiatry 136:339–346

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pillsbury B (1978) "“Doing the month"”: confinement and convalescence of Chinese women after childbirth. Soc Sci Med 12:11–22

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Playfair H, Gowers J (1981) Depression following childbirth- a search for predictive signs. J R Coll Gen Pract 31:201–208

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Price NS, Brink S (2008) The Viking world. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Reichborn-Kjennerud I, Grøn F, Kobro I (1985) Medisinens historie i Norge. Kildeforlaget, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson G, Olmsted M, Garner D (1989) Predictors of postpartum adjustment. Acta Psychiatr Scand 80:561–565

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Skjelbred A (1972) Uren og hedning. Universitetsforlaget, Oslo, Bergen, Tromsø

    Google Scholar 

  • Snorri S, Hødnebø F, Magerøy H, Holtsmark A, Seip DA (2003) Heimskringla. Gyldendal, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Sogner Sl, Sandvik H (2003) I gode og vonde dagar: familieliv i Noreg frσ reformasjonen til vσr tid. Samlaget, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistisk sentralbyrå (1961) Dødeligheten og dens årsaker i Norge 1856-1955. Statistisk sentralbyrå, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Statistisk sentralbyrå (2008) KOSTRA. 2008

  • Stein A, Gath DH, Bucher J, Bond A, Day A, Cooper PJ (1991) The relationship between post-natal depression and mother-child interaction. Br J Psychiatry 158:46–52

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stern G, Kruckman L (1983) Multidisciplinary perspectives on postpartum depression: an antroplogical critique. Soc Sci Med 17:1027–1041

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundt Eilert (1855) Dødeligheden i Norge: bidrag til kundskab om folkets kaar. P.T. Mallings Bogtrykkeri, Christiania

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson B, Fraser C, Hewitt A, Skipper D (1989) Having a first baby-—experiences in 1951 and 1985 compared. Aberdeen University Press, Aberdeen

    Google Scholar 

  • Troels-Lund (1940) Fødsel og dåp. Daglig liv i Norden: 561-771. Gyldendal Norsk Forlag, Oslo

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner VW (1995) The ritual process: structure and anti-structure. Aldine de Gruyter, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Gennep A (1943) Manuel de folklore de français. Paris

  • Vangen S, Bergsjø P (2003) Dør mor av graviditet idag? Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening x: x

  • Watson JP, Elliot SA, Rugg AJ (1984) Psychiatric disorder in pregnancy and the first postnatal year. Br J Psychiatry 144:453–462

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida K, Marks M, Kibe N, Kumar R, Nakano H, Tashiro N (1997) Postnatal depression in Japanese women who have given birth in England. J Affect Disord 43:69–77

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida K, Yamashita H, Ueda M, Tashiro N (2001) Postnatal depression in Japanese mothers and the reconsideration of '‘Satogaeri bunben'. Pediatr Int 43:189–193

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychosomatics and Health Behaviour, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Post Box 4404, Nydalen, 0403, Oslo, Norway

    Malin Eberhard-Gran, Susan Garthus-Niegel & Anne Eskild

  2. Health Services Research Centre, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Malin Eberhard-Gran & Susan Garthus-Niegel

  3. Department of Health Surveillance and Prevention, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Post Box 4404, Nydalen, 0403, Oslo, Norway

    Kristian Garthus-Niegel

  4. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Medical Faculty Division, Akershus University Hospital, Oslo, Norway

    Anne Eskild

Authors
  1. Malin Eberhard-Gran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Susan Garthus-Niegel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Kristian Garthus-Niegel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Anne Eskild
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Susan Garthus-Niegel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Eberhard-Gran, M., Garthus-Niegel, S., Garthus-Niegel, K. et al. Postnatal care: a cross-cultural and historical perspective. Arch Womens Ment Health 13, 459–466 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0175-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-010-0175-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation