A new study has found that couples may benefit from a “before baby” check-up to make sure they don’t suffer from any perinatal mental health struggles. Having a baby is a big life change, and it can affect any couple who is trying to conceive, or who is pregnant with a baby.
A baby can change your entire life, and it is normal that couples will “lose” themselves when they are expecting a baby, and then when the baby comes. Work is always being done to look at how the professional world can help couples cope with these changes, and make sure their mental health is intact.
According to Medical Xpress, a new study has been done that has found that a relationship check-up before a baby arrives can help couples cope with perinatal stress. This study was done by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and it can be read in full here.
It found that medical providers should be checking in with couples who are expecting a baby during prenatal OB visits because it is showing promise at strengthening relationships, and it may reduce the risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
Tiffany Moore Simas, one of the researchers on the study, stated that having a baby may actually be one of the most stressful things that happens in a relationship, and it would be an ideal world if it was talked about and acknowledged more by medical professionals. It would also be a great time to give people the skills and tools they need to succeed.
The reason this may be so successful is that one of the risk factors for perinatal depression was not having a partner who was supportive. If they can address these problems, they may be able to mitigate them and there can be benefits felt for both parties. The study enrolled 10 couples, and they recruited them from a larger study that was done.
The researchers stated that this is important because the well-being of our relationships is directly connected to a person’s psychological health. If they are not taking care of each other, and their mind and they have to deal with this huge life change, it can cause stress and anxiety. The goal is to make sure the risks are as low as possible, and making sure your relationship is healthy may be the first step, and experts are stating that this needs to be encouraged.
Sources: Medical Xpress, Springer Link