PSYCHOPROPHYLAXIS EFFECT ON POSTPARTUM PERIOD
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v13.i7.2025.6243Keywords:
Psychoprophylaxis, Postpartum, Maternity Blues, LactationAbstract [English]
Introduction: Psychoprophylaxis during pregnancy has been associated with favorable labor outcomes. Nevertheless, less is known about its effect on postpartum period, when mood disorders and lactation problems may occur.
Aim: This narrative review refers to the effect of the psychoprophylaxis sessions during pregnancy on the postpartum period (puerperium)
Methods: A literature review was conducted using the international databases Medline/PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Only quantitative studies published in English language journals were included.
Results: Few studies have explored the effect of psychoprophylaxis on puerperium. Psychoprophylaxis was positively associated with successful breastfeeding and negatively associated with maternity blues. Sample selection was a limitation in all three studies included in this review.
Conclusions: Psychoprophylaxis may exert positive effects not only on labor outcomes, but also on post-partum period. Randomized control trials focusing especially on Lamaze method are necessary.
Downloads
References
Barber, C. C., & Starkey, N. J. (2015). Predictors of Anxiety Among Pregnant New Zealand Women Hospitalised for Complications and a Community Comparison Group. Midwifery, 31(9), 888–896. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2015.04.017 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2015.04.017
Beck, N. C., Geden, E. A., & Brouder, G. T. (1979). Preparation for Labor: A Historical Perspective. Psychosomatic Medicine, 41(3), 243–258. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-197905000-00007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-197905000-00007
Bjelica, A., & Kapor-Stanulović, N. (2004). Trudnoća Kao Psiholoski Dogadaj [Pregnancy as a psychological event]. Medicinski pregled, 57(3–4), 144–148. https://doi.org/10.2298/MPNS0404144B DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/MPNS0404144B
DongYing, F., Jie, Y., Rong, Z., QinFen, P., XiaoFeng, S., YuZhu, P., et al. (2012). Preoperative Psychoprophylactic Visiting Alleviates Maternal Anxiety and Stress and Improves Outcomes of Cesarean Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind and Controlled Trial. HealthMed, 6, 263–277. http://www.healthmedjournal.com/vol06-no1.pdf
Effati-Daryani, F., Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, S., Mirghafourvand, M., Taghizadeh, M., & Mohammadi, A. (2015). Effect of Lavender Cream With or Without Foot-Bath on Anxiety, Stress and Depression in Pregnancy: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial. Journal of Caring Sciences, 4(1), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.5681/jcs.2015.007
Fairbrother, N., Young, A. H., Janssen, P., Antony, M. M., & Tucker, E. (2015). Depression and Anxiety During the Perinatal Period. BMC Psychiatry, 15, 206. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0526-6 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-015-0526-6
Furler, I. K., Shield, B., & Poidevin, L. O. (1964). Psychoprophylactic Preparation for Childbirth. The Medical Journal of Australia, 1, 986–989. https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1964.tb127995.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.5694/j.1326-5377.1964.tb127995.x
Gao, L. L., Chan, S. W., Li, X., Chen, S., & Hao, Y. (2010). Evaluation of An Interpersonal-Psychotherapy-Oriented Childbirth Education Programme for Chinese First-Time Childbearing Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 47(10), 1208–1216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.03.002 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.03.002
Gjerdingen, D., McGovern, P., Attanasio, L., Johnson, P. J., & Kozhimannil, K. B. (2014). Maternal Depressive Symptoms, Employment, and Social Support. Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, 27(1), 87–96. https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2014.01.130126 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2014.01.130126
Lamaze, F. (1952). L'accouchement Sans Douleur. Setif. Hôpital Paris, 28, 301.
Lamaze, F., et al. (1954). Expérience Pratique à la Maternité Du Centre Pierre-Roques Sur la Méthode D'accouchement sans Douleur Par Psycho-Prophylaxie. Bulletin de l'Académie Française de Médecine (Paris), 138, 50.
Morales, V. N., Nader, J. D., Rodriguez, K., Mera, Y. P., & Martínez, C. H. (2020). Benefits and Difficulties of Obstetric Psychoprophylaxis in Pregnant Women, Guayas - Ecuador. International Journal of Research - Granthaalayah, 8(2), 14–18. https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v8.i2.2020.176 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29121/granthaalayah.v8.i2.2020.176
Natsiou, K., Karaoulanis, S. E., Dafopoulos, K., Garas, A., & Bonotis, K. (2023). The Effect of Socioeconomic Factors on Maternal Perinatal Depressive Symptoms and the Contribution of Group Prenatal Support as a Preventive Measure. Women's Health Reports, 4(1), 31–38. https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2022.0042 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1089/whr.2022.0042
Ntella, G. (2017). Psychoprophylaxis, Labor Outcome and Breastfeeding. International Journal of Caring Sciences, 10(1), 187–190.
Ortiz Collado, M. A., Saez, M., Favrod, J., & Hatem, M. (2014). Antenatal Psychosomatic Programming To Reduce Postpartum Depression Risk and Improve Childbirth Outcomes: A Randomized Controlled trial in Spain and France. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 14, 22. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-22 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2393-14-22
Pascal, R., Casas, I., Genero, M., Nakaki, A., Youssef, L., Larroya, M., Benitez, L., Gomez, Y., Martinez-Aran, A., Morilla, I., Oller-Guzmán, T. M., Martín-Asuero, A., Vieta, E., Crispi, F., Gratacos, E., Gomez-Roig, M. D., & Crovetto, F. (2023). Maternal stress, anxiety, well-being, and sleep quality in pregnant women throughout gestation. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(23), 7333. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237333 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12237333
Scott, J. R., & Rose, N. B. (1976). Effect of Psychoprophylaxis (Lamaze preparation) on Labor and Delivery in Primiparas. The New England Journal of Medicine, 294(22), 1205–1207. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197605272942203 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJM197605272942203
Simkin, P., & Bolding, A. (2004). Update on Nonpharmacologic Approaches To Relieve Labor Pain and Prevent Suffering. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 49(6), 489–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmwh.2004.07.007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1526-9523(04)00355-1
Wu, C., Ge, Y., Zhang, X., Du, Y., He, S., Ji, Z., & Lang, H. (2021). The Combined effects of Lamaze Breathing Training and Nursing Intervention on the Delivery in Primipara: A PRISMA Systematic Review meta-Analysis. Medicine, 100(4), e23920. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000023920 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000023920
Zwelling, E. (2000). The History of Lamaze Continues: An Interview With Elisabeth Bing. The Journal of Perinatal Education, 9(1), 15–21. https://doi.org/10.1624/105812400X87464 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1624/105812400X87464
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Konstantina Natsiou
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
With the licence CC-BY, authors retain the copyright, allowing anyone to download, reuse, re-print, modify, distribute, and/or copy their contribution. The work must be properly attributed to its author.
It is not necessary to ask for further permission from the author or journal board.
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.
