Exploring emotional wellbeing in the perinatal period: A qualitative study in Australia

Background: The transition to motherhood is well-known as a significant event in the life span and improved mental health and emotional wellbeing are known to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. Maternal mental health is reported to positively impact pregnancy health outcomes, elevating levels of public health overall. However, misalignment exists between women’s perspectives and policy frameworks that govern healthcare. This study provides an opportunity to explore perspectives for the first time in Australia. The objective of the study was to explore women’s knowledge of recognizing emotional wellbeing and experiences of focused promotion in the perinatal period. Design and methods: A qualitative descriptive approach was adopted. Twenty-one women who were planning pregnancy, currently pregnant or raising children under 10 were recruited. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted and data analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Five themes were generated: Emotional Wellbeing is something we feel; Emotional Wellbeing is a state of being; The Impact of Environment; What Women Want and Perinatal Mental Health Literacy. Conclusions: Australian women define emotional wellbeing as the absence of illness, multidimensional and heavily shaped by the influence of social media, interpersonal relationships, and antenatal midwifery models of care. Findings show improving perinatal mental health literacy among women, families, and maternity care providers may enable earlier recognition and support for emotional wellbeing in the transition to motherhood. Further research is warranted to target knowledge and awareness of emotional wellbeing to support the development of a mentally healthy vocabulary for pregnant women and mothers.