Mothers' experiences of postnatal depression: an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Despite current attempts by health professionals to detect postnatal depression, some mothers remain reluctant to disclose their true feelings. This qualitative report aims to explore the thoughts and feelings held by mothers who suffered postnatal depression in order to promote understanding of the condition. Unstructured interviews were conducted with 10 new mothers, and transcripts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Participants reported several commonly endorsed themes including difficulties associated with telling people about their thoughts and feelings, unrealistic expectations of motherhood, beliefs around being a bad mum and issues around attachment. Other themes were less commonly endorsed but offered new information to increase current understanding of the experiences of women suffering postnatal depression. Such themes included feeling unjustified in being depressed, self-doubt, and thoughts that someone in their family might die. The findings offer a valuable insight into the experience and perceptions of mothers suffering with postnatal depression. It is suggested that clinicians working with perinatal women should be proactive in routinely offering information about postnatal depression and of help available, as well as providing appropriate reassurance about the consequences of disclosure.