Effects of Preeclampsia on Birth Perception and Postpartum Depression Among Women of Infants in Neonatal Intensive...

To examine the effects of preeclampsia on birth perception and postpartum depression (PPD) among women with infants admitted into a NICU.

A cross-sectional, descriptive study.

An online platform recruited participants across the United States.

Of 877 participants, 367 reported preeclampsia with current/past infants in the NICU.

Participants took part via an online researcher-developed website. They rated their perception of birth and completed the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Descriptive statistics revealed characteristics of the sample. Linear regression examined relationships between the variables and the predictive ability of preeclampsia and mental health.

A high number of women reported preeclampsia and past or current depression. Significant relationships between preeclampsia, birth perception, gestational age, and birth mode were found. Regression analysis revealed preeclampsia to have significant but little effect (1.7% variance) on birth perception and a nonsignificant effect on PPD. Additional analysis showed that gestational age, birth mode, and PPD together explained 18.9% of the variance for birth perception, and birth perception explained 4.8% of the variance for PPD.

Little noted variance implies that many other factors impact birth perception and PPD other than preeclampsia, thus additional research is suggested. However, noted relationships can help guide necessary assessments, inquiries, and education. For high-risk women, a more positive birth perception and the best mental and physical health outcomes can be promoted via an interdisciplinary team of maternal-child health, mental health, and medical providers for immediate and follow-up assessments and monitoring.