Mothers' emotional needs and difficulties after childbirth

To set up and evaluate weekly group sessions for mothers experiencing difficulties after childbirth.

These sessions were held at Barwon Region Child Health Centre in Geelong, Victoria, with input from a general practitioner and a clinical psychologist.

Questionnaires confirmed the group sessions were effective in allaying the mothers' concerns about their babies' health, and that the mothers had low self esteem. Records of the meetings indicated that mothers were mainly concerned about their babies' health, anxiety, lifestyle changes, depression, relationship problems, their own health, the birth experience and lack of support. Social factors often predisposed mothers to these problems.

There is clearly scope for the general practitioner to be involved in the diagnosis and management of postnatal problems and group sessions are an effective way of achieving this.