Abstract

GUERRA, Maria João; BRAGA, Maria Clara; QUELHAS, Isabel  and  SILVA, Rosa. Promotion of mental health in pregnancy and postpartum. Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental [online]. 2014, n.spe1, pp.117-124. ISSN 1647-2160.

Each woman lives pregnancy as a unique experience that involves several changes:  mental, physical, physiological, social and emotional. Becoming a mother is normally a healthy process, however, there are some deviations from normality that can, through early screening, be properly monitored and not bringing consequences both for the pregnant/mother and son. Nurses have a key role since pregnancy planning, monitoring and postpartum, doing the screening risk situations and promoting an action plan to minimize the adverse effects. In order to understand which are the risk factors for mental health and well being of pregnant and postpartum women, as well as the findings on the strategies of promoting mental health of the population, a integrative literature review was done and 12 items were selected, which constituted our sample. There were identified multiple risk factors and some strategies promoting mental health. However, studies showed the need of the increasing awareness on the issue of mental health in this period of a woman's life, in understanding phenomena that affect and the strategies that promote mental health.

Keywords : Nursing; Pregnancy; Maternal welfare; Mental health.

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