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Postnatal depression affects up to 15 per cent of mothers in Western society. Rather than choosing between biomedical and psychosocial causal factors, this book argues for better emotional support for mothers and relates the experiences of their partners.

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Globally, postnatal depression (PND) is a growing public health problem. PND affects 10 to 15% of women in Western society. It caused by a combination of biological, psychological and social factors. Two models have attempted to define and explain PND; the biomedical and the sociological models. The traditional biomedical model views PND as a medical condition which implies there is individual pathology and abnormality. Whilst the biomedical model has been the dominant model in treating PND, it has been criticized by feminist sociologists and psychologists for its rigidity in defining and explaining PND. In contrast, the psychosocial model of health acknowledges the biological factors that impact on emotional well-being, but places more emphasis on the personal and social factors that impact on emotional well-being, but places more emphasis on the personal and social factors that contribute to depressive symptoms such as gender, poverty, social disadvantage and social class. The central argument throughout this book is the importance of support before and after the birth for women´s emotional well-being. This book will also include women´s journeys through pregnancy, childbirth, motherhood, postnatal depression, and resolution. To date, literature has focused on women´s lived experiences of PND rather than their personal journeys through pregnancy, childbirth and early motherhood. Additionally, the adjustment to fatherhood has received less attention. For example, little is known about the impact of postnatal depression on the partner, what support partners offer when women with the intention to fill the gap in knowledge of cultural and social issues relating to pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood for woman who were diagnosed with, and had resolved, PND.

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Preface - 1.Introduction: From pregnancy to resolution from Postnatal depression - 2. Detection of postnatal depression - 3. Biopsychosocial theories and treatment options for postnatal depression - 4. "Kept in the dark": Childhood, pregnancy and childbirth experiences.- 5. Mothering alone: The adjustment to motherhood. - 6. "Postnatal": Trapped, alone in the dark -Womens´s experiences of postnatal depression and drawings - 7. Living with uncertainty: The partner´s experiences of Post natal depression- 8. Journeys to resolution - Postscript - Glossary of terms - References - Profiles and demographics of participants -Resources- Index

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