Pregnancy Problems, Postpartum Depression, and Early Mother-Infant Interactions

A subsample of 24 women who had received ultrasound examinations and psychological interviews during the third trimester of pregnancy was subsequently divided into one group who had reported pregnancy problems (marital difficulties and ambivalence about the child) and one group who had not. The mothers were then observed at 3 to 5 months postpartum in interactions with their infants and were given questionnaires on depression, anxiety, locus of control, temperament, and childrearing attitudes. The mothers who had experienced pregnancy problems were more depressed, anxious, and "externalizing" postpartum and expressed more punitive childrearing attitudes. In addition, these "depressed" mothers and their infants showed less optimal interaction behaviors.