Mental health of women during the gestational period and their experience of pregnancy

Abstract

The gestational period represents a phase of significant physical, social and psycho-emotional transitions in a woman's life. This process, although natural, brings with it changes that can directly affect the mental health of the pregnant woman, including positive and negative emotions. This study aimed to understand how the mental health of pregnant women has behaved in relation to planning, prenatal monitoring and support during pregnancy. This is a qualitative, exploratory study conducted with 14 pregnant women in the area covered by a Family Health Unit (FHU) in a city in the interior of Bahia. The information was collected through semi-structured interviews, the final product of which was subjected to analysis using the content analysis technique proposed by Laurence Bardin. The results were organized into three thematic categories: Mental health of pregnant women after discovering a planned, unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, prenatal care and its repercussions on the mental health of pregnant women, and the importance of a support network for the comfort and support of women during pregnancy. It was found that unplanned or unwanted pregnancies are associated with feelings of insecurity, rejection and psychological distress. In addition, prenatal care and the existence of a solid support network were shown to be decisive for the emotional well-being of pregnant women. In this way, the study contributes to the appreciation of a more humanized and comprehensive approach during prenatal care, reinforcing the need for care practices that contemplate women's subjectivity and the promotion of their mental health.

Keywords: Pregnancy; Prenatal Care; Psychoemotional Disorders; Mental health.