The importance of health education in prenatal care for women's mental health in the puerperium

Abstract

Introduction: Health education during prenatal care can play a fundamental role in women's mental health, as a way of preventing the development of depressive disorders that can affect women during the postpartum period. Postpartum depression is a debilitating depressive disorder with high prevalence and little discussed, which can develop in the postpartum period, where the woman goes through major transformations, with regard to physiological, psychological, family and social aspects. Health education during prenatal care is part of the nurse's competence, and can be of fundamental importance in the psychological preparation of women for motherhood and prevention of postpartum depression. Objective: Discuss the importance of health education in prenatal care for women's mental health, as a way to avoid depressive disorders during the postpartum period, reducing the damage that postpartum depression can bring to mother and child. Method: This is an integrative literature review, in addition to raising theoretical reflections, with a bibliographic review on health education during prenatal care, pregnancy and the postpartum period. The work will be developed based on the review of research in scientific articles, books and specialized magazines. Results: The search strategy for analyzing the study included a combination of articles, with keywords including health education during prenatal care, postpartum and postpartum depression. Given the results obtained, the importance of health education during prenatal care for women's mental health, although study results are available, is still largely unknown and discussed by society, especially with regard to the psychology of woman/mother who will face physical and emotional changes during the postpartum period. Discussion: Given the results obtained, it is observed that health education during prenatal care can be essential for women's mental health, in preventing the development of depressive disorders, regarding the difficulties faced postpartum. Conclusion: Health education during prenatal care can be fundamental for maternal health, where women will have a much lower chance of developing depressive disorders during the postpartum period, being able to contribute positively to the quality of life of the mother. future mother. Postpartum depression affects many women and this makes it important to provide support even before pregnancy, as we have seen that postpartum depression can be caused by physical and/or psychological factors, thus, health education during the prenatal period Christmas, can help women with the symptoms that may arise during the postpartum period. Based on therapeutic support, they will have a much lower chance of developing postpartum depression. Unfortunately, it is a subject that is rarely discussed, and consequently many women are left without guidance and psychological assistance from the beginning to the end of their pregnancies. Health education during prenatal care makes women feel safer and more autonomous, and can minimize fears and doubts, in order to discuss solutions to demands that may arise during the postpartum period.