ABSTRACT

Post-Natal Depression challenges the expectation that it is normal to be a 'happy mother'. It provides a radical critique of the traditional medical and social science explanations of 'post natal depression' by supplying a systematic feminist psychological analysis of women's experiences following childbirth. Paula Nicolson argues that, far from it being an abnormal, undesirable, pathological condition, it is a normal, healthy response to a series of losses.
Post Natal Depression makes an important contribution to the psychology of women and feminist research and will be of interst to psychologists, social scientists, nurses and doctors.

chapter |4 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|17 pages

Women’s experience of motherhood

chapter 3|17 pages

The context of Post-Natal depression

chapter 4|14 pages

Post-natal care and ‘maternity blues’

chapter 1|13 pages

Appendix I Profiles of the participants

chapter 2|5 pages

Appendix II Methods

chapter 3|2 pages

Appendix III Interview guide