Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book provides an in-depth knowledge of the literature on stress and its effects on the mother and the child during pregnancy and after delivery. It unfolds from a starting point of the clinical reality of those who work with women daily and who find themselves dealing with ever more complex maternity situations. The book focuses on the experiences, the emotional sensitivity and the stress reactions that characterize the first postpartum weeks. It considers a number of practical clinical hints and describes the support interventions that are of greatest efficacy when seeking to prevent stress from leading to psychopathology. The book provides a complete overview of different types of support—both institutional and informal—and provides useful operational guidelines for relatives and healthcare providers.