Heterogeneity of postpartum bonding and maternity blues among mothers three days after delivery

Abstract Background Findings about risk factors for postpartum depression (PPD) are often inconsistent. The variability could be due to the heterogeneity of characteristics of mothers at risk for PPD in certain populations, which has important mental health implications. We examined the heterogeneity of sociodemographic, pregnancy and labor characteristics in postpartum women referred to follow-up care on the third day after delivery. Methods We performed a nested cross-sectional latent profile analysis (LPA) on a convenience sample of women in a tertiary community hospital in Split, Croatia in 2020. Participants completed the first subscales of Postpartum Bonding and Maternity Blues questionnaires, as well as five subscales of the Questionnaire of Family Functioning According to Parents and 12 sociodemographic, pregnancy and childbirth-related variables. LPA identified profiles of mother-infant bonding and postnatal blues, and multinomial regression analysis was used to determine the influence of different profiles. Results Of the 318 participants, the best-fitting model had three latent profiles. First (n = 76, 24% of participants) and second (n = 216, 68% of participants) latent profiles showed good postpartum bonding, while second profile showed higher primary blues. Third profile (n = 80, 25% of participants) was characterized by poorer postpartum bonding and elevated primary blues. Only good youth experiences of mothers with their parents (relative risk [RR] 0.26; 95% CI 0.12-0.57; p = 0.001) and good present-day relationships with partners (RR 0.26; 95% CI 0.13-0.52; p < 0.001), significantly decreased the risk for third latent profile classification. Conclusions Postpartum bonding and primary blues of women who gave birth three days prior were heterogeneous. This heterogeneity could result in the well-documented heterogeneity of postpartum depression in women, and therefore, be the focus of mental health interventions in similar settings. Key messages • We found heterogeneity of sociodemographic, pregnancy, and labor characteristics in postpartum women after delivery, highlighting the variability in risk factors for postpartum depression. • This heterogeneity could result in the well-documented heterogeneity of postpartum depression in women, and therefore, be the focus of mental health interventions in similar settings.