Postpartum anxiety: a concept analysis

Postpartum anxiety can significantly impact women, their babies and their families. Healthcare professionals need to understand the concept, but surrogate terms to describe postpartum anxiety are frequently identified in the literature, and ambiguity regarding its definition and boundaries persists. This concept analysis aimed to provide a more precise definition of postpartum anxiety by identifying key components of the overall concept. Five attributes of postpartum anxiety were identified: physical symptoms; emotional symptoms; cognitive symptoms; disturbances in daily functioning and baby care; and onset during the postpartum period with variable duration. Factors that may influence development of postpartum anxiety include a history of depression or anxiety; stress; social factors, such as a lack of support or domestic violence; and difficult life events, such as illness, conflict or financial difficulties. The consequences of postpartum anxiety are far-ranging. This analysis emphasises the importance of supporting women's mental health in the postpartum period and ensuring that midwives are trained to recognise symptoms early and provide timely referrals to specialist services when necessary.