Perinatal Psychology

What is perinatal psychology?

Perinatal psychology is a specialty within clinical psychology that focuses on the period comprehended from the desire for pregnancy to the first year of the baby’s life. This includes the processes of conception, pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum until the first year of parenting. This type of care can be both for women and their partners, since mental health is related to all the variables that affect daily life. It is very common to talk about postpartum depression but there are other difficulties that can occur even before pregnancy. The level of anxiety is a very important factor and more common than people imagine since there is also a factor of a certain taboo on mental health during this period when associated with a state of fullness and well-being. There has always been a certain stigma regarding mental health, but the coincidence with the maternity period, which is socially seen as something “wonderful”, can have an influence causing greater containment and difficulty to express the emotional burden. Once pregnancy is achieved, doubts and concerns about one’s own health and that of the baby and his own development are normal, as also is the fear of childbirth. It must be taken into account that an excessive level of anxiety can generate consequences not only for the mother herself and her environment, but also for the future baby. The process of creating a person is a very sensitive period and although the influence of certain substances is known, the impact of the emotional charge during neurodevelopment is becoming increasingly evident. In any case, it is important to have a good emotional state to face the responsibility of caring for a totally dependent person. As a summary, we indicate the possible disorders or symptoms that may occur throughout this perinatal period:

• Fertility grief
• Perinatal loss
• Anxiety, insomnia, difficulties related to communication with the partner
• Social isolation
• Depression
• Postpartum psychosis
• Fear of childbirth

How to treat it at Neuroscenter?

We offer extensive treatments to address the possible problems of this perinatal stage. Our professionals’ experience together with their intervention allows for an optimal balance to address this type of situations.

Benefits of Neurofeedback and EMDR treatments

• Improvement of symptoms.
• Knowledge about attachment.
• Reduction of possible future problems.
• Increased parental capacity.