Abstract
It has been increasingly recognised that pregnancy and the postpartum period are a time of
increased risk for the development or exacerbation of mental health difficulties in parents,
impacting on their quality of life and their relationships with their infants. In line with the
NHS Long-Term plan, improving perinatal care and maternity outcomes, especially for
mothers and birthing people from diverse backgrounds, has been a priority in recent years,
evidenced by the growth in perinatal mental health services nationally. The first paper in this
portfolio is a systematic review of the effectiveness of CBT and third-wave interventions in
preventing and treating parental obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) in the perinatal
period. The findings suggest that CBT in a group or individual format may be effective at
preventing or treating perinatal OCS in mothers and the combination of ACT and CBT
techniques could be useful for mothers with comorbid conditions. However, no studies with
fathers were found, and conclusions were limited by the small number and methodological
designs of the included studies. The need for high quality research in this area is highlighted,
using larger and more diverse samples to improve patients’ choice and access to treatment,
and ensure fathers’ and partners’ needs are met. Paper two is a qualitative study exploring
Black women’s experiences of a psychologically traumatic childbirth in the UK. Interviews
with seven Black and Black mixed mothers were analysed using Interpretative
Phenomenological Analysis. Mothers described the process of losing trust in the system and
professionals. They likened their childbirth to a fight to be heard and to shield themselves
from perceived discrimination, and described how they found strength in themselves and in
others. The complexity of birth trauma for Black mothers was highlighted, and important
clinical implications and recommendations for further research were considered.