Abstract
Postnatal depression (PND) affects approximately one in ten mothers in their first year after childbirth, impacting mood, social engagement, and parent-infant bonding, which can have lasting effects on the child. Parent-infant interventions, especially those using video feedback, have been effective in supporting mothers during this period. One such intervention is the Video-Feedback to Promote Positive Parenting (VIPP), which helps caregivers respond to their child’s cues. However, research on VIPP specifically for mothers with PND is limited, as is the investigation into reducing the number of sessions. This thesis examines the accessibility and feasibility of delivering a condensed VIPP format and explores the experiences of mothers with PND who have received VIPP.Part A presents a mixed-methods paper evaluating the feasibility and acceptability of delivering five-session VIPP within NHS Perinatal Mental Health Services to mothers with PND. Findings showed promising outcomes in terms of feasibility, acceptability and reliable change calculations. Part B builds on Part A and presents a qualitative study using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore mothers' experiences of PND and how VIPP facilitated their recovery. Three themes emerged from the data: (1) They say it takes a village; this theme emphasises participant's isolation, the role of social support, and how VIPP provided a consistent, non-judgmental space. (2) I’m seeing it from a whole new perspective; this theme explores the impact on participants' self-image and parenting perceptions and how VIPP supported this area. (3) Strengthening the thread of connection, this examined how participants bonded during PND symptoms and how VIPP helped them reconnect with their baby. Findings indicate that PND experiences are complex, but VIPP offered a supportive framework that strengthened connections with participants’ babies and enhanced their confidence in parenting.