Psychosocial and maternal care needs of recently delivered women during the postpartum period | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

The postpartum period is a challenging and complex phase for mothers, encompassing significant physical and psychosocial changes. During this time, women face hormonal fluctuations, sleep disturbances, and the responsibilities associated with adapting to the new role of motherhood. Our study highlights the multifaceted nature of postpartum stressors, emotional responses, sources of support, and areas of care needs experienced by postpartum women. The considerable stress experienced by participants appears to stem from both structural and cultural factors. Migrant women described feelings of isolation, displacement, and fear associated with living in a foreign country, reflecting the psychosocial burden of migration. However, even among Turkish participants, stress was often linked to limited support, traditional gender roles, and expectations related to motherhood. These findings, derived from a small sample of women in Turkey, indicate that patriarchal family structures and gendered caregiving norms contribute significantly to postpartum stress among both migrant and non-migrant women.

Participants identified inadequate spousal and family support, the burden of caring for multiple children, and experiences related to migration as primary sources of stress. Furthermore, differences in postpartum experiences between primiparous and multiparous women emerged in participants’ narratives, although this study did not conduct a formal comparative analysis. Primiparous women frequently expressed emotional fragility, uncertainty, and feelings of loneliness as they navigated motherhood for the first time. In contrast, multiparous participants often described overwhelming caregiving responsibilities, divided attention among children, and associated guilt. These findings highlight the need for differentiated postpartum support strategies that consider parity-specific challenges. These findings align with existing literature emphasizing the critical role of social support in mitigating postpartum depression and anxiety [16, 17]. Migrant women, in particular, face unique challenges such as sociocultural isolation and language barriers, which intensify feelings of loneliness and exclusion, adversely affecting their psychosocial well-being (Lugina, Christensson & Massawe [10]),. Furthermore, excessive interference or lack of support within the family exacerbates maternal stress, increasing the risk of psychiatric conditions [3]. The difficulty mothers face in balancing attention among their children and the resultant guilt further complicate their psychological health [8].

Emotional expressions reported by participants—such as loneliness, helplessness, guilt, anger, and inadequacy—mirror common symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety described in the literature [2, 5]. Robertson et al. [14] noted that these emotional challenges can impede a mother’s ability to care for herself and her infant. The intensity of these psychological struggles observed in our study corresponds with previously documented psychosocial difficulties during the postpartum period [4]. Feelings of guilt, especially related to the inability to divide attention equally among children and lack of personal time, may undermine mother-infant bonding [4]. Emotional exhaustion and outbursts of anger can also disrupt social relationships and lead to social isolation, marking significant psychosocial risks that require intervention.

Social support was found to be a pivotal factor in safeguarding maternal mental health. Participants emphasized the critical role of their spouses and family members in providing emotional and practical support. This is consistent with numerous studies illustrating the positive influence of social support on maternal psychological well-being and infant development [15, 20]. Conversely, lack of such support heightened feelings of loneliness and despair, elevating risks of depression and anxiety [18]. Inadequate spousal support was strongly linked to marital dissatisfaction and family conflicts, which negatively impacted maternal psychosocial health [3, 6]. Therefore, postpartum care programs must incorporate approaches that engage families and bolster social support networks.

In addition to infant care, mothers’ needs for personal care and rest were pronounced. Participants reported sleep deprivation, compromised personal hygiene, and insufficient time to attend to other children, which adversely affected their physical and psychological health, contributing to burnout [8, 9]. Such conditions may weaken mother-infant relationships and reduce overall well-being. Effective postpartum care programs should therefore address mothers’ individual care and rest needs to mitigate these negative effects [15].

Social and cultural factors such as migration add further complexity to postpartum psychosocial health. Migrant women’s struggles with cultural adaptation, language barriers, and limited access to support systems place them at increased risk during the postpartum period [7, 12]. This underscores the need for culturally sensitive and socioeconomically informed postpartum support interventions.

Health professionals and policymakers should design postpartum care services that are responsive not only to individual needs but also to familial, societal, and cultural contexts. Comprehensive, multi-dimensional strategies that include educating spouses and family members, strengthening social support networks, and fostering psychosocial well-being are essential to improve postpartum outcomes.