The aim was to investigate associations between blues, bonding, perception of the child's temperament and depressive symptoms two months postpartum in both parents. Questionnaires to be filled out during the first week were; Blues Questionnaires day 1-5, Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) and Edinburgh Postpartum Depressive Scale (EPDS) and at two months; questions about breastfeeding, EPDS, PBQ and the Infant Characteristic Questionnaire (ICQ). In all, 106 couples returned all questionnaires on both occasions. Although there were differences in parents' rated levels of blues, depressive symptoms and postpartum bonding, we found many similarities in the ratings. Blues, bonding and depressive symptoms in the other partner were significantly related to EPDS in both parents. Thus, we found a risk for couple morbidity. The similarities between the parents' responses could be interpreted in terms of a broader human way of reacting to childbirth, while the differences e.g. their understanding of the child could refer to different gender roles.

To study the period and point prevalence of maternal depressive mood at three occasions before and after childbirth, and the relationship to the parents' psychosocial conditions and experiences of parenthood during the first year after childbirth. In a longitudinal community-based study, 434 pregnant women were invited to complete the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (cut-off score 9/10) at three time points. The parents' psychosocial conditions and experiences of parenthood were enquired at two months and at one year after childbirth, when the form Experience of Motherhood/Fatherhood Questionnaire (EMQ/EFQ) was applied. Three times measurement responses from both men and women were analyzed using non-parametric statistical methods and path-analysis. About 75% of the parents responded to the questionnaires. The period prevalence was 28%, and the point prevalence found on the three time points was EPDS I 21%, EPDS II 17% and EPDS III 12%. Correlations between antenatal and postnatal depressive symptoms were found, r = 0.61 and r = 0.45, respectively. Women, who experienced financial worries, lack of social support and losses and strains after childbirth showed more symptoms of depressed mood. The maternal depressive mood influenced negatively on breastfeeding and experiences of motherhood, but not on experiences of fatherhood. The partners of depressed women were neither more involved in childcare nor did they utilize paternal leave more than the other men. Both men and women reported the sexual life as negatively influenced by the women's depressed mood.

The findings suggest that depressed feelings postpartum may be explained in terms of losses and changes. However, postpartum depressive symptoms remain hidden and it is important to understand the complexity of postpartum depressive mood, described here as struggling with life related to three different dimensions: the self, the child, and the partner.

The aim of this study was to examine parent-child interactions 15-18 months postpartum, in families where the mother either showed depressive symptoms two months postpartum or did not. Maternal mood was assessed with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Eleven women scoring >12 (signs of depressive mood) and 14 women scoring <10 (no signs of depressive mood) on the EPDS and their partners were videotaped in parent-child interactions, assessed by the Parent Child Early Relational Assessment (PCERA). Our results indicate that children of high EPDS-scoring mothers showed less persistence in play with, and less joy in reunion after separation from, their mothers than children of low EPDS-scoring mothers. In contrast, most fathers in families where the mothers scored high on the EPDS seemed to establish joyful relationships with their children and secure child-father attachment 15-18 months postpartum, as if the father "compensated" for the mothers' depressive symptoms.

All previously published papers were reproduced with permission from the publisher.