MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH IMPACTS DURING PREGNANCY ON CHILD DEVELOPMENT: AN INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Psychological distress during pregnancy has been increasingly recognized as a significant factor influencing the beginning of life and child development. Anxiety, depression, stress, and other emotional disorders can affect the experience of motherhood, alter the formation of the mother–baby bond, and interfere with essential emotional, social, and cognitive processes in early childhood. The proposed integrative review brings together studies that explore this relationship, allowing for a broad and articulated understanding of the phenomenon. The analyzed works indicate that comprehensive prenatal care practices—such as welcoming support, qualified listening, emotional screening, and multidisciplinary follow‑up—are fundamental for the early identification of psychological distress and for offering appropriate interventions. Public policies such as Rede Cegonha and the Maternal and Child Care Lines reinforce the importance of integrating mental health actions into routine care. Despite advances, gaps remain regarding the diversity of disorders, risk and protective factors, and the specific repercussions on child development. The synthesis highlights the need to strengthen care strategies that value maternal mental health, contributing to more secure bonding and healthier developmental trajectories from the very beginning of life.