PREGNANCY AND DEPRESSION: NURSING CARE IN HIGH-RISK PRENATAL CARE

Abstract

Introduction: Motherhood is a profoundly transformative journey in a woman’s life, marked by a whirlwind of emotions, expectations, and challenges. However, for some women, this special phase can be overshadowed by the undesirable presence of perinatal depression, a condition that significantly affects women’s mental and emotional health during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Perinatal depression is a complex and multifaceted manifestation of mental health that not only impacts the mother herself, but can also have adverse consequences for the development and emotional well-being of the baby, as well as for the family dynamics as a whole. Objective: To examine scientific articles that address the factors that contribute to depression during pregnancy and the postpartum period, and to investigate the interventions and strategies available to promote the emotional well-being of pregnant and postpartum women. Methodology: The research was an integrative literature review, carried out in the BVS, Scielo, Lilacs and BDenf databases, using the controlled health descriptors: Pregnancy, Mental Health, Depression, Puerperium and Nursing Care. The sample consisted of articles that met the inclusion criteria: studies that addressed the proposed theme, with full text available in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and published between 2020 and 2024. The articles were presented in the following formats: Title, Author, Year, Journal, Objective and Results. In order to be a review study, approval by the ethics and research committee was not required. Results and discussion: It is essential to take into account the physical, genetic, emotional and social characteristics of the woman, in addition to understanding her feelings and thoughts during the gestational period. The nurse, due to the nature of their profession, is often the first to establish contact with the pregnant woman, becoming crucial for the early detection of depression. To achieve this, it is necessary to build a relationship of trust, observe and record suspicious behaviors, and, when identifying signs of depression, encourage beneficial activities, offer support, assistance, and appropriate referrals, in addition to monitoring the presence of suicidal ideation and providing guidance on psychological support. CONCLUSION: Prenatal care is essential to identify and support pregnant women with anxiety and depression, but often care with appropriate strategies. Health professionals prepare themselves to offer comprehensive care.