'Listening visits' in pregnancy: a strategy for preventing postnatal depression?

OBJECTIVE

to examine existing research evidence to ascertain whether 'listening visits' in pregnancy, targeted at women with low emotional wellbeing, are likely to be effective in preventing postnatal depression and in improving other maternal psychological outcomes.

FINDINGS

the evidence currently available suggests that postnatal listening visits are effective in preventing postnatal depression; that many women who are depressed after childbirth were also depressed in pregnancy; and that psychological interventions in pregnancy can have beneficial effects on postnatal emotional wellbeing. Existing research also suggests that the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale may be an appropriate tool for selecting women for antenatal 'listening visits'; and that a formal approach is likely to prove more beneficial than ad hoc approaches.

KEY CONCLUSIONS

it is concluded that 'listening visits' in pregnancy may well be a useful strategy for preventing postnatal depression. However, further research is necessary before antenatal 'listening visits' are introduced on a large scale.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

midwives might usefully consider introducing antenatal 'listening visits', auditing this new practice and disseminating findings.