PERINATAL MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS AND ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER IN THE FETUS

Purpose: To develop evidence-informed best practice recommendations for nursing and other health professionals, community members and mothers to refer to when considering non- pharmacological management techniques for mental health disorders. Background: Maternal mental health disorders and their respective pharmacologic treatment during pregnancy place both the mother and fetus at risk for complications, and impaired fetal neurodevelopment. Diaphragmatic breathing combined with progressive muscle relaxation, massage therapy, and yoga exercises are interventions with increasing evidence-informed support that provide adequate management of mental health disorders in the place of pharmacologic treatment. Approach to Practice: The best practice recommendations were formed using a literature review conducted through CINAHL, PubMed, and PsychInfo, using keywords such as perinatal, maternal mental health, stress, anxiety, depression, and Attention deficit disorder (ADD). Articles were published between 2011 and 2021. Seven articles were included in the literature review in this thesis. Outcomes: The suggested best practice recommendations are for nursing professionals identifying candidates eligible for a method of managing mental health disorders and determining which method is most realistic for referral. Conclusions: While more research is needed regarding fetal neurodevelopment and maternal mental health, the guidelines described can be useful to health professionals striving to address maternal mental health management during pregnancy in order to improve quality of life for the mother and fetus