Loneliness
11/21/24 • 28 min
There is a strong social narrative that pregnancy and parenthood should be a time filled with new connection, a strong sense of community, and abundant social support. In reality many parents can feel incredibly lonely and disconnected.
In this episode, Lynsey and Chrissy are joined by Dr Kate Adlington to discuss the emotional, social, and existential facets of loneliness and the specific issue of loneliness in the perinatal period. What drives it? What is the relationship between loneliness and mental illness? And what can be done about it?
Key references and resources:
- Loneliness Conceptual Review (What Works Centre for Wellbeing, 2019)
- “Juts snap out of it” - the experience of loneliness in women with perinatal depression: a meta synthesis of qualitative studies (Adlington et al, 2023)
- Solutions to perinatal loneliness (Naughton-Doe, 2024)
- Video - Where is the village that was promised? (Naughton-Doe, 2024) *content warning - reference to perinatal loss*
- Guardian article - It felt shameful: the profound loneliness of modern motherhood (Jones, 2024)
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health difficulties, there is lots of help available. You can contact your primary care provider in the first instance, or if you are based in the UK the NHS perinatal mental health website will help you to find support in your local area.
There is a strong social narrative that pregnancy and parenthood should be a time filled with new connection, a strong sense of community, and abundant social support. In reality many parents can feel incredibly lonely and disconnected.
In this episode, Lynsey and Chrissy are joined by Dr Kate Adlington to discuss the emotional, social, and existential facets of loneliness and the specific issue of loneliness in the perinatal period. What drives it? What is the relationship between loneliness and mental illness? And what can be done about it?
Key references and resources:
- Loneliness Conceptual Review (What Works Centre for Wellbeing, 2019)
- “Juts snap out of it” - the experience of loneliness in women with perinatal depression: a meta synthesis of qualitative studies (Adlington et al, 2023)
- Solutions to perinatal loneliness (Naughton-Doe, 2024)
- Video - Where is the village that was promised? (Naughton-Doe, 2024) *content warning - reference to perinatal loss*
- Guardian article - It felt shameful: the profound loneliness of modern motherhood (Jones, 2024)
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health difficulties, there is lots of help available. You can contact your primary care provider in the first instance, or if you are based in the UK the NHS perinatal mental health website will help you to find support in your local area.
Previous Episode
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects up to 4% of the adult population although it is under-recognised and under-diagnosed in women and girls.
In this episode we are joined by Dr Shevonne Matheiken, who shares her own lived and learned experience of ADHD and parenthood. We discuss the medical and social models of ADHD, the different ways that it can manifest, the challenges that can arise during major life transitions such as pregnancy and parenthood, and the implications for perinatal mental health.
Resources and references for this episode:
- Adult ADHD: time for a rethink? - Matheiken et al 2024
- ADHD & autism: before, during, and after pregnancy - Tommy’s Pregnancy Hub
- Females with ADHD: an expert consensus statement - Young et al 2020
- Obstetric complications in mothers with ADHD - Walsh et al 2022
- ADHD medication use trajectories among women in the perinatal period - Bang Madsen et al 2024
- In utero exposure to ADHD medication and long-term offspring outcomes - Bang Madsen et al 2023
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health difficulties, there is lots of help available. You can contact your primary care provider in the first instance, or if you are based in the UK the NHS perinatal mental health website will help you to find support in your local area.
Next Episode
Infant feeding
Infant feeding is an intrinsic part of parenthood. When it goes well it can be incredibly rewarding, but it's not always straightforward and many parents experience difficulties.
In this episode, Lynsey and Chrissy discuss the different factors that influence feeding decisions, the intricate relationship between infant feeding and mental health, and the challenges around medication and breastfeeding.
References and resources:
- Supporting positive conversations about feeding choice and mental health (The Breastfeeding Network, 2017)
- Guilt, shame, and postpartum feeding outcomes: a systematic review (Jackson et al., 2021)
- The Breastfeeding Network
- First Steps Nutrition Trust
- GP Infant Feeding Network
- World Health Organisation factsheets
- The politics of breastfeeding - Gabriel Palmer
- Why formula feeding matters - Shel Banks
- Why breastfeeding matters - Charlotte Young
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health difficulties, there is lots of help available. You can contact your primary care provider in the first instance, or if you are based in the UK the NHS perinatal mental health website will help you to find support in your local area.
Beyond Baby Blues - Loneliness
Transcript
Hello and welcome to our podcast, Beyond Baby Blues. My name is Dr Chrissy Jayarajah. I'm a consultant perinatal psychiatrist working in London.
And I'm Dr. Lynsey McAlpine. I'm a trainee psychiatrist also based in London.
And today we're going to be talking about a really interesting topic, which is loneliness. in the perinatal period. And we know that loneliness is something that is experienced by lots of women, and we know this clinically, but we thought today we'll have a
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