Special Issue: Patient Perspectives on Care

 Summer 2023

Kate Stahl-Kovell, Ph.D., Editor in Chief

Each summer issue, the Journal for Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health dedicates an issue to patient experiences of care. Growing research in our field supports the theory that clinicians’ interactions with patients bear significant weight on not only patient mental health but the health and well-being of their child. The first two articles in our special issue posit the importance of staff interaction with pregnant or postpartum clients and patients. The researchers identified what qualities seemed most helpful to clients, from education and information about the client’s condition to helping clients be more confident as new parents. As a researcher, advocate, and mental health clinician who works primarily with mothers in the postpartum period, I cannot stress enough how pivotal our role is in providing a well-informed, kind space for mothers and birthing people, validating their experiences, and providing timely and research-driven information through a trauma-informed paradigm. Both studies indicate how the care clinicians provide can shape pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

In one of the first evaluations of service users’ experiences of community perinatal mental health in the UK, “An Evaluation of Perinatal Mental Health Treatment Experiences Using Patient Rated Experience and Outcome Measure (POEM),” Simone Davies, Psy.D., Rebecca Ison, Psy.D., Lucy McEntegart, MSc, and Tal Moore, Psy.D. investigated the experiences of perinatal clients in East England between 2017 and 2019. Combining quantitative and qualitative analysis with patient-rated experience measure, Davies et al revealed that of the 28% of service users’ experiences gathered, perinatal mental health support was highly rated by users and valued by the patients. Consistent with the bulk of current scholarly work on supporting perinatal mental health, the researchers found that users not only used but relied on supportive staff and especially noted if the staff were friendly, approachable, caring, and more. Though the authors call for more research, this study indicates that community perinatal mental health works.

Nichole Cubbage, MS, argues in “The Deliverance of Miscarriage Information and Fetal Loss in Multiple Pregnancies and Vanishing Twin Syndrome (VTS)” that protocol regarding VTS requires a significant shift. Cubbage writes that current standards of care do not compel providers to inform patients that a miscarriage is currently or will take place, though they are required to disclose risks that may affect treatment decisions. VTS is not uncommon, and yet there is no standard protocol for informing patients of the risks of VTS with twin pregnancies. Cubbage created a proposed model for providers to follow that incorporates necessary information on VTS along with resources if VTS should occur.

In “A Unique Approach to Healing After Birth,” JOPPPAH’s Peer Review Coordinator, Anita Horvath, MFT, interviewed Canadian Clinical Counselor Jennifer Summerfeldt on healing after birth. The discussion is frank, open, and curious—how do we show up for mothers and birthing people incorporating neuropsychology, the nervous system, and pushing back against disordered thinking? The interview dives into how personal experience can shape clinical perspectives and workshops how we as clinicians can safeguard clients’ informed choices.

In this issue, we are fortunate to bring you two book reviews of a new work from Robbie Davis-Floyd, Ph.D. and Licia Claire Seaman. JOPPPAH’s creator, Thomas Verny, MD, DHL (Hon), DPsych, FRCPC, FAPA, reviewed Davis-Floyd’s self-published book, Robbie’s Reader. Verny describes Davis-Floyd’s collection of stories as “undeniably compelling” and “brilliantly illuminating.” JOPPPAH’s Book Review Editor, Stephanie Cloutman, MS, reviewed Lullaby Wisdom. Seaman’s book combines interpersonal neurobiology and her expertise as a musician to help parents and caregivers utilize lullabies to soothe babies.

Lastly, it is a privilege to share “American Indian and Alaskan Native Maternal Mental Health” from Cindy Lee Herrick and Joy Burkhard of the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. Herrick and Burkhard summarize the disproportionate issues American Indian and Alaskan Native birthing people face, from increased maternal death to trauma, intimate partner violence, and inequities due to systemic racism. I give my thanks to Herrick, Burkhard, the Policy Center, and our Copy Editor, Christiana Rebelle, Ph.D., for this new partnership.

            A year into my role as Editor in Chief, we have taken steps towards more inclusivity, gathering momentum to consider patient perspective through quantitative and qualitative means. With this vision, we present our Patient Perspectives on Care journal issue, grateful for the authors’ contributions to stretching and honing our understanding of best practices of care.

            If you have quantitative or qualitative research, case studies, or clinical vignettes to share, submit them to journal.editor@birthpsychology.com by our September 5^th deadline to make the Fall issue. Until then, we hope this journal reaches you in good health and spirits.

Special thanks to Managing Editor Jess Kimball and Copy Editor Christiana Rebelle for countless hours spent reworking the journal format, bringing JOPPPAH a fresh new look.

Happy Summer,

Kate Stahl-Kovell, Ph.D.